“And anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

We just hired a new Dean of The College of Liberal Arts at Purdue.  I was involved in the search and I am very pleased with the early feedback from how the new Dean is onboarding.  In his first letter to the Faculty, Student and Alumni, he wrote this: “As I embark on this new challenge, I am reminded of the Athenian Oath which was recited by the citizens of Athens, Greece over 2,000 years ago. It obligated every citizen to fight for ideal and sacred things, alone and with many, to revere the institution’s traditions, to instill a reverence and respect for those who may hold different views, to strive to instill a sense of civic duty, and to leave the institution not less, but greater and more beautiful than it was transmitted to us”.  We would think it hokey, cult-like and somehow indentured if we had each new employee take an oath or a pledge on how they will contribute, work and support the organization and their fellow employees.  Yet, we ask elected officials to do so, professionals who earn degrees like doctors, and those who protect and serve us.  Why do we stop short when it comes to when we hire on the new employee?  If we don’t think we can ask for the oath or pledge, is there some other way that we have an employee feeling as they are more a part of the organization than just squaring up every two weeks with a paycheck?

We read in the book of Acts that our salvation is open and welcome to all and only requires on us to believe, accept and call Jesus our Lord.  When we accept Him as as our Savior then we have indeed become a citizen of His Kingdom and carry all of the responsibilities that come with being a believer.  How awesome is all that is given to us?  To not recognize, respect, be grateful and joyous is to only miss out on the more and more that is to come.

Reference: Acts 2:21 (New Living Translation)