The Well Palmdale, CA

I thought that what would be good for us is to take a number of different looks at who we are as a church in this blogspace.  I came across some writings by a theologian named Ambrose (333-397 A.D).  Even though he lived over 1600 years ago, I think his words are helpful for us.  This was written in regards to a time when he had to sell the church's communion set for ransom money for some captives. 

'It is a very great incentive to mercy to share in others’ misfortunes, to help the needs of others as far as our means allow, and sometimes even beyond them.  For it is better for mercy’s sake to help someone’s case, or to suffer contempt rather than to show hardness of heart.  So I once brought contempt on myself because I broke up the sacred vessels to redeem captives….Who can be so hard, cruel iron-hearted, as to be displeased because a man is redeemed from death, or a woman from barbarian prostitution, or boys and girls and infants from those things that are worse than death?...it is far better to preserve souls than gold for the Lord.  For He who sent the apostles without gold (Mt. 10:9) also brought together the churches without gold.  The Church has gold not to store up, but to lay out, and to spend on those in need…It is better to preserve Christ’s living vessels than gold ones.  The glory of the sacraments is the redemption of captives.  Truly the Eucharistic vessels are precious ones, for they redeem people from death…when the chalice redeems from the enemy those whom His blood redeemed from sin.' -Ambrose, On The Duty of the Clergy

I thought that this was important to share especialy since we had our first church meeting a couple weeks ago where we talked about money.  God has blessed The Well, and all of its people, so that we can be a blessing to someone else.  That is why, as a church, we will make sure that our money isn't used for big lavish buildings, a BMW for the pastor, or ornate communion sets...nor should these sorts of things be what we spend our own money on.  Instead we should seek as to how we can use what God has given us to serve those in need.  

Our church began and will remain a place where people serve...not a place where people can come to be served.  Our culture simply looks at churches as places where they can be served...church life becomes a passive existence.  As we begin to move forward in ministry I hope that each of us has such an awesome opportunity to serve others boldly like Ambrose did...because that is why we are here...to serve those who are in need, and bring them the same freedom Christ has given us.

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