September 2010
Dear Neighbor,
Sometimes people ask, “What’s different about the New Church?” Hopefully as fellow Christians we share the same basics: we worship the Lord Jesus Christ as our God; we try to live by His Word by repenting of our sins and loving our neighbors as ourselves; and we believe in the Lord’s promise of eternal life.
Each church or denomination has its own way of interpreting the Scriptures. The Word itself is infinite because God Himself inspired it, so we can never perfectly and fully understand it. Still, if we approach the Bible reverently and humbly, seeking to understand and to obey, the Lord can give us light to see the passages to guide us, such as the golden rule and the Ten Commandments. The most important thing in religion is faithfulness in living by the Scriptures, following the Lord’s example. Then, although we may know that someone has a different interpretation or prefers a different style of worship, we can still say, “This is my brother. I see that he worships the Lord, and is a good man.”
So maybe it’s not very important how the New Church is different from another church as long as we are all trying to live as Christians. But for those who are curious, the New Church teaches, among other things, that we live as people, awakening by the third day after death. So Jesus said to the repentant thief crucified beside Him, “Today you will be with Me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). We have a complete human body, which is spiritual, and life continues very much as in this world, but much more perfectly. Angels are all fellow human beings who followed the Lord in this life. The Lord sends them to watch over us in this life and help guide us to eternal life. Heaven’s happiness consists in being useful, helping others.
There are many more beautiful, clear teachings in the Heavenly Doctrine of the New Jerusalem. You are welcome to explore them and see how they fit with the teaching of Scripture, the ultimate authority. You can do so at www.KemptonNewChurch.org, through Amazon or other book dealers, by asking a New Church friend, or by coming to church any Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
Autumn Weekends: We will be selling hot and cold food and drink, including homemade soup and pies, pork barbecue and fries in October, on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on Sundays from 11:00 to 6:00. Look for the blue Autumn Weekends signs on Hawk Mountain Road.
We hope you will stop by for a visit.
Rev. Lawson M. Smith