Mount Vernon Baptist Church is located on Mount Vernon Highway just a couple miles from the heart of Sandy Springs. Sandy Springs is north of Atlanta and, up until 2005, Sandy Springs was Atlanta!
A study that came out last month indicated that Sandy Springs is the ninth most affluent city in the country. I noticed there were some big houses around here. That explains it!
What is a pastor in Sandy Springs supposed to do with this kind of news? Here are my thoughts:
(1) Keep preaching the gospel. It is a sin to discriminate the rich as surely as it is a sin to discriminate against the poor. We all need the gospel. Sin is an equal opportunity employer. The primary mission of the church is to preach and pray. That is what we do and what, by God's grace, we will continue to do.
(2) Remember that the church is more than Sandy Springs. I certainly want us to target Sandy Springs with the gospel. I want us to be a source of light and hope to the community in which we live. Nonetheless, Mount Vernon is part of the greater Atlanta community. This means we draw people from beyond Sandy Springs. We need to remember that. Sandy Springs is our home and we are grateful for it, but not everyone who comes to church is from this affluent city.
(3) Know that not everyone in Sandy Springs is affluent. There is large immigrant community here. Most of the residents of Sandy Springs are simply middle-class Americans going about their daily business. We have many wealthy residents but we have many who are not. Most of our church is not wealthy. The average rarely the norm.
(4) Know what our idols are. Most everyone struggles with love of money. Simply driving past beautiful homes can stir ungodly thoughts up in our hearts. Out Mount Vernon, we should be aware of this and fight against it.
(5) Keep studying the Bible. A few weeks after this report came out, our Wednesday night Bible study group found itself in James 5:1-6 where James has some harsh words for those who are living in luxury and self-indulgence. God's timing is perfect. We are presently reflecting on our own hearts and how we can look for signs that we, too, love money in ways that don't please God.
Statistics or not, we live in a wealthy country and we will, one day, be held to account for how we used every cent the Lord has allowed us to possess. This is a sobering thought and a call for wisdom so that we can serve and give generously.
Comments