One of the first questions that was asked at the Billy Graham School of Evangelism this July was, “What is your centre?”  In other words, what is your top priority?  It is a question that is addressed to both individuals and congregations.

 A number of the speakers at this evangelism event answered the question this way:  To seek and to save the lost.  In fact, Jesus’ centre was also presented as this:  “to seek out and to save the lost” (Lk. 19:10).  This led me to ask the question as to whether this is, in fact, Jesus’ centre.

 Other passages explain the reason for Jesus’ coming in different ways.  Jesus came to serve and to give his life for us (Mk. 10:45).  Jesus came to reveal God (Jn. 1:18; 12:45-46).  Jesus came that we might have abundant life (Jn. 10:10).  Undoubtedly there are other passages that would also lead us to Jesus’ centre.  It seems to me that ultimately, Jesus’ centre is the love of God – shared with those who need it the most and taken all the way to the cross for our salvation.

 It is a concept that is mentioned in our own mission statement – embodying the love of God in daily life.  This is the result that is sought as we gather together for Word and Sacrament.  This is the result of our participation in building a caring community in Christ.

 Whether this is, in fact, our centre could perhaps be debated at times.  What do people find to be our centre when they come to join us for worship?  What do people believe to be our centre when they see the behaviour of our members?  What do people believe to be our centre when they see the behaviour of the pastor?  Ultimately, if our centre as a congregation is about anything other than Jesus, it will not last.

 These are important questions to ask, and perhaps the answers can be scary at times.  One of the challenges that was given to us as pastors at the Billy Graham event was to ask others what our centre is.  In other words, I am asking you not just what your centre is, but what my centre is.  What is my top priority?  What does everything else revolve around?

 I am daring to ask you this, and I am also inviting you to answer.  Perhaps I’ll learn something that I didn’t know!  I might also discover who reads the newsletter   Seriously – what is my centre?

 As individuals, we communicate our centre by how we act, what we say, the priorities we choose, and the many decisions that we make from day to day.  In fact, another question that comes to mind is whether everybody has a centre.  Are there some people who are simply “scattered” or “un-centered”?  Do you have a centre?

 One of the songs that was recently introduced to me is “Jesus, Be the Center.”  It is a prayer both for individuals and congregations.  It is also a song that acknowledges that when Jesus is our Lord, all of life revolves around him, and Jesus is at the heart of all that we do.

 The accompanying question, of course, is if Jesus is not our Lord, then who or what are we serving?  Which false god have we made into our idol?  Biblically speaking, all such idols will never satisfy our thirst (Jer. 2:13).  In the end, all will disappoint us, for only the living God can truly give life.

 May your centre ground you, and heal you, and give you life!

  In Christ,
  Pastor Lynne Hutchison