Rochester, MN UCC - "Being Chosen" - 1 Peter 2:2-10

 There is a phrase in our text from 1 Peter this week that has a pretty exclusivist ring to it. Peter describes the Church as “a chosen race, a royal priesthood.” Hearing that we are “a chosen race” is enough to make many among us cringe. It is hard not to think of the many atrocities that were committed by people who believed just that; that they were a chosen race. What could Peter have meant by such a phrase? How exactly is the Church a chosen race? 

 Peter believes that the church has been chosen by God for a particular purpose- we are chosen to fulfill a mission. The particular mission that God has given to the Church is not an exclusivist one. God calls the Church to proclaim the good news of God’s love and forgiveness to all people- people of every nation, every gender, every status, and station. This good news is to be proclaimed in word and deed- deeds that demonstrate the love of God through loving service of our neighbors. We are not chosen to boast of our superiority, but to proclaim God’s gracious welcome to all. We are chosen to be a new family; a family called from all nations of the earth and given the mission to love and serve God and our neighbors. 

 If it is true that the Church is called and given a mission by God; it is also true that the members of the Church are called and given a mission. That means you and I. It means that each and every one of us has been called by God to be a part of the Church, to play a role in its mission. My prayer this week is that each of us will ask God and ourselves once more what role we are being called to play in the Church’s mission. How can we be best be of service? How can our words and deeds best demonstrate God’s love and grace to the world? For this we have been called and for this we have been chosen. Amen.

 Pastor Andrew Greenhaw