Take Heart
/“Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.”
Photo by Asja Boros
When I read these words I think of our pastors. I think of the godly men who lead and serve our church. I think of the staff and volunteers that hold Vintage together; these people, this church, these saints, working so hard and loving so well. They get up early on Sunday and rehearse late on Thursday. They make coffee and hold babies. They run sound and lights and smoke machines (just kidding about the smoke machines). They serve and pour out week after week. And for what? What is the motivation behind the selflessness of these people?
I believe it is this: Our pastors decided from the planting of Vintage that we would be a church who would “refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word” and to “renounce disgraceful, underhanded ways.” They decided to hold tightly to Jesus and cling to the truth of the gospel rather than try to win a popularity contest. I believe that our people see the heart of our pastors and want the same thing. They serve every week because of their desire to see salvation in this city.
“For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.”
For Jesus’ sake! These weeks of years of serving have not been easy, and they won’t be easy, but “don’t lose heart” Vintage saints! It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it.
It will be worth holding fast to the truth. It will be worth being under the leadership of our pastors and staff who are unwavering about not “tampering with God’s word,” and who preach and teach the whole truth of the Bible and the gospel. Our hope is in Jesus, only He can save and He is saving. We must be faithful to the work that He has called us to. We must pray for our pastors and trust that they are listening to and following Jesus to lead this Vintage Church. We must agree to disagree on some issues and not pack up and leave at the first sign of difficulty. Our pastors are not perfect. You are not perfect. I am not perfect. We are all trying to follow the perfect One, trusting that His grace will cover over and forgive our flaws.
Vintage Church rise up! Don’t lose heart! You are doing a good thing, a good work and it will not be wasted! In the words of our pastor, “This world is not our home, this life is not our own, we are here for His glory!” That’s why we keep going. None of this is about us; it’s all about Him, only Him, only Jesus.