There are four different types of Community that are possible. All of these types can happen at the same time, and, indeed, if they do occur at the same time will create wholesome community. Each rung of Community grows in its strength and ability to retain Community within diversity (the first is easily broken, the last is hard to break)
Bear in mind that I write this from the standpoint of the Community of believers within the Church. Gospel believing Christians, the commonality that initially brings this diverse group into community. These same rungs of Community may be seen in a bar, but that is a bastardization of Christian, biblical, Community. We see it there because there is truth outside of the Church, because it is God’s creation.
1) Discussion:
The first and weakest rung in community is discussion. This rung is the weakest because a simple disagreement could, and indeed does break this type of community.
This type of community works well initially. So as to begin journeying with other believers, but if community does not move past this point then this community is doomed to fail; for shifting thoughts, and differing views will prevail over Gospel Community.
2) Play
The second type of community is where the majority of friendships and churches end their quest for Community. Play. Playing together, spending time together is good, but it is not paramount.
Play works well to move people into a deeper understanding of each other. Likes and dislikes are more readily available making it less likely for a group to disband over a simple disagreement because disagreements have been overcome in the past (likes and dislikes of sports, movies, actors, politics), so what can't a larger disagreement be overcome now?
Time is this type of community’s biggest enemy. Over time the group will grow and develop and if this stage is not past then the group will disband and move on.
3) Serve
The third type of community is concrete for a group that discusses and plays together. Like going on a weeklong missions trip. The group is initially quite and reserved, but by the end of the week they’re talking of burping and farting (while showing they can do both) like a family.
If a group that spends more time together than just a weeklong trip by discussing weighty topics, playing together then serves together often this group will attain a higher level (or deeper level) of Community.
The enemy of this level of Community is a manifestation of the previous two. If a strong enough, or controversial enough topic is disagreed over and time is allowed to pass without service together then this community will, like water on concrete flake away into dust.
4) Suffer
This is the steel of community, the I-beams that hold the structure together. If a group is graciously allowed to suffer together they will endure much to remain together. Moving, changing jobs, and time will not separate them.
Again, if God is gracious and allows the group (church) to endure these four things genuine community will be had, to his glory.
So it ought to be ever apart of our teaching to lead our people in suffering well. We should begin teaching this now. We are a young church and have yet to preach a funeral. But it will come. Car wrecks happen and suffering is ever-present. Therefore we must begin to teach our people now, before it happens to suffer will. (Hebrews 11 is a fantastic passage to begin with).
Friday, April 29, 2011
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Swordsmanship
“And take up… the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.”
This thing, this book, is your offensive weapon.
Do you know where yours is?
When was the last time you read its pages?
When was the last time it broke you of your sin?
How often do you run to its pages for comfort?
There are many of you who claim to be Christian but do not care for the Bible. You are no Christian. For how can you love God and not his Word? How can you love God if you have no idea who he is? He is revealed clearly in Scripture but you wouldn’t know that because you don’t read it.
Rather than knowing the Creator of the universe you create your own god from mismatched verses and pithy quotes and call that ‘God.’ You bow your knee before an imagined being. You claim a stake in the righteousness bought by Jesus but you simply want the gift and not the Giver.
“But it is hard to read the Bible.” Some of you may say. You’re right! It’s hard to read something that is, “Living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Before which, “No creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” (Heb 4:12-13) But it must be done.
As a believer in the Gospel you must read the Bible, for in its pages is the Gospel spoken of and expounded upon. In its pages has the God you love revealed himself to you. In its pages is sound doctrine; in its pages is your firm foundation. May God convict you and bring you on your knees to your Bible, that he may reprove you and teach you of his greatness. So that above all things you desire to be satisfied by God and nothing else.
Stop wasting your life on frivolous pursuits you warrior of the King. There is a battle to be fought and sin to be killed; there are the weak to protect and the poor to love. There are others still inside the prison to be rescued by the Gospel. You are chosen to be the proclaimer of God’s Gospel. Come out of your drowsy state and see the urgency that is all about, see the smoke of battle in the air, put on the whole armor of God and prepare to strike your foe. Take up the Sword given to you and be taught how to use it by the Great Teacher.
But understand that the battle will not last forever.
The time will come when you may lay down your bloodied sword. When your dented breastplate may finally be taken off. When your splintered shield may be put aside. When your feet may breathe the free air. When your eyes will no longer see through the slits of a helmet but see the full picture. The day is rushing towards us that we may go into the Kingdom and no longer be sojourners in a distant land. When we will no longer have to suffer outside the camp with Christ but rather we will be with our Father in his house. When all will be as it should be, when sin is finally killed and Satan thrown down, when all that has been broken by the fall will be remade anew.
