Because I know them…
Inheritor of Heaven has a blog called “once dead, now alive“. In a recent post called “What Did I See Today At Worship?“, he describes the other followers of Christ that he meets with. He doesn’t using glowing terms to describe the people, because they are real people with real hurts and real needs… just like he is… just like I am… and just like you are. How does he know so much about these people? Well, this is what he says:
How do I know this? Because I know them, I have ongoing relationships with many of them. I have prayed with them and for them and their families. I have eaten with them and celebrated with them. I have fished and hunted with them. I have served alongside them. I have taught them or their children. I have studied with them and worshipped with them. They have prayed with me and with my family. They have brought us food and visited us at the hospital. In many ways they are my family. We are brothers and sisters in Christ.
I love this! He does not know and love these people because they are like him, but because they share a common bond in Christ – they are family. He goes on to explain how knowing these people has changed him. Isn’t it amazing how God can use people who are different from us – who have different opinions from us, who have different concerns from us – to work in our lives and change us and help us mature in Christ. We are a family in Christ so that we can help one another grow towards our Father.
Do you know the people who the Father has placed around you? If not, why not start getting to know them better today? Call them. Write them. Visit them. Invite them to your house. Talk to them. Listen to them. They are our family. Shouldn’t we treat them as family?
Why do we care about the church?
A couple of days ago, I asked you, my readers, to introduce yourselves to me and to the other readers. I also asked you to answer this question: “Why are you interested in the church?” (By the way, it is not too late to introduce yourself and respond to this question. See “Please allow me to introduce myself“.) Several responded. Since the responses about the church encouraged and challenged me, I thought I would take this opportunity to compile an edited version here. I am not attempting to put words into anyone’s mouth with this post. Instead, I’m using the responses of my readers to help express my own thoughts. Feel free to continue adding your own thoughts as well.
So… why do we care about the church?
God has adopted us into his family. He adopted us completely by his grace and not because of anything that we have done or think or will do or will think. He demonstrated his love for his children by coming to earth as a human, teaching us how to relate to the Father and to one another, living a sinless life, dieing on behalf of our sins, rising from the dead, and continuing to make intercession for us.
We are now children of God, part of God’s family – a present family, as well as an eternal family. God has confirmed our relationship with him by indwelling us with his Holy Spirit. Through the Spirit we relate to God, to other members of God’s family, and with the world around us. The Spirit prompts us to move toward God in faith and obedience, and to move toward one another in love and unity.
Jesus gathers his followers (the Father’s children) together into an assembly of God’s family through the work of the Spirit. This Spirit-assembled group is the church. As the church lives and works and loves and cares and laughs and cries and learns and grows, it becomes a community – a people that share a common existence in God through Jesus Christ enabled by the Spirit.
The church sometimes operates within organizations and structures and models and methods and programs, but these are not the church. God’s children continually follow the Spirit so that organizations and structures and models and methods and programs do not displace the church.
We recognize differences in one another, but work to maintain the unity of the one body, one faith because their is only one Spirit, one Lord, and one Father. We do not criticize one another, but we do teach one another. We do not ridicule one another, but we do attempt to understand one another. We do not exclude one another, but we do accept one another. We are family.
The children of God do not simply meet together, but much more importantly, they live together as family. They spend time with one another and encourage one another to grow in maturity in Christ (since none of them are perfect) through their words and their deeds. They recognize that the Spirit is working in their midst and desire to see one another exhibiting the fruit of his presence through demonstrations of love and good works.
These demonstrations of love and good works are directed toward brothers and sisters in Christ, but also toward those outside of God’s family. The Spirit of God works through the Father’s children in order to carry out God’s mission on earth. This mission is the Spirit-led and Spirit-enabled responsibility of every child of God – individually and corporately.
Individually or together, in small groups or in large, we recognize only one Lord, one Master, one Shepherd. We belong to our Lord and submit as his servants and servants of one another. We do not promote ourselves, but humble ourselves. We accept that when we work and when we serve and when we teach and when we give and when we make disciples and when we get our hands dirty – when we are following our Master, we are simply servants doing the work of servants, and we desire and deserve nothing.
We go when our Master says, “Go.” We speak when our Master gives us the words. We serve when our Master provides the strength. At other times, we wait for our Master, recognizing that we are nothing and can do nothing apart from him. But, we also know that He loves us – not because of anything in us, but because of who he is.
Why do we care about the church? Because the people who gather together are our family. Because God loves them and cares about them. Because Jesus died for them. Because the Spirit indwells them. Because we need them.
What position do you play?
