The Table is a new congregation that is organized around the concept of real change, in the lives of individuals, families and communities.
What kind of change are we talking about, here?
It’s change from greed toward generosity.
From violence toward peacemaking.
From isolation toward neighborliness.
From fear toward faith.
We’re in this for change. Evolution. Transformation. Movement. Conversion.
And let’s be real. Change is a process.
The wrong motivations exist within every person. Martin Shkreli and Pope Francis. Your landlord and your grandma. Nobody's all good. Everybody is shaped and driven by the wrong things, sometimes. And it’s not just individuals, right? Sometimes a whole family or community or nation is held in the grip of some harmful instinct to build walls, demonize, destroy.
We have to acknowledge this. Honesty is a requirement of any healthy self-regard, any healthy relationship (with people or with God), and any realistic attempt at improving lives.
In honesty we recognize that greed, violence, estrangement and fear exist within all of us.
In faith, we claim that it is possible to move TOWARD generosity, peacemaking, neighborliness and faithfulness.
This change is not a light-switch. It’s not a magician’s trick, turning a string of handkerchiefs into a bunch of flowers. It’s not Ebenezer Scrooge on Christmas morning.
A person may never be able to say, “I used to be greedy, but now I’m generous.” or “I used to be violent, but now I’m peaceful.”
Still, it is possible to move in the direction of greater generosity, peacefulness, neighborliness and faithfulness.
Toward is a powerful word.
It is possible to see compassion, learning, goodwill and sacrificial love become stronger and stronger in shaping people’s lives.
It is possible, by God’s grace, to allow our best desires more power than our worst ones.
This is the truth of the Gospel, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the way of Jesus Christ.
If you would like to move in this direction, and would like to fellowship with others who are also choosing this journey of transformation, please join us at The Table.