A Reflection on Recent Events at Pasadena Foursquare

At Pasadena Foursquare Church this Sunday, my pastor Ralph Torres began his sermon by retelling the story of Rosa Parks and the events that sparked the civil rights movement. This story was not an attempt to connect the sermon with current holidays, February being Black History Month, but rather it was birthed out of the life of our church. On the Wednesday prior to this Sunday, our church installed new elders. One of the elders was not able to be there on time, and missed the ceremony. Our church is diverse as the city we are in, Pasadena. This particular church elder was a black woman. Pastor Ralph at the end of the installation service told the story of Rosa Parks and then redid the installation service in its entirety for our elder who was late. His point was that the world has told some of us that we are worth less than others. In the life of the church this is not true. The late elder, regardless of race, was as important as every other elder who was able to be there for the ceremony. The impact of this impromptu speech on Wednesday carried over into Sunday and on Sunday Pastor Ralph made the point that our theology must penetrate and change our lives and our community. It is not enough to believe that all people are created in the image of God; we must show people that they are created in God’s image.

The first thing I can take from this Sunday’s sermon is a leadership principle. Sermons do not come from a vacuum of thought. They are not intended to simple be inspirational or concerned with clarifying doctrine. Even when sermons do accomplish those things that is not the priority. The sermon must have purpose and context. The purpose and context come from the life of the church. If the sermon has no meaning to the people who are hearing it, then it should not be said.

The second and equally important application I found for myself is to be sure that my theology affects lives. I have learned a great deal of information at Life Pacific College, and I love studying the Bible. But if my education ends and my life has not changed, there will not have been a point to my studies. Our beliefs about God should change not only us, but everyone we come into contact with.