A few days ago, our son started playing football. He has wanted to play football for several years now. This has been difficult because we homeschool, and the local schools do not allow homeschool students to take part in school sponsored athletic activities. Last Spring, we heard about a local Pop Warner league, so we registered our son to play.
On the first or second day of practice, the coach called all the boys together and started talking to them about positions. He asked the boys which position is the most important position on the team. Several of the boys said, “Quarterback”, but the coach corrected them. He said, “There is not ‘most important’ position on a football team. Every position is just as important as another position. If we have the most talented quarterback of any team in our league, but our other positions are not played well, then our team will not succeed.”
Wow… if only the church could understand this philosophy. We place so much emphasis on those “special positions” – those “up front positions” – like “ministers” and “staff” and “pastors” and “elders” – that we forget that every believer is just as important as any other for the proper functioning and growth of the body of Christ.
By the way, this is not just good teamwork philosophy; this is scriptural. For example, consider this passage from Ephesians:
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:15-16 ESV)
Notice that, according to Paul, the church builds itself up in love when the whole body (that would be every follower of Christ) works together as they are equipped. In fact, Paul stresses the necessity for every believer to work together four times in verse 16: 1) whole body, 2) joined and held together, 3) every joint with which it is equipped, and 4) each part is working properly.
But, what about those unimportant believers – you know, those who never seem to “get with the program”, who never seem to “carry their fair share of the load”, who never seem to “get involved and get committed”. Does the growth of the body of Christ depend on “those people”? Yes! When we discount certain believers – when we give up on them – then we are hobbling the body of Christ – we are shackling the church.
Every believer is important. And, those believers who we consider less important – less gifted – less able – less anything – God gives greater honor:
On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. (1 Corinthians 12:22-25 ESV)
It’s time for the church to stop honoring “Christian celebrities”, and recognize that each believer is important and necessary to the proper working of the church of God. God has placed the members in the church according to his will (1 Cor. 12:18). When we decide that one member is not as important or not necessary, then we are working against God. When we place one member above other in importance or necessity, then we are working against God.
For many, many years, the church has trained the quarterback and allowed him to run all the plays, while, for the most part, ignoring other members of the team. Meanwhile, the quarterbacks have basked in the accolades of the crowd, accepting the superior position offered by the church, hoping to be traded to the next Super Bowl team. A football team cannot succeed if every position is not played well. A church – the body of Christ – will not grow as God intends if every member is not recognized as important and necessary and if every member is not functioning as God has gifted him or her.
Perhaps it is time for a few quarterbacks to find their place on the line, helping the linemen in their responsibilities. Or perhaps they can split out wide and help the receivers run their routes. Or perhaps… just perhaps… they should sit out a few plays, and allow God to use others as he has equipped. Those people are part of the church for a reason.
What position do you play?
Loneliness in church…
A couple of days ago, while reading my blog, someone searched for the phrase “loneliness in church” using the search field at the top of the page. When I first saw that, I was heartbroken.
After praying for the person who searched for this string and for the believers that this person meets with, I began to remember times when I was in a church meeting with many other people and yet felt lonely. Times of solitude (being alone) are important, but solitude is not the same as loneliness.
I can remember times of sitting on a pew or in a chair, surrounding by many people, and hoping that someone would ask, “How are you?” More importantly, I was hoping that when they asked, they would actually be concerned enough to listen to my answer. I can remember being completely turned off by “fellowship” that was defined as “shake as many hands as possible while the piano and organ plays the next verse”.
I have to admit, also, that I have been on the other side of this kind of relationship. There have been times when someone has cried out for help (even cried out silently), but I only shook their hand or gave them a hug. Sometimes, I recognized right away the cry for help or a listening ear. Other times, I was so busy getting to the next person that I failed to notice until it was pointed out to me.
It was this type of reaction – uncaring, too busy, pat-on-the-back, next please – that convinced me (for a time) that no one really believed what they preached and taught. And, now, I find myself walking this same road all too often.
Loneliness in church… think about it. A group of people, indwelled by the Spirit, surrendered to the will of God, obeying Him in everything, loving one another, considering others as more important than themselves, accepting others who are different, bearing with one another, giving to those who are in need, encouraging one another… and, yet, someone could meet together with this group and feel lonely.
Certainly this works both ways. Those of us who are hurting should feel free to admit our hurt and need to our brothers and sisters. Those of us who are not hurting should be prepared to serve our brothers and sisters who are hurting and in need.
But, what is it that keeps us from sincerely practicing the “one anothers” that we find in Scripture? Why do we recognize that God gave us one another for a reason, then fail to share our lives with one another? Why do we recognize hurting people, but decide not to get involved? Why do we recognize loneliness in our lives, but decide not tell others?
