One further action on behalf of our anthropologist from outer space. (See the last couple of posts)
Look at your list of actions that you took in the past couple of weeks and pick out the four or five activities from which you think reflect who you are theologically. If ET understood the theological underpinnings of this part of your profession, ET would have a better understanding of what it means to be an ordained pastor in the Christian community.
Take those four or five responsibilities and briefly describe for ET why, in terms of the faith, you are engaging in such activities. Remember this is ET, who knew nothing of Christianity before arriving on earth, so your explanation must take that into account. As you do this, I think you will articulate and perhaps reinforce your own awareness of why you do what you do and its significance in the greater scheme of things.
For example, I sat down with a woman this week and helped her decide on how she was going to respond to a negative experience that she had in her marriage. As a pastor, I do that because I believe that understanding how to love one’s neighbor, or in this case one’s husband, is part of reflecting our faith in a God who loves us even when we have been less than loveable.
When I preach my next sermon I see that as living out my calling to assist the community of believers to interpret their experiences in this world in light of a God who loves them and calls them to live in response to God’s grace.
Think about the five activities that you have chosen. How are they a reflection of your faith? When you think of what you do from this perspective, your life and ministry are part of something bigger than the moment and has value even when it requires personal sacrifice.
