Resolution 2025-03

“What Are We Called To Do?”
General Church Budget Implications: None
East Ohio Conference Implications: Yes

Whereas: as members of a Christian denomination, those gathered have heard, read, and discussed Jesus’ history of teaching and acting on behalf of “the people.” His messages have provided a new understanding, and new practices, of the God of Moses, Abraham, Jacob (et al) of what we call the “OLD Testament.” An astute observer has asked, “Did God change, or did human understanding of God change? The most relevant answer comes from the life of Jesus as chronicled in the “gospel” narrations of Jesus’ work in just three decades 2,000 years ago. It is Jesus’ messages, and his accounts of interactions with ordinary people, and with those in positions of authority, who provide the answer, and

Whereas: while Jesus’ life work and his messages reflect different situations and conditions from those of the “Old Testament world,” they clarify and confirm the persistent insights and commandments of “the Old Testament.” The message/s are clear: ‘love’ your neighbor as you desire to BE loved— “love” being synonymous with such concepts as being seen and heard, respected, trusted, accepted/included, and cared for. “Loving others” is opposite of ignoring, criticizing, ridiculing, demonizing, hating, insulting, or abusing, and

Whereas: the essential directives given by Jesus to urge – direct – us humans to care for one another according to their needs and our abilities to do so. Somewhat like a collective of trees – along a highway, in a grove, or a forest. They share earth to sustain them, water to nurture them, and air that, along with rain, may keep their leaves and branches healthy and clean. Nourishing their collective life … How does this image relate to humans?

Whereas: the most poignant example was published after a Dow Chemical plant exploded into fire one night in Bhopal, India. A group of poor people immediately rushed toward the fire, thinking to help in such an emergency. Many suffered injuries in their “thoughtless” effort to help others. We learned those who rushed TO the fire, and into the burning factory itself, were the “outcasts”: those ostracized as the least desirable caste in their society, living in camp away from the city. But their first thought was to help. Would we have been so brave, we wondered? Would you? That story, that image, is its own lesson.

Whereas: America today is heralded as a “superpower” among nations, but what does that mean? We have considerable wealth, numerous communities of sometimes elaborate structures, schools, shopping areas, plenty of entertainment for our leisure time. We have hospitals and clinics – some world renowned – busy airports, respected universities, award-winning museums, popular concert halls, and packed sports arenas. We also have “the poor” (which we hear ‘will always be with us.,’ as if that means it is ok to accept poverty as inevitable?). There are fine restaurants, expansive interstate highways, and numerous vacation sites with a plethora of fun activities to entertain us in our leisure hours. Aren’t these measures the proof, and entitlement that we are good people? We have golf courses, yacht clubs, amusement parks, cathedrals, museums, and national parks … WHEW! We really ARE living “the good life.” And we are entitled to do so, aren’t we? Jesus’ message – lived and spoken – is to assess, in the simplest terms, what am I doing with the life I have? In a sense, what IS the purpose of life? In other words, for what am I living?

Therefore, be it resolved: this “Resolution” asks us, each, personally, to consider reflectively “my” – personal – role and purpose as a proclaimed follower of Jesus. In other words, what IS Jesus’ message, and his life, asking ME to do, to be, with the time and resources I have … Perhaps we, too, might list a few things each week that I did, as “The Jesus Way of living … ” MAY IT BE SO.

Submitted by: East Ohio Methodist Federation for Social Action and East Ohio Reconciling Ministries Network