Lonely people are real. Hurting people are real. Grieving people are real. Needy people are real. Hungry people are real. They are meeting together with us, singing the same songs as us, listening to the same teaching as us. They are our brothers and sisters. They are lonely… are we lonely with them? They are hurting… are we hurting with them? They are grieving… are we grieving with them? They are needy… are we needy with them? They are hungry… are we hungry with them? Why not?
[UPDATE: After writing this blog post, an anonymous reader left a poignant comment on a previous post. I believe that comment is one of the most important (if not THE most important) things ever written on my blog. My question and challenge to you is this: 1) Do you know other believers well enough to know when they are hurting or lonely? 2) Do you respond when God shows you that another believer is hurting or lonely? 3) Do you frequently give (of your time, money, energy) even when there is nothing for you to gain in return?]
Kuiper on Unity…
A few months ago, a friend gave me a copy of The Glorious Body of Christ by R.B. Kuiper (who died in 1966). I have not had the chance to read it yet, but I was able to skim it a few nights ago. I was pleasantly surprised by what Kuiper said about unity:
It can hardly be denied that ideally the church of Christ should be one in outward appearance as well as inner reality. In that respect it ought to resemble the apostolic church, which certainly was intended in the main as a pattern for the church of succeeding ages… In the measure in which the visible church fails to manifest that attribute [unity], outward appearance belies inner reality.
For that reason the notion, which has long been prevalent in orthodox circles, that denominationalism is perfectly proper insofar as it is occasioned by God-appointed natural factors, must be rejected. The fact that Christians speak different languages is a poor excuse for their dwelling apart in different denominations. As it is, there are denominations in which several languages are employed. It is difficult to see why a dozen or more could not be used in one communion. Again, if geographical distance ever was a valid reason for denominationalism, it can hardly be so regarded in this age of fast travel and almost instantaneous communication. It is not nearly as far from New York to Shanghai today as it was from Jerusalem to Rome in the days of the apostle Paul. And as for differences in racial traits, Christians do well to remember that in Christ there is neither Greek nor Jew, Barbarian nor Scythian, white man nor colored.
The ideal is clear. However, no less clear is the fact that the basic cause of division within the church of Christ, namely sin, is operating as powerfully today as it was in the past and that beyond all reasonable doubt it will continue to operate as powerfully in time to come…
Shall we then discard the ideal? God forbid! It is of the essence of Christianity to strive for the unattainable.
Kuiper says that sin is the basic cause of division within the church. As I’ve studied this previously (for example, see “Is unity important?“), I’ve found that Scripture only gives us a few reasons to separate from another follower of Christ: unrepentant sin (Matt 18:15-20; 1 Cor 5:1-5), disorderliness (2 Thess 3:6), refusal to work (2 Thess 3:7-10), false teaching (contrary to the Gospel, not contrary to YOU and your tradition) (2 Thess 3:14-15; 1 Tim 1:20; 2 John 10-11), and divisiveness (Rom 16:17-18; Titus 3:10-11). If we separate ourselves from other brothers and sisters in Christ for any other reasons, then we are guilty of divisiveness, which is sin.
Kuiper says that neither language, nor geographic distance, nor race are reasons for groups of believers to separate from one another. What about the more prevalent reasons today? What about differences in biblical interpretations? You know, those pet “doctrines” that are so important to us, but are interpreted differently by other believers. If these “doctrines” do not teach contrary to the gospel, then they are not reasons to separate from other believers. What about what is commonly called “worship style”? Again, this is not a reason to separate from other believers. What about leadership style? Nowhere in Scripture are we told to separate from other believers because we disagree with someone’s leadership style.
Can we, like Kuiper, admit that separating for these reasons admit to divisiveness, which is sin? I think that once we admit that the divisiveness that we see in the church today is sin, then we are making the first step toward unity. And, if we are honest and admit that we are partly responsible for this division, we are taking another step toward the unity that we have in Christ. And, if we then stop trying to be united by our own means, and rely completely on the grace of God, and live in unity even with those believers who are not just like us, we are again beginning to walk in unity. Can we truly begin to maintain unity as we are instructed? Can we humble ourselves before God, stop trying to prove ourselves right in everything, and accept other believers as Christ accepted us, and trust other believers to accept us (in spite of our problems and errors!)?
We are one in Christ. If we are not living as one, then are we living in Christ?
When "long distance" friends change…
In a previous post called “When friends move…“, I began to examine how believers can maintain relationships over long distances (i.e. when one or more friends move). Also, I hope to tie this back to implications for the church and fellowship between believers in general.
