One of the core values of the Adventist Community Church is: “People matter to God, therefore they matter to us.”
Think about for a moment with me. When was the last time you thought about the people who were serving you out the window of the local Taco Bell? Did you consider what might be going on in the lives of the checkout person at Walmart? Have you considered that the person riding your tail in the car, might actually have a real emergency and you are in their way?
People Matter to God
It just seems that if we are going to think about following God, about committing to Him and seeking his will for our lives, we need to think about what matters to Him. By and large, we need to realize the most important thing throughout scripture is people. He directs people, He chastises people, He confirms people, He anoints people, He gives instruction to people, He tells stories to people, HE SAVES PEOPLE. HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR PEOPLE.
PEOPLE MATTER TO GOD.
Therefore, they should matter to us, as Christ-followers. They matter to Him, and because we follow Him, people matter to us.
So what? So it matters how you treat people. It matters what you say to people. It matters whether they are in church or not. These people matter – those that are being viewed in porn situations, they matter! Those that are homeless, they matter! Those that are going through a divorce, they matter! Even people who don’t like you or whom you don’t like, THEY MATTER!
Therefore they matter to us.
As a church, let’s quit worrying about programs, about whether everything happens on time or not, about committees, finances, etc. All those are taken care of when we realize that the church’s goal is to talk about, take care of, and build systems to support – people.
That’s when the church becomes the church, when we care more about people than about a building. When we design our programs around people and painting them to our heavenly redeemer.
At the Adventist Community Church (ACC), people matter to God, therefore they matter to us.
Roger Anderson says
Thanks for your insights about people. This is very important because all people are important to God and they should be important to us. I think we should adopt a new ” slogan” all lives are sacred. It covers everything! I really enjoyed your message on Sabbath, God wins! I love it when you get fired up and passionate about your message! Have a great week.