“The more genuine and the deeper our community becomes, the more will everything else between us recede, the more clearly and purely will Jesus Christ and his work become the one and only thing that is vital between us. We have one another only through Christ, but through Christ we do have one another, wholly, and for all eternity.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer – “Life Together”
Profoundly simple words drip from Bonhoeffer’s pen that seem to bleed outward from the page to the reality in which he found himself. His views will forever assist the soul of the Church I find myself a part of: and for this reason I come into communion with him. Not for his written eloquence, but for his love of and for Jesus Christ. His union with Jesus connects my union with the same and together we experience community. We become the "Body" of Christ, in Christ, and through Christ.
This same experience of union through Jesus Christ alone is evident within all communities of Christ. No matter the form in which the participants partake: Prayer, Fasting, Study, Fellowship, or Singing. However, it seems that in the act of singing we are at the most vulnerable for union within Christ, at least in the form of purely spiritual emotions. Song just seems to invoke the mystery of Christ more than rational debate or community fellowship. I dare say prayer and fasting would have the same effect if entered into with devout intention. But, for the modern day corporate group as a whole it seems praise and worship have no substitution.
To use a couple stanzas from the 1983 Pop song “Let the Music Play” by Shannon.
We started dancing
And love put us into a groove
As soon as we started to move
The music played
While our bodies
Displayed through the dance
Then love picked us out for romance
I thought it was clear
The plan was we would share
This feeling just between ourselves
But when the music changed
The plan was re-arranged
He went to dance with someone else
Simply replace “dance” with “song” or a rendering thereof and we have quite an insightful ditty. Love – Jesus – Spirit - puts us into a mood that allows connection between individuals. The danger here is if the music changes – the plan then re-arranges and the two or multiples become unconnected. There is only one form of song - that is the unity of Christ.
I pray we don’t change this song, but we keep the music. Jesus Christ is enough. Enough to put us into a groove. Enough for us to commune together through Jesus Christ.
"Take eat, this is My Body"
Matt. 26:26
The community is vital for our nourishment.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Friday, January 16, 2009
Faith "in" or Faith "of "
Matthew 15:21-28
Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession."
Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us."
He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."
The woman came and knelt before him. "Lord, help me!" she said.
He replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs."
"Yes, Lord," she said, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."
Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
A Canaanite woman, a gentile, expelled from the salvation of the Jewish God crawled before Jesus, a man, a rabbi whom had of late walked the earth healing and teaching.
This woman was not born into Judaism. This woman was unaware of the Law – both liturgically as well as practically. She also, at least at this point, seems to be an outsider to the new followers of Christ. Gentiles where not yet accepted, but the point is she does not hold any common or orthodox views of Christianity either. She is a heathen. A near perfect heathen.
But she had faith and her request was granted.
How can she have faith? She has not lived a life of devout ritual. She’s a heathen. She doesn’t even know the steps of salvation. Faith? Are we sure?
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pistis Christou
Apparently there are two schools of thought concerning the above mentioned Greek phraseology found throughout the Pauline epistles. (Rom 3:22, 26; Gal 2:16; 3:22; Phil 3:9) As I do not study Greek I must take upon the authority of the experts here and simply state that the traditional interpretation has been that of “faith in Christ” whereas in modern history there has been a more accurate reading of “faithfulness of Christ”
Mere semantics? I don’t know. Look closer. It may not be our faith in Christ that matters but our complete acceptance of Jesus, whom possesses a perfect faith in God and what God can do. In other words, the strength of my faith may be and is lesser in importance that the faith the Jesus possesses. Somehow we have to come into his faith, not ours.
Elementary?
Do we not sometimes get caught up in our own works; our own process? We say things like, “Well, if my faith was stronger.” or maybe the notion of, “I don’t pray, read, help, or love enough. If I could just do better.” Sometimes we may even project this thought onto each other, “He or She is just not “there” yet.” We think, maybe if there was a way to build their faith.
Possibly it is not our faith that saves, but the faith of Jesus. We simply need to align ourselves with Jesus.
Notice.
In the above story concerning Jesus and the gentile woman, we see that there is no way this woman had somehow walked through a lengthy orientation process into either Judaism or, although not yet completely formed, Christianity. She simply was at the mercy of God, at the mercy of this man named Jesus.
“Please save my daughter.”
If your daughter was in trouble, would you have a list of rituals to complete in order to activate your God? Would you rely on your own righteousness to turn the face of God? Or would you, in broken tears, melt into a puddle of humility grasping at any assistance that God may through your way.
Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession."
Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us."
He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."
The woman came and knelt before him. "Lord, help me!" she said.
He replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs."
"Yes, Lord," she said, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."
Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
A Canaanite woman, a gentile, expelled from the salvation of the Jewish God crawled before Jesus, a man, a rabbi whom had of late walked the earth healing and teaching.
This woman was not born into Judaism. This woman was unaware of the Law – both liturgically as well as practically. She also, at least at this point, seems to be an outsider to the new followers of Christ. Gentiles where not yet accepted, but the point is she does not hold any common or orthodox views of Christianity either. She is a heathen. A near perfect heathen.
