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Presence Weekly: Waiting for Christ with Reflective Service

1 Peter 4:7-11 "Waiting for Christ Differently" (Part3 of 3)

[First Things]

  1. Our new Faithful Presence Podcast series, “Thinking Deeply,” is underway with new episodes from Jamie Dangers on the pro-life initiative post-Dobbs, and Dr. Dean Weaver on the realignment of churches and denominations. New episodes every Thursday.

  2. Please let us know if you are interested in joining one of our in-person Washington discipleship cohorts or reading groups that start in September. Cohorts are forming in Crystal City, near the EEOB, L’Enfant Plaza, and the Folger Shakespeare Library.

Yuval Levin, former Rep. Dan Lipinski (an evangelical Christian), and William Huan discuss religion in the public square at a recent AEI event (from their website)

[The Devo] Waiting for Christ with Reflective Service

7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:7-11  

The mission statement of Faithful Presence is, “Equipping servants and leaders in the public square to flourish, as they participate in Christ’s mission of making all things new through intentional spiritual, emotional, relational, vocational, ideological, cultural, and evangelical formation; and supporting churches in equipping their members for Christ-centered participation in the public square.” 

Missional or Evangelical?

The word “missional” initially stood in the place of “evangelical” for largely cultural reasons.

In the latter part of the twentieth century, the word evangelical came to be understood as a Christian who was politically right of center. This reframing did not happen because of a coordinated effort of those on the political left to brand and disparage Christians, but due to a concerted campaign of religious and political leaders to align Christians with a particular political party to strengthen their chances in elections. Christians complied because they saw elections and political power as the best pathway for American flourishing. 

Evangelical, however, has a fixed meaning that transcends attempts to redefine it in solely sociological-demographic terms. The word comes from the Greek, euangelion, which means “proclaiming good news” or “the gospel.” Every Christian is called to live as an evangelical. This does not mean leaving a tract in the bathroom, or turning a conversation about AI policy into an awkward opportunity to say, “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand.”  Peter has used this letter as a platform to unpack the meaning of evangelical to the original audience. 

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”  1 Peter 2:9

Proclaiming the excellencies certainly includes articulating the power of the gospel to reconcile sinners to the Father through Christ (transferring them from darkness into his marvelous light) and to restore those crushed by the weight of the past sins they have committed or have had committed against them. But proclaiming the excellencies must also include announcing the good news of the past, present, and future effect of Christ’s declaration for all of our world, “Behold! I am making all things new.” 

“Equipping servants and leaders in the public square to flourish, as they participate in Christ’s mission of making all things new,” therefore requires “intentional spiritual, emotional, relational, vocational, ideological, cultural formation” to enable them to do the  “evangelical” (missional) work of proclaiming the excellencies.

The decision was eventually (and appropriately) made to replace missional with evangelical because the true meaning of words comes from God and not culture. This corrected and clarified our vision statement to more accurately present Biblical teaching in theological terms. It also produced an acronym that brought everything into focus: S.E.R.V.I.C.E. (Spiritual, Emotional, Relational, Vocational, Ideological, Cultural, Evangelical). In other words, whole-life discipleship, in the whole of life, for the whole of the public square, properly produces service. 

Sent to Serve 

In an exchange recorded in all four gospels, when James and John ask Jesus to grant them to sit at his right and left hand (a will to power), Jesus responds with, 

“25 But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  Matthew 20:25–28 (See also Mark 10:45, Luke 22:27, John 13:13)

As we covered in an earlier lesson, the commissioning of the disciples by Jesus following his resurrection was him directing their lives as elect exiles until his return. This commissioning includes, 

19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” John 20:19–21

In the public square, some have a gift of understanding the complexities of cryptocurrency enough to serve as the principal writer for legislation to regulate this emerging investment market, which has the ability to add stability and efficiency for financial transactions, but also the potential to ruin livelihoods.  God has gifted others to serve as patent engineers who verify novel technological developments and guard against encroachment of previously protected designs, while others review construction and maintenance documents to ensure that nuclear power stations are operating safely and with equipment built to the standards necessary to prevent a meltdown. Some use their gifts to manage the important and ever-changing schedules of elected officials and appointees, while others write code to increase the accuracy and efficiency of payment systems for housing, food, education, healthcare, and veterans' benefits. God has gifted some men and women to lead entire Cabinet agencies, while others serve for years without any publicity or recognition. 

Serving Through Hospitality 

Notice that before Peter’s clear commendation of service in verses 10 and 11, he makes a more subtle but equally important charge to service in verse 9, instructing his readers to “Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.” 

In the first century, the church was growing rapidly and filling with Jews who had much in common. There were also Samaritans, Syrophoecians, Gentiles, not to mention converted Pharisees and Sadducees, slaves and slave-owners, governmental officials, and beggars. Each of these individuals was “being knit together into Christ, who is the head.” That knitting was being done by the Holy Spirit and could not be seen in the natural world. Hospitality is the outward manifestation of God’s declaration that, “you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:5 

As members of God’s house of worship, our hospitality reminds others that they are welcome and belong in the house with us, and we with them - regardless of ethnicity, education, party affiliation, and committee assignment. Serving and leading in the public square provides opportunities to act as a force multiplier seeking the welfare and flourishing of our country through encouraging what is good, restoring what is broken, creating what is missing, and opposing what is evil. It also provides regular on-ramps to conflict, quarrels, division, envy, jealousy, manipulation, making a name for yourself, and many other proclamations of the kingdom of darkness. 

