Musings on the Body of Christ
Ever wonder how we can fully accept the Spirit of Christ while keeping his Body at arm's length?
Ever wonder why so much of the bible deals with the way we treat others instead of our jobs?
Recently, I had occasion to hear a confession from a brother, then confess a fault of mine to that brother, and found my sin easier to deal with almost immediately. There is something about that confession which speaks of Body life and health, yet we do so little of it in the CoC (in my experience). I wonder what it would be like to be close enough to many brothers and sisters to confess without fear. In the past, one of my children wanted to confess everything to me, and I declined because of the pain. If you read this, my dear child, I was wrong, and I apologize. I should have been willing to hear it all, and help bear your burden. Confession is a way of allowing the cleansing springs of God to wash over us.
Jesus went about on this earth loving the sick, healthy, poor, rich, weak, strong, sinner, saints, everyone. The people he loved that are most noticed by us are the poor, sick and weak, and sinners. Is that because I relate to the others, or just because they are the more loveable group? With whom do I tend to identify? Hmmm.
If Jesus thought we could make the Christian life work by ourselves, why do we have church? And... if we believe that church is part of his plan, why do we sometimes act more like a social club and often nothing at all like the church in the New Testament? Do we gather to hear a great lesson, study the bible, have some great singing? We could, in today's environment, do those all by ourselves...
What is the proper response of the Body of Christ to the lost? Is it love and acceptance, or indifference? Hopefully we can all say "love and acceptance". Now, what about those way past lost? Do we bear that same attitude toward the militant Muslims who choose to be terrorists? If I had been born in another country, to another religion, I could have been a terrorist myself, but for God's sparing of my soul in His grace. Do our churches pray enough that our enemies would come to live under the grace of Jesus? Wouldn't that end the war(s)? It is in the Body that we come to see that we can be so very different yet be one, once enemies now brothers, the lion and the lamb content to rest together without fear and without that pesky "predator and prey" thing. I wonder what Christ's "dream church" would look like, after all....
Ever wonder how we can accept the Spirit of Christ while keeping his Body at arm's length?
Ever wonder why so much of the bible deals with the way we treat others instead of our jobs?
Recently, I had occasion to hear a confession from a brother, then confess a fault of mine to that brother, and found my sin easier to deal with almost immediately. There is something about that confession which speaks of Body life and health, yet we do so little of it in the CoC (in my experience). I wonder what it would be like to be close enough to many brothers and sisters to confess without fear. In the past, one of my children wanted to confess everything to me, and I declined because of the pain. If you read this, my dear child, I was wrong, and I apologize. I should have been willing to hear it all, and help bear your burden. Confession is a way of allowing the cleansing springs of God to wash over us.
Jesus went about on this earth loving the sick, healthy, poor, rich, weak, strong, sinner, saints, everyone. The people he loved that are most noticed by us are the poor, sick and weak, and sinners. Is that because I relate to the others, or just because they are the more loveable group? With whom do I tend to identify? Hmmm.
If Jesus thought we could make the Christian life work by ourselves, why do we have church? And... if we believe that church is part of his plan, why do we sometimes act more like a social club and often nothing at all like the church in the New Testament? Do we gather to hear a great lesson, study the bible, have some great singing? We could, in today's environment, do those all by ourselves...
What is the proper response of the Body of Christ to the lost? Is it love and acceptance, or indifference? Hopefully we can all say "love and acceptance". Now, what about those way past lost? Do we bear that same attitude toward the militant Muslims who choose to be terrorists? If I had been born in another country, to another religion, I could have been a terrorist myself, but for God's sparing of my soul in His grace. Do our churches pray enough that our enemies would come to live under the grace of Jesus? Wouldn't that end the war(s)? It is in the Body that we come to see that we can be so very different yet be one, once enemies now brothers, the lion and the lamb content to rest together without fear and without that pesky "predator and prey" thing. I wonder what Christ's "dream church" would look like, after all....
Ever wonder how we can accept the Spirit of Christ while keeping his Body at arm's length?
posted by G'ampa C @ 5:36 PM
3 Comments:
At 4:01 PM,
Anonymous said…
I love you, Daddy. You have always shown the Father's love to me, and your arms have always been a place of safe refuge and warmth for me.
My past (and the confession of it) is currently allowing me to teach other girls and mentor them. I have been cleansed, and the Lord has taken care of me.
I hope I bring you joy now, and I'm sorry for the pain I've caused.
Love you, and thank you for the example of Christ that you are to me and to others.
At 7:20 PM,
G'ampa C said…
Daddy's girl-
Your words make me cry. And, yes, you bring me joy and I love you very much, indeed.
I feel bummed tonight about something...
I found out tonight that I wasn't there for someone who needed me. I failed to be a true member of the Body when another was in trouble. Sometimes we really mess up without realizing it. I am sorry, my friend, if you read this. I am also asking forgiveness for me and for the rest of us who neglected to stand by you. No excuses.
Love you.
At 2:24 PM,
Anonymous said…
Dear friend, you brought tears to my eyes, because I did not share to bum you out. Sometimes we are in places where we cannot do what we would like to do. I know you are always willing to do what you can. I know your heart and there is no need for forgiveness. But the question of my heart is this: Are we not called to go beyond Sunday and Wednesday nights if we are to be family? Do we not reach out the rest of the week as well? Can we really be family if we show caring only the few hours of the week that we are assembled together? Daddy's girl is so right - the Lord has cleansed us and you are an example of Christ to us and others. Bless you, both.
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