But she had faith and her request was granted.
How can she have faith? She has not lived a life of devout ritual. She’s a heathen. She doesn’t even know the steps of salvation. Faith? Are we sure?
---------------------------------------------------------------------
pistis Christou
Apparently there are two schools of thought concerning the above mentioned Greek phraseology found throughout the Pauline epistles. (Rom 3:22, 26; Gal 2:16; 3:22; Phil 3:9) As I do not study Greek I must take upon the authority of the experts here and simply state that the traditional interpretation has been that of “faith in Christ” whereas in modern history there has been a more accurate reading of “faithfulness of Christ”
Mere semantics? I don’t know. Look closer. It may not be our faith in Christ that matters but our complete acceptance of Jesus, whom possesses a perfect faith in God and what God can do. In other words, the strength of my faith may be and is lesser in importance that the faith the Jesus possesses. Somehow we have to come into his faith, not ours.
Elementary?
Do we not sometimes get caught up in our own works; our own process? We say things like, “Well, if my faith was stronger.” or maybe the notion of, “I don’t pray, read, help, or love enough. If I could just do better.” Sometimes we may even project this thought onto each other, “He or She is just not “there” yet.” We think, maybe if there was a way to build their faith.
Possibly it is not our faith that saves, but the faith of Jesus. We simply need to align ourselves with Jesus.
Notice.
In the above story concerning Jesus and the gentile woman, we see that there is no way this woman had somehow walked through a lengthy orientation process into either Judaism or, although not yet completely formed, Christianity. She simply was at the mercy of God, at the mercy of this man named Jesus.
“Please save my daughter.”
If your daughter was in trouble, would you have a list of rituals to complete in order to activate your God? Would you rely on your own righteousness to turn the face of God? Or would you, in broken tears, melt into a puddle of humility grasping at any assistance that God may through your way.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Actualize
I was confronted this week with an option.
1. To offer comfort
or
2. To seek comfort.
I chose to seek comfort. I failed.
---------------------------------
Paul offers a charge to the churches of Galatia,
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” 6:2
Christ, “the power of God and the wisdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:24)
In failing Christ, I lost a taste of holy wisdom for the sake of bodily comfort.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Although, more than likely there was no quote unquote “Actual Sin” involved, which in context may be what Paul is referring to in Galatians. However, there was a moment when, if even in small quantity, a brother was reaching out for comfort. Sure, he has other avenues of comfort, mainly Christ’s Spirit that dwells within him. But, I was there. I was the physical representation of Christ --- or was I? Apparently not.
Life is full of activities – schedules to keep – others to care for…but when an occasion arises for one to take a pause and ache with a brother…when a chance to dive into the practical wisdom of God shows its face…Do not take my advice but look to Christ and then join with Christ in offering comfort to all those in need. These moments when the fire of the Holy God wells up within us are not meant to be experienced in solitude alone. They are meant to be shared in community, shared with a brother, shared with a sister. There is a deep connection found in the unity of Christ. Don’t let these depths be found only in theory – live them – break down the walls of division and unite…with others…in Christ…in God –
Experience the Power.
For what it is worth, my heart cried in passionate anguish for the need of this brother and for all related to the issue at hand, even though I have no idea to this day what the issue is or was. If there is unity to be found in Spirit – I savored this in full, but I wonder what sort of power would have been unleashed if I would have found unity in practice, in person, in simply offering my presence.
We need more efforts in actualizing the Kingdom, not simply conceptualizing it.
1. To offer comfort
or
2. To seek comfort.
I chose to seek comfort. I failed.
---------------------------------
Paul offers a charge to the churches of Galatia,
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” 6:2
Christ, “the power of God and the wisdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:24)
In failing Christ, I lost a taste of holy wisdom for the sake of bodily comfort.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Although, more than likely there was no quote unquote “Actual Sin” involved, which in context may be what Paul is referring to in Galatians. However, there was a moment when, if even in small quantity, a brother was reaching out for comfort. Sure, he has other avenues of comfort, mainly Christ’s Spirit that dwells within him. But, I was there. I was the physical representation of Christ --- or was I? Apparently not.
Life is full of activities – schedules to keep – others to care for…but when an occasion arises for one to take a pause and ache with a brother…when a chance to dive into the practical wisdom of God shows its face…Do not take my advice but look to Christ and then join with Christ in offering comfort to all those in need. These moments when the fire of the Holy God wells up within us are not meant to be experienced in solitude alone. They are meant to be shared in community, shared with a brother, shared with a sister. There is a deep connection found in the unity of Christ. Don’t let these depths be found only in theory – live them – break down the walls of division and unite…with others…in Christ…in God –
Experience the Power.
For what it is worth, my heart cried in passionate anguish for the need of this brother and for all related to the issue at hand, even though I have no idea to this day what the issue is or was. If there is unity to be found in Spirit – I savored this in full, but I wonder what sort of power would have been unleashed if I would have found unity in practice, in person, in simply offering my presence.
We need more efforts in actualizing the Kingdom, not simply conceptualizing it.
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