First, remember that we should not expect to maintain a “long distance” relationship if there was not real relationship to begin with. We can spend time with someone every day for years without a real relationship. A surface level acquaintance is not the same as a real relationship. But, if we have a real relationship with someone, if God has used us to impact their lives, and if God has used them to impact our lives, then we should expect the relationship to continue. In fact, just as Paul, James, John, and other New Testament authors were able to maintain “long distance” friendships using only first century communication methods, we should expect to be able to maintain “long distance” friendships even easier.
What about change? What happens when one person changes his or her views in a certain area, but the “long distance friend” does not? First, I would suggest that change should be expected, and both parties should expect change in their own lives and in the lives of their friends. I would suggest that if someone does not change, then there is a problem with their relationship with God. (Certainly, this does not mean that a person has to change their beliefs in a given area, but change in general should be expected.) As a person is sanctified by the Holy Spirit, that person’s life changes. When we have opportunity to get together with “long distance friends”, we should rejoice and relish the change that God has wrought in their lives. This change should be an opportunity of further exploring the greatness and wonder of God and how he works in our lives.
Problems occur, of course, when friends begin to look at changes as right or wrong without considering their relationships – without listening to their friends. If a friend believers something different, it does not mean that we must stop being their friends. It means, instead, that should listen carefully to what God may be saying to us through this friend, and at the same time, expecting God to teach our friends through our own life-change. (Unless, of course, there is no change in our life, which, as I said, may indicate a problem between ourselves and God.)
If we think through this, however, we can recognize that people are always changing. The difference between change in the lives of “long distance” friends and change in the life of friends who live near us is that we witness the change in the lives of friends who live near us as that change is taking place. For “near” friends, that change happens in small steps. We see each small step instead of the big change that actually happens over time. However, in the case of “long distance” friends, we may not witness the small changes, and so we see all change as “big” changes.
Talking to or meeting with a “long distance” friend who has changed should be an opportunity of joy and excitement of hearing what God has done in their lives, instead of an opportunity of anxiety because our friend has changed. Of course, this will require love and acceptance from both parties and directed toward both parties.
When friends move…
Next week, some friends of ours (Ed and Leah from “Our Payneful Memories“) will be moving across the country. In a seminary or university environment, this happens frequently. In fact, friends of ours now live in different places around the world. This upcoming move has prompted several of us to have conversations dealing with maintaining relationships and fellowship over long distances.
Now, some people deal with friendships with the old adage “out of sight, out of mind”. They may not speak that outright, or admit that this is their view, but by their life they demonstrate that friendships are not maintained over long distances.
For our family, this has not always been the case. We have several friendships that have been maintained in spite of one or both parties moving – sometimes after several moves.
What is the relationship between long distance friendships and the church? Well, apparently, Paul and other New Testament authors were able to maintain their relationships with believers who were several thousand miles away. And, these relationships were maintained using first century communication methods. In fact, it seems that Paul, Timothy, Titus, Peter, and other New Testament figures not only maintained friendships with people over long distances, but they also expected these relationships to continue to grow and mature in Christ. They expected to see one another again and to continue in fellowship with one another when they did see one another.
In several passages, Paul referenced his relationships with believers who were far away from him. Yet, he not only maintained these relationships, but he continued to treasure them. He recognized the impact that he had on the lives of “long distance” friends, and the impact that they had on his life. Apparently, for Paul, God could work through the lives of individuals even when they were not face to face. But, there was still something special for Paul (and John) in communicating and interacting with these believers face to face.
There is an assumption that must be considered. If friends move away, we should not expect relationship to continue if they only existed on a surface level. It is possible to be acquainted with someone over a long stretch of time, but develop no real friendship. If there is no relationship to begin with, then we should not expect this to continue when the “friends” move away. Perhaps, when we have difficulty maintaining relationships over long distances, this difficulty says more about our relationships than it does about the distance.
For Paul, Peter, James, and other New Testament authors, fellowship between believers continued even when those believers were separated by thousands of miles. These relationships continued in spite of the limitations of first century communication methods. Today, when believers share this same type of fellowship which is created by the Spirit, maintaining that relationships should be much easier. If not, the distance is not the culprit, but the relationships itself.
Selling and distributing…
Luke records this amazing fact about the believers just after Pentecost:
And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. (Acts 2:45 ESV)
Has anyone ever experienced something like this, either affecting yourself or someone you know? Is this common or uncommon today? Why?
When Christians miss their friends…
A couple of days ago, some friends invited us to their home for dinner. Another brother joined us. I was excited to see him because I had not seen him in a few months. We had a wonderful dinner complete with a delicious smoothie – just the thing for a warm summer evening.
