I say, know who the church is and love wildly. That's going to be wonderful and that's going to hurt. But speaking the truth in love always has. So I need regular heart care from the Spirit, who reveals to me the beauty of people as well as the mud that smears them, concealing them even to themselves. The Spirit keeps my heart well and evident, both to myself and to others. . .even in the institution.
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We're all messy, but we need each other. Let's just give each other, including the church, grace. (That is what we emphasize.) But I think some people's anger and processing of it is part of their healing process, and we need to give them grace too.
ReplyDeleteWe, I... need a moment in front of the "mirror" from time to time.
ReplyDeleteI think it's time we learned how to hose each other off and laugh about it.
ReplyDeleteIf we see all as Christ in us, why the condemnation. There is no condemnation in Christ. He is All and in All. Dare we believe it. I do.
ReplyDeleteIf the Institution isn't teaching the New Covenant and Grace, without deviation, I want none of it. Most of the Church in the U.S. has turned into a business.:-/
ReplyDeleteBrett, I'm not excusing poor teaching. I think you and I agree there. But I see the church not as a building but as individual people, vessels of God. Most of the church may GO to a place burdened with business, but they, the people of God, are not the business. I love them, and sometimes want to beat up the business part that often strangles them.
ReplyDeletePerhaps we could stop gawking at others mud and skipping about in denial as if we are in wedding whites spotless as a bride and know that we have all been in the same mud bath...and we can all accept the cleaning offered and indeed wear grace white.
ReplyDeleteGood stuff, Ralph. I find depth, challenge, and humility in what you write. Keep it coming.
ReplyDeleteThe frustrating thing is when they won't change their ways or their thinking even when faced with a better option.
ReplyDeleteYes well Ralph, bending my brain around this one!!!!
ReplyDeleteI am more frustrated than angry. It always seemed like Ann and I were square pegs in a round hole wherever we went. So, we stopped trying to make ourselves fit where we didn't and started to hit the books and find fellowship and ministry opportunities in other places. All the churches we tried seemed to have a mold that they were very much trying to press us into that we didn't appreciate. They talked a good game about identifying our spiritual gifts and using us accordingly but it wasn't how it really was. I always had a lot of questions which nobody seemed able or willing to answer. So, rather than them trying to put us into a mold that we didn't want to be put into and us trying to make them answer questions they didn't really want to answer, it seemed better to withdraw.
ReplyDeleteWe the believers are the church, / Bride/ Children of God/ Sheep of the Shepherd/ Disciples/ who are the light in the world powered and annointed by the Holy Spirit. We should not neglect our gatherings, the prime being uniting in prayer, sharing one another;s burdens , help those financially struggling, get fed on the WORD so it can be written upon our hearts/ help those young reborns by teaching how to live and walk in the Holy Spirit. This was the works of the first church, we are fortunate in our congregation this is how we work together. Teams for Prayer requests, feeding the hungry, visiting and praying for sick, looking after the elderly ensuring that all their needs are met. running social and spiritual upliftment programs where the Word is needed to be heard.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this message, Ralph. The Spirit keeps my heart. Love and love well.
ReplyDeleteWe need the institution of "Church" - the body of Christ. God created and understands the beautiful world in which we live and the physical space we inhabit - wether it is a "household" of God or a larger family people need somewhere to "be". In community we gather with one another with the blessing of the Word to reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. We need each other to knock off the rough edges and reflect among each other the glory of God. Even God is a community - and reveals Himself as such.God created our bodies, minds, and spirits and in him we live and move and have our being. Do we see the detail in which God designed the physical space in which people worshipped in the Old Testament? Quite an investment of time and treasure! Now it is our bodies who are the temple - and we, the living Body of Christ, gather in a place - to hear, learn, worship, grow, and be equipped. That's called a Church building.
ReplyDeleteBeing inside the church, in it's many forms (small, large, house,... all forms since they all in include people), is a little like being in the Ark: one has to deal with a lot of manure, but it still is a lot better than being outside.
ReplyDeleteI'm in the healing process and don't dare expose me to them or them to me just yet. Walking my way through the forgiveness journey with Him in charge!
ReplyDeleteRay and Patrick, well done. It has become difficult, even rare, to think of the church not as an event at a place, but as individuals first, vessels of God, magnificent and noble already. I love the gathering, but if we are not recognized--truly--for who we have become through the new birth, then we will attempt to do things to each other that are false and hurtful. That's where the pain is, for leaders and "attendees" alike.
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