We live in a world of broken promises.

We see it when we tell our friends that they can trust us and then gossip about them behind their backs.

We see it when we promise someone we’ll always be there for them just to seldom go out of our way for them at all.

We see it in the ways we let meaningful friendships slip away the moment that they become less useful or gratifying to us.

In big ways and small ways, we break promises all the time. To an extent, it’s a part of being imperfect humans. However, as an emphasis on individualism increases, I believe that we’re beginning to become quicker to excuse the ways that we go back on our word when struggle, inconvenience, or outright apathy come into the picture. This can lead to an erosion of trust that can harm our ability to create substantial, transformative relationships. The world needs people who can be trusted to hold true to their word and to be faithful to their promise even when it is inconvenient or ungratifying. 

As the people of Christ, we need to believe in the power of kept promises. I believe in that power because it is due to kept promises, specifically the promises made to me at my baptism, that I am who I am today.

I was blessed to receive the sacrament of baptism as an infant and though I have no memories of that event, I know exactly what promise was made over me by the body of Christ that day. As found in our inherited liturgy, the body of Christ promised the following over me:

With God's help we will proclaim the good news

and live according to the example of Christ.

We will surround Billy

with a community of love and forgiveness,

that he may grow in their trust of God,

and be found faithful in his service to others.

We will pray for him,

that he may be a true disciple

who walks in the way that leads to life.

The Body of Christ, through the outlet of the United Methodist Church, has been more than faithful to that promise made over me. They have prayed for and loved me during my lowest points in life. They have celebrated with me during my most joyous times. They have taught me who Jesus is both through their words and through their deeds. They have given me an example of faithfulness to others that inspires me to do my best to follow suit. 

They have led me to the God of kept promises, the same God who was there on the day of my baptism and who continues to pursue my heart to this day. 

I am FAR from being a perfect man and I am still a heaping hot mess in desperate need of a savior. But any progress that I have made in my spiritual journey is thanks to the faithfulness of others who kept the promise that the church made to me at my infancy. 

In the midst of shallow words and unkept promises, the church has been given a charge to be a people of faithfulness. We see this charge in 2 Corinthians 5 when Paul says that God “has committed to us the message of reconciliation to the world as Ambassadors of Christ, as though God were making his appeal through us.” 

We see this charge in James 2 when the writer tells us that it is no good to say to the one in need “go in peace; keep warm and well fed” but then to do nothing about their need.

We see this charge throughout the Sermon on the Mount when Jesus beckons us to have integrity and selflessness in all of the ways that we put our faith into practice. 

We are called to be a people who hold true to their promises in a manner that points toward the God who is faithful in all of his promises to us. It’s a big charge to keep! But thanks be to God, we don’t have to do so alone. 

We at The Co-op look forward to spending the summer building the type of intentional community that finds its foundation in the promises of God and our faithful response to His promises. I hope that you’ll consider joining us as we seek to become a more faithful people together!