Editor’s Note: Shortly after this letter was sent to Jersey Shore Online, police made an arrest!
Recently, someone cut the muffler off of our church van in a botched attempt to steal the catalytic converter. Thankfully, one of my pastors scared the would-be thief off before he could complete the theft. The incident left many of my fellow church members shocked and saddened that someone would brazenly attempt such a crime against a church, (in the midst of the Christmas season no less)! But I know my pastors well enough to say that this incident actually helps us focus on the true meaning of Christmas, if we view it in the correct light.
The Apostle Paul, in 1 Timothy 1:15, wrote “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” The real meaning of Christmas, the reason we celebrate, is because God sent His Son here to live and die so that anyone…anyone (even those who attempt to steal from churches in broad daylight) can be made right with God and forgiven of the worst possible sins! That goes for the would-be thief if he’s reading this, but it also goes for everyone…everyone who feels themself to be the worst sinner who ever lived, as Paul did, and then receives the gift of Christ that God the Father gave the world (see John 3:16).
On behalf of Whiting Bible Church I am confident to say that we applaud the efforts of the Manchester Police Department as they seek to apprehend the suspect(s) in this crime. That being said, we hold no ill will towards the thief, we only pray that they, too, would experience the True Meaning of Christmas.
Chet Jelinski
Whiting