After dinner, as we talked about various subjects, our brother talked briefly about his life before he began following Christ. He talked about being a part of the clubbing and bar scenes. He said something very interesting. He said that he did not miss the drinking and dancing, but he did miss the friendships. He didn’t miss the particular friends that he hung out with at the clubs and bars. Instead, he missed having friends that he could just hang with… be himself with.
I’ve talked to many, many Christians who have come out of the club and bar scenes. Every one of them have told me the same thing as this brother. They miss the social aspect of their former lives.
As we were talking with this brother, we realized has twisted it was that unbelievers are better at socializing than believers. (I realize that this is a generalization. But, I think it holds in many, many cases.) Shouldn’t it be just the opposite? Since believers are connected to one another by the fellowship of the Spirit, shouldn’t we have a better sense of fellowship, community, and socialization than those who are not indwelled by the Spirit?
When Christians miss their friends… something is wrong. Perhaps we have become so busy doing things, that we have forgotten the people that God has placed us among. Perhaps we have forgotten that the Spirit in us drives us to love God and love others.
I don’t know the answer to this. I have seen it over and over again. I know that I have been part of several churches, and I am just beginning to understanding what it means to share my life with other believers. Before, I always shared programs and functional responsibilities. Now, God is teaching me how to share myself.
I also wonder if we have put such an emphasis on attendance that we have forgotten the purpose of gathering together in the first place: to encourage one another. Perhaps we have become so busy counting bodies in seats that we have failed to notice when someone attends without encouraging others and without being encouraged themselves.
When Christians miss their friends… something is wrong. And, too many Christians miss their friendships and socialization they had before Christ.
Jesus abides with me and I can abide with him
I was tagged by Bryan at “Charis Shalom” to post five things I dig about Jesus. I enjoyed thinking through this meme, so I decided to blog about each of my five things. The last thing on my list is that Jesus abides with me and I can abide with him. I have been meditating on this for a few weeks now. I have many questions, but I’m going to save those for another blog post.
Adam and Eve walked with God in the Garden. Enoch walked with God. Noah walked with God. Skip ahead, and we see the apostles, other disciples, and other people walking with Jesus. Jesus stayed in people’s homes. He lived with them. God – in human form – lived with people – what an amazing act of love!
Just before Jesus’ death, he told his disciples something important and extraordinary. First, Jesus promised that he would abide – dwell with – remain with his follower. Then he said, “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” (John 16:7 ESV) First, Jesus explained how the Helper – the Holy Spirit – would convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment.
But, the coming of the Helper would bring another advantage to those who belong to Christ: “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” (John 16:13 ESV) According to Jesus, having this Spirit of truth, this Helper, was more advantageous to his followers than having him there in the flesh.
This is the same Helper that we have with us today. Jesus abides with us today. He abides with us today even closer than he lived with believers while he was physically present on this earth. His spiritual presence is better for us than his physical presence. We don’t understand everything that means, but he promised us that it was true.
Because Jesus abides with us through the Holy Spirit, he could promise, “I am with you always.” (Matthew 28:20) Because we are indwelled by the Spirit of Christ, the author of Hebrews can quote God as saying, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5 ESV) Then we can respond, along with the author of Hebrews, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6 ESV)
Because Jesus abides with us, we can abide with him. We can walk in the Spirit and walk in the light. His words can dwell in us richly. We can deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow him. Because we have fellowship with Christ through the Spirit, we have fellowship with the Father, and we have fellowship with one another. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit.
Because Jesus abides with us, he speaks to us, and we can hear him and speak to him. He directs us, and we can follow. He enables us, and we can serve. He teaches us, and we can be encouraged and encourage others. He changes us, and we can mature into Christlikeness – becoming more like him.
We do not have to go anywhere to get to God. We do not have to do anything to summon God. We do not have to say any incantation to speak to God. We do not have to possess any trinket to access God. God dwells in us through the person of his Holy Spirit. Here. Now. Real. True. Close. Closer.
When we fail… when we sin… when we fall… when we lose hope… when we are angry… when we are discouraged… when we are hurt… when we are frightened… when we try and try and try… Jesus abides with us, and he speaks his words to us: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28 ESV)
When we are immature… when we are teachable… when we listen… when we are growing… when we follow… when we stop trying… Jesus abides with us, and he speaks his words to us: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:29 ESV)
When we are pressured… when we are busy… when we are harried… when we are burdened… when we are religious… Jesus abides with us, and he speaks his words to us: “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:30 ESV)
Jesus abides with us. And, we can abide with him.