Friday, March 12, 2010

Chapter 21 - Freedom and Community

This may seem almost heretical coming from a student nearing the end of classes, but --- this chapter seemed a little light.

I very much appreciated how Drane started out. How many times have we heard someone say, "Hey, I'm going to church." How often have any of us said, "Yes dear, we can go to your mother's after church is over on Sunday." Or, maybe you've been asked by a fellow believer from a different congregation, "How do you guys do church?"

I wonder, along with Drane, what Paul would have thought about the heart behind these statements/question? The church is not a place, "a building nor a sect." (p. 381) How could I possibly go to it? If we agree with Paul's vision that "the church [is] indeed a new society," (p. 381) how can we possibly go somewhere after it is over? Not being an authority in eschatology my understanding may be a little shaky, but I don't think church is over until Christ returns. I think it's that last question (or some variant of it) that makes me the most excited. "How do you do church?" Friends, church is not a verb. One cannot be churched nor is one able to church.

The church is a body - it is the walking, talking active and physical presence of Christ in the midst of the people of this earth. Paul saw that the "Christian gospel [has] within it the power to transform relationships" (p. 382) and lives. I know all of us have seen those women and men who allow the truth of Christ in their lives to really settle in. The peace their lives exhibit - the desire they have to serve the people around them with all the gospel entails. How all of us should long to live the significance of the cross as they do.

We all have something different to offer - Christ's Spirit is equipping His people to reach the lost and to bring a message of peace to those who battle their Creator. Not one of us is more important than the others - we all have such significant missions to complete, together. Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians (or second or third....) plainly shows us that in the diversity that God bestows on the church, the Lord sees great unity (1 Cor. 12:4:13). The apostle's writing is amazing - just as we serve and are equipped for and by the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Unity in Diversity) the church is formed as different parts of one.

I started off by suggesting that this chapter seemed a little short, but maybe I was wrong. Maybe, in the end, the church needs a little talk and a lot of motion!

1 comment:

  1. Hey Paul. I appreciated your thoughts on this chapter. Especially your comment that church isn't over until Christ returns! I think changes to what we think 'church' is can happen through places like ADC as it seeks to equip individuals to serve Jesus through occupations like pastoring etc.

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