Presented by Lowell Cooper
24 August 2012, Rogaška Slatina, Slovenia [Kirsten Oster Lundqvist, tedNEWS] “It is a refreshing experience to be here” was the opening line of today’s worship by Lowell Cooper. If he was referring the weather it was still cool, before temperature levels reached 34°C. Inside the tent the day had begun with prayer by Mariusz Adamczyk in polish, who thanked the Lord for salvation assurance, and asked for the day to be blessed so that we could concentrate.
Geert Tap and the worship team again led the congregation in meaningful, inspirational praise and worship. This drew not only the congregation closer to God, but some passersby as well. Several pastors feel that there could be more of this praise and worship, and among them was Pastor Rosemary Lethbridge, who observed that the team balanced their range of styles and song choices in a skilful manner.
Lowell Cooper spoke on reconciliation as ‘message and mission’, focusing on 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 that includes these words: “God who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.” In this passage Cooper said we find the grand central theme of scripture, the message, mission and method of reconciliation by God.
According to Cooper, the God who is revealed in scripture is personal, purposeful and goal-oriented. We see Him engaged in mission. “And we do well to remember that the mission is not ours,” continued Cooper, “but Gods.” “Mission was not made for the church, the church was made for mission!” Reconciliation is the mission of God. He was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself.
The text, Cooper pointed out, “does not say reconciling the church, nor the nation of Israel, it says reconciling the world to God. We must not think that God is only interested in his covenant people,” continued Cooper, “Gods mission is to restore all that is true in this world, and that should be our mission too”.
Cooper then continued to talk about the importance of being grace-oriented. The message of reconciliation is that Gods grace has released us from the burden of our past. The grace that releases us is not finished with us, it not only lifts us out of sin’s filth – it also recruits us to be ministers of this grace ourselves. Our relationships are changed, and it binds us with stronger ties than guilt and duty, for we are bound to the Giver of grace and called to make Him known.
Addressing the theme of making God known in Europe, Cooper pointed out that “as Adventists, we are called to make God known, not draw attention to our lifestyle or doctrines. People who are looking at behaviour are not looking at God. To make God known and glorify Him we must live in such a way that reveals Him – that is the mission of believers.”
“People in Europe today are interested in spirituality,” encouraged Cooper, “the world does not reject Jesus, but it fails to see in Christians something that is better”. At the same time “we must be careful,” stated Cooper, “that revival and reformation is not about returning to a former version of Adventism. Reformation and revival should not be form-driven. It destroys itself by becoming inward looking. Rather, revival and reformation should be about a new level of reflecting Jesus to the world. Nothing less will work.”
Tor Tjeransen from Norway closed the worship with prayer for reconciliation amidst the brokenness and hurt around us; in the political landscape of Syria; and between countries and nations that don’t get along. He prayed that we would reflect on the pain that drives people away because of hate and bitterness. He prayed for healing, forgiveness and grace. Then he prayed for the cause of women’s ordination as his intercession drew to a close. [tedNEWS]
tedNEWS Staff: Miroslav Pujic, director; Deana Stojkovic, editor; Dragana Selakovic-Duval; Frederic Duval & Tor Tjeransen, photographers
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