Some people give up when they get old and some give up on old people. You are in danger of both if you value someone only ever by performance, or if your ethics are built on evolutionary theory (the ‘good’ is the strongest).
But if God is right (which he is!), we are made in the image of God and infinitely loved in Christ. This makes every one of us more precious than the finest gold. The metaphor of the body of Christ also applies to us as a church. As the body of Christ, each part of the body belongs just as much as any other- “the eye cannot say to the hand, ‘ I have no need of you’. On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those parts of the body that we think less honourable we bestow the greater honour” (1 Cor. 12:21ff).
I wrote about the importance of children’s ministry last week, but that in no way diminishes the strategic importance of senior’s ministry. We are absolutely committed to every person.
Gordon is going overseas for 4 weeks holiday next week, and he will be greatly missed by us, not least for all his work ministering to our ‘uncles, aunties and grandparents in Christ’. There will be a hole in our team while he is away that Simon and I will try to fill (try!).
And so as we celebrate this week the birth of 2 baby boys (Matthew and Michael), let us give thanks to God for our older members. We are constantly thankful for your example of Christ-likeness.
Keep running the race with joy, pressing on toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Phil 3:14). And as you do so, you are bringing us with you. (Andrew.)

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