For over 1500 years the church has this day to recognize those who have gone before us in service to our Lord. Originally, this day was named for those who gave their lives for the gospel, the Christian martyrs. Yesterday's paper described places in the world where Christians are once again imprisoned, tortured and killed because of their faith in Christ. It is our honor to be a part of a large stream of noble saints who have suffered in their service to God. The unity is completed once they are included within the people of God.
All believers are members of the same body, the church.
And with that membership all share in the promises of forgiveness of sin, power for their ministries, and hope for the future. We all need the church. The church is our refuge in times of trial, our teacher of righteousness, and our comforter in times when we are wounded and our partner is serving a broken world. We cannot be faithful followers of Jesus without the help and partnership of the church. I have been around the farm long enough to know, however, that any talk in the church about money is threatening to some people.