Hospitality, both in homes throughout the week and during Sunday table-fellowship, strengthens believers for the service of proclaiming the excellencies of the one who called us out of darkness and into his marvelous light while we live as elect exiles, often on the weak end of a power differential. This enables us to reflect all of our efforts in the public square as spiritual sacrifices which bring glory to God, and leads Peter to break into doxology.

“in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

Application questions 

How has God used others to serve and bless you through hospitality? 

How has God used you to serve and bless others through hospitality?

What gifts of other servants and leaders have blessed you in, for, and through the public square?

What gifts have you used to bless others in, for, and through the public square?

[Faithful Prayer] 

  • Cabinet Agency: The servants and leaders at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and their Acting Chairman, Caroline D. Pham, as they steward financial regulation and work to effectively incorporate digital assets and cryptocurrency into America’s financial regulatory structure.

  • Think Tank, Lobby group, NGO: The Blockchain Association works to forge consensus on key policy solutions among regulators, lawmakers, and the public so that the digital asset economy can flourish in the United States.

  • Weekly delegation: The servants and leaders of the congressional delegation of Colorado. 

  • News events: The U.S. Department of the Treasury is currently receiving Requests for Comment required by the GENIUS Act, which furthers the Administration’s policy of supporting the responsible growth and use of digital assets. This request for comment offers the opportunity for interested individuals and organizations to provide feedback on innovative or novel methods, techniques, or strategies that regulated financial institutions use, or could potentially use, to detect illicit activity involving digital assets.  

  • Personal requests: For a senior staff member working on an important piece of legislation on cryptocurrency. For a couple who just closed on their first home! For a recently retired woman seeking God’s direction on where to use her gifts, after three decades of service at a critical government agency. For a couple who are settling into a one-year assignment overseas with their two children. For an administration official working on the implementation of significant aspects of the United States’ space policy. For Jen Ilchishin as she steps into the role of Director of Partnerships for Faithful Presence, and Nichole Rittgers, who is our new Ministry Assistant.

[The Page, The Pod & The Stack]

  • LISTEN to this FIRST → On August 11, Doug Wilson posted a personal commendation and response to the recent CNN interview, which has caused just a bit less public attention than Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement.

  • LISTEN to this NEXT → On the August 15th episode of The Bulletin (Christianity Today), Russell Moore and host Mike Cosper discussed Rev. Doug Wilson, his CNN interview, and the new church they are planting in Washington, D.C. 

  • READ this AFTER THAT → David Bahnsen, a former podcast guest, recently penned a measured and challenging essay on the manner in which well-known evangelical leaders are speaking out against Rev. Douglas Wilson (see above), “Serrated Edge for Me but not for Thee.”

     

  • STACK this FIRST → Dr. Chuck De Groat has a spot-on piece about language surrounding Christian character: What is Moral Failure, Anyway? How we minimize character issues with the language we use.

  • The Progressive Policy Center has a well-articulated perspective on the rise and fall of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiative: In a Liberal Society, Equity is a False Idol.

[What’s Happening?]

This Week 

Next week

  • Tuesday, September 9, 2025 • 10:00 – 11:30 am ET, CSIS hosts a hybrid event, Book Talk: The World’s Worst Bet with David J. Lynch, who will explain what went right and what went wrong on the opus for globalization, and what needs to change to preserve the benefits of global integration and to build prosperity for all Americans. 

  • Tuesday, September 9, 5:00 to 6:30 PM ET, AEI hosts a hybrid event, The Projects: A Book Event. Discussing his new book—The Projects: A New History of Public Housing—AEI’s Howard Husock will trace the rise and fall of America’s public housing system from its idealistic beginnings to its unintended consequences for low-income communities.

  • Wednesday, September 10, 10:30 AM - 11:45 am ET, Brookings hosts Anger, Fear, Domination: Dark Passions and the Power of Political Speech to discuss Brookings Senior Fellow William Galston’s new book of the same name. 

  • Thursday, September 11, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm ET, the Acton Institute presents an online event, Is There a Future for the Family? A panel of experts will explore themes such as the importance of family as an ideal for community health, the overlooked importance of fatherhood, and how economic factors such as inflation shape the incentive families face. 

  • Friday, September 12, 12:00 – 1:00 pm ET, Faith & Law’s Friday forum returns from August recess break with Religious Freedom: A 250-Year Perspective.

[Two Thumbs Up!] Album: “A Matter of Time,” Laufey

Earlier this summer, the 12-year-old son of some of our dear friends introduced me to the Icelandic-Chinese singer Laufey (Lay-vey). This occurred when he commented on the evening's background music, Julie London, a silky-voiced jazz and lounge singer who was hugely popular throughout the fifties and sixties. Calling on cultural awareness beyond his years, he said, “If you like her, I bet you will love Laufey!” He was right! 

As it turns out, Laufey is a bit of an international sensation who won a 2024 Grammy for the Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album, Bewitched. This is good news for lovers of jazz and lounge music because, despite occasional echoes of Taylor Swift’s pop vocals, that is where Laufey’s heart and soul reside. A classically trained cellist, Laufey, unlike Julie London, writes and produces her own music. 


Her newest album, A Matter of Time, dropped on Thursday, and it’s an exceptional mix of American Songbook stylings that do not shy away from the occasional use of raw and salty language, and a couple of tunes that would certainly be classified as Top 40 pop. Two of the album's best tracks are the past reminiscing and future lounge stand, Clockwork, and the anguish-filled Snow White, which paints a picture of the life foisted upon youth by social media. Every song on the album is musically tight with brilliant arrangements, and it is impeccably mixed. It’s just the right album to take the edge off a bad commute or a relaxing evening at home with a fire. Laufey is on tour now and coming to Washington, D.C. October 11th. And, just in case you’re wondering, the nod to Julie London is intentional.

[Last Things]

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