Christian Gumption

Today’s message was written by the founder of Dial Hope, the Rev. Roger Kunkel

One of my favorite movies is “Forest Gump” which came to the theaters over 10 years ago. It literally took America by storm! Do you remember these Forest Gump sayings: “Stupid is as stupid does,” and “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get.” If you’ll pardon the pun, I want to suggest that we need more Christian Gumption. The word Christian means Christlike, and the word gumption means boldness, courage, wisdom, resourcefulness, strength. Forest Gump has a simple faith in which he lives boldly. He lives life unselfishly. He loves people unconditionally. He trusts God unreservedly. That basic outline is not only a summation of Forrest Gump’s life, it also is a pretty good synopsis of the teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.

When Jesus says things, such as “Be humble-minded,” “Be obedient,” “Be merciful,” “Be pure in heart,” Be peacemakers,” “Be the salt of the earth and light of the world,” “Turn the other cheek,” “Go the second mile,” “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” he means “Have Christian Gumption.” Be bold and confident and courageous and strong. Live boldly in the spirit of Christ and trust God to bring it outright. In other words, live life unselfishly! Love people unconditionally! Trust God unreservedly! Trust God.

Let us pray: Loving God of song and saga, of earth and history, we thank you for the rich heritage of our nation; for pilgrim’s feet and patriot’s dream; for fruited plain and purple mountains majesty, for universities and churches; for Indian and Scottish and Irish and Italian and Chinese and Puerto Rican and Slavic and Greek; for Protestant and Catholic and Jew, and Mormon, Amish, Mennonite, and Muslim. We pray for the dedication to keep the dream alive, the dream to deepen the sense of communication among races and individuals. Let the spirit of Christ unite our hearts and minds that we may praise you forever. Transform our attitudes, so that we live in excitement and expectation. Teach us to stand on tiptoe, listening for your voice and looking for the evidence of your presence, yes, even in our pain, our hurt, our illness. Anoint every listener with unexpected grace, especially those struggling to be whole. Bless us now so we may be a blessing to others, in Jesus’ name. Amen.