Community – The Parson's Parlor

While I am not surprised to see how divided our country has become, I am sad when I see Christians participate in the division.

Our political climate has become a war between two gods who demand total allegiance from their worshippers. Battle lines are drawn on every political front. No longer can people travel safely between positions for fear of being called a traitor. We are compelled to choose a side.

But there is a third option. As Christians, we are not called to be republicans or democrats, but to be Kingdom people who follow the commands of our king. We are to live as ambassadors in this land as we wait for our king to return.

As ambassadors, our role is to show the world a better way to live – a way that is rooted in King Jesus’ commands to love God and love our neighbors, including our enemies. We are to look for signs of the Kingdom and then participate in Christ’s redemptive work, which unites instead of divides. But instead, I see Christians staunchly supporting the political positions of their preferred party without any thought to how those positions may or may not further God’s Kingdom of love.

Unfortunately, division among Christians is nothing new. When asked if he was the devil, Jesus responded, “A house divided cannot stand.” Have Christians become their own devil by fighting against one another? Is it any wonder why people want nothing to do with the Church?

Let’s put aside our false gods and rally around our king! Let’s look for signs of love and unity which point toward the Kingdom of God. Let’s follow King Jesus’ command to love God and love our neighbors – all of our neighbors. Let’s participate in Christ’s work of reconciliation and redemption for the glory of God.

Let’s be Kingdom People.

Grace and Peace

Parson Larson 2025

Last weekend I attended Cowboy Church. It was a brief service that was held as part of the opening ceremony at one of my husband’s mounted shooting events.

The participants, including the preacher who is a real life cowboy, were in their saddles. After a quick prayer and song, the typical “we are all sinners in need of Jesus” sermon was preached. While it was expected, I did like how he used both the Samaritan Woman and Nathaniel under the tree to show how all kinds of people need Jesus.

After asking us where we’d go if we died today (by being hit by a truck), the service ended with a call to accept Christ before the ceremony moved onto the national anthem and a brief business meeting.

It was during the meeting, when the VP shared about a recent horse event he attended, that I heard the gospel truly preached. Without intending it to be a sermon, this cowboy talked about how the community of mounted shooters supported him during a low point in his journey. Their encouraging words lifted his faith to be able to carry on and finish the race.

Our personal faith is important, but living out that faith in community is equally important for our salvation, because it isn’t a one-time decision but a lifelong journey of learning how to love God and love neighbor. With undeserved grace, God calls us into his kingdom family. We respond in thankfulness and then strive as the church to reflect the triune God to the world. An individual faith cannot reflect a trinitarian God, who by God’s very nature is a community of love.

I have no qualms with the Cowboy Preacher’s message. He did a great job, but my reformed covenant understanding of theology really appreciated how the VP’s message of community made the whole service complete.

Grace and peace,

Parson Larson, 2025

Tag: Community

Kingdom People

Cowboy Church and Community