Let the people go!

At the last Sacramento Presbytery meeting, November the 16th, we attempted again to release the Fair Oaks and Roseville Congregations from our Presbytery. Our motion was voted to be postponed until Feb. This is perhaps the first time in Christian and Jewish history that a people have been set free, found their promised land, but are still captive.1

At least on our records they are captives. And of course that keeps Sacramento’s place among growing Presbyteries strong. But it isn’t truthful.

I believe we have a duty as keepers of God’s people to be honest, caring and loving Christians, not only to people in the world but also to our own brothers and sisters. I went away from last night's meeting severely depressed; I still am. I deleted my last posting because it seemed too heartless in a world that is brimming with sorrow. What is it that John writes?

“For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous.

Do not be surprised, brethren if the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. … We know we love by this that he laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
But whoever has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. (1 John 3: 11-18)

[1]What many do not seem to understand is that negotiations between Roseville and the Synod have broken down, and I can't believe that Fair Oaks and the Synod's is very satisfactory.