Pastor's Corner
July 2025
God's Stories
One of the often overlooked blessings of being part of the church is the way that we can learn from one another in the church. Being part of the larger church means that we can learn from others who see scripture from different perspectives. This allows us to gain additional insight that we might not normally have. It also means that, at times, other perspectives can challenge our interpretation of scripture. They can also confirm our interpretations of scriptures. No one person has all the answer when it comes to interpreting God’s word. That is why we need one another in the church. I had a recent experience that affirmed this idea for me.
I was listening to a podcast called Curiously Kaitlyn, which is hosted by author and theologian, Kaitlyn Schiess. In this particular episode, Kaitlyn was interviewing a pastor by the name of Andy Crouch and they were talking about heaven. More specifically, they were answering a question posed by a young child, “When people go to heaven, do they bring their phones?” This question prompted a wonderful discussion between Kaitlyn and Andy, but what caught my attention was a perspective that Andy shared about the book of life which is discussed in the book of Revelation. This insight was one that Andy had heard from another pastor.
In the 3rd chapter of Revelation, Jesus is addressing the church in Sardis and commends those who are walking with him. Then Jesus speaks these words, “The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.” When we jump over to the 20th chapter of Revelation, we find these words, “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life.”
When we read these passages and the others that mention the book of life, one of the first images that comes to mind is that of a list, a list of names. If our name is on that list then we are saved. If our name is not on that list then we are not saved. In some ways, this image reminds us of Santa’s list, the one that Santa checks twice to see who has been naughty or nice. Yet, in this podcast, Andy shared an intriguing idea.
He said, “What if, when the book of life is opened, we find, not a list of names, but a story?” Of course, this would not be just any story. This would be God’s story. So, of course, the question becomes, “When we read God’s story, will we find that our name has been included in that story?” For me, this was a new and wonderful way of thinking about the book of life.
Recently, I have been talking about how the incarnation is Jesus meeting us where we are and walking with us in our story. I’ve also talked about how we are being sent out into the world just the way that Jesus was sent out into the world. We have been called to meet people where they are and walk with them in their story. Yet, I can also remember back, many years ago, when I shared the idea that part of our calling to follow Jesus is to discover how our small story fits into God’s big story. All of this came back full circle for me. Jesus walks with us in our story. We walk with others in their story. Together, we all walk with God in God’s story.
I find myself excited by the idea of seeing the book of life opened. I want to look and see how my name has been incorporated into God’s story. Of course, this also challenges me at the same time. I want to live my life in such a way that God will want to include what I do in his story.
From the Pastor.....
