We are Part of God’s New Creation
Being part of the new creation gives us an opportunity to focus on wholeness and well-being for all our neighbors.
How is it going with intentional participation in God’s new creation? Have you noticed anything different in yourself or in those around you?
Acknowledging that we are part of a new creation, is important. I think it helps us choose healthier options when it comes to interacting with others, maybe even when it comes to how we treat ourselves.
If one of the ways we enter into God’s realm, the new creation, is through Christ then we are all part of something bigger than we have yet to imagine. It’s a good thing that there isn’t a requirement for following Jesus in a specific way. We do the best we can with what we know.
These days, we know more (and hopefully better) than those who came before us. We have the challenge of separating Christianity from the influences of Empire and White supremacy. What’s left when we do this? What does it mean for us?
For me it means that what we believe is less important than what we do. Being part of the new creation gives us an opportunity to focus on wholeness and well-being for all our neighbors, for the whole of creation. We can truly heal some of the brokenness created by those who came before us.
We are interconnected, interdependent. None of us can act without our actions having an impact on our neighbors. We want that impact to be positive more often than it is negative. Imagine a world in which everyone thought about this before making big choices, or even little ones.
This is meant to be hopeful and comforting. Together we shape the new creation that God has made for us. Together, we can change the world. What better message for this election year?!
Everything is new, or can be. What do you let go of? What do choose to carry forward? Where are you finding joy in connection with others? How do you celebrate being in a community that loves and affirms you as you are?
As always, please share your thoughts in the comments so we can continue to build relationships and community.
About Rachael Keefe
Rev. Dr. Rachael Keefe is the pastor of Living Table United Church of Christ. She was called to Living Table in 2015 after serving in many varied ministry settings since her ordination in 1992. She holds graduate degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary and Andover Newton Seminary at Yale (formerly Andover Newton Theological School). Her ministry and leadership often center around advocacy and accessibility. Her writing has been published by Chalice Press, The Christian Century, Red Letter Christians, Working Preacher, RevGalBlogPals, and others. She is grateful to be in ministry with Living Table today.
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