But, my fellow believers my brothers and sisters, that time has not yet come. Now we must stand firm in the Gospel of God. Now we must take up our sword and fight. Now we must wear the armor for our good and the glory of God. Now we must see dimly through the slits of our helmets. Looking to Jesus the founder and perfecter of our faith who for the joy set before him endured the cross… So too must we joyfully suffer a little while longer.
So be wary for this land is full of dastardly fellows that wish for nothing more than to see the redeemed fall and Jesus mocked. Wear well the armor of you King. Fight well the fight of faith. Stand firm in the righteousness of your Savior. You, oh Christian, are a beloved child and will soon be home.
This thing, this book, is your offensive weapon.
Do you know where yours is?
When was the last time you read its pages?
When was the last time it broke you of your sin?
How often do you run to its pages for comfort?
There are many of you who claim to be Christian but do not care for the Bible. You are no Christian. For how can you love God and not his Word? How can you love God if you have no idea who he is? He is revealed clearly in Scripture but you wouldn’t know that because you don’t read it.
Rather than knowing the Creator of the universe you create your own god from mismatched verses and pithy quotes and call that ‘God.’ You bow your knee before an imagined being. You claim a stake in the righteousness bought by Jesus but you simply want the gift and not the Giver.
“But it is hard to read the Bible.” Some of you may say. You’re right! It’s hard to read something that is, “Living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Before which, “No creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” (Heb 4:12-13) But it must be done.
As a believer in the Gospel you must read the Bible, for in its pages is the Gospel spoken of and expounded upon. In its pages has the God you love revealed himself to you. In its pages is sound doctrine; in its pages is your firm foundation. May God convict you and bring you on your knees to your Bible, that he may reprove you and teach you of his greatness. So that above all things you desire to be satisfied by God and nothing else.
Stop wasting your life on frivolous pursuits you warrior of the King. There is a battle to be fought and sin to be killed; there are the weak to protect and the poor to love. There are others still inside the prison to be rescued by the Gospel. You are chosen to be the proclaimer of God’s Gospel. Come out of your drowsy state and see the urgency that is all about, see the smoke of battle in the air, put on the whole armor of God and prepare to strike your foe. Take up the Sword given to you and be taught how to use it by the Great Teacher.
But understand that the battle will not last forever.
The time will come when you may lay down your bloodied sword. When your dented breastplate may finally be taken off. When your splintered shield may be put aside. When your feet may breathe the free air. When your eyes will no longer see through the slits of a helmet but see the full picture. The day is rushing towards us that we may go into the Kingdom and no longer be sojourners in a distant land. When we will no longer have to suffer outside the camp with Christ but rather we will be with our Father in his house. When all will be as it should be, when sin is finally killed and Satan thrown down, when all that has been broken by the fall will be remade anew.
But, my fellow believers my brothers and sisters, that time has not yet come. Now we must stand firm in the Gospel of God. Now we must take up our sword and fight. Now we must wear the armor for our good and the glory of God. Now we must see dimly through the slits of our helmets. Looking to Jesus the founder and perfecter of our faith who for the joy set before him endured the cross… So too must we joyfully suffer a little while longer.
So be wary for this land is full of dastardly fellows that wish for nothing more than to see the redeemed fall and Jesus mocked. Wear well the armor of you King. Fight well the fight of faith. Stand firm in the righteousness of your Savior. You, oh Christian, are a beloved child and will soon be home.
The Nitty-Gritty
It’s a scene in every war movie ever made. The one where the knights or soldiers say goodbye to the familiar, to their families, to their lives and walk out the front door to face the unknown and death. With their packs slung over their shoulders they mount up and head out to fight the veil enemy.
It’s a feeling often-found in airports and at dinning room tables that of leaving friend and family. The feeling that both causes ones heart to sing and to weep simultaneously.
It’s the feeling we should get in churches; it’s the scene we should see in our lives. The feeling of going out to fight the war, the scene of loving God more than family or friends. Whether it means leaving for far lands or meeting friends in coffee shops and behind white picket fences doesn’t matter. For Christianity is a fight to believe and fight to kill sin and a fight to grow.
Christianity is a war. To be Christian is to be at war. Thus it is a struggle and a fight to simply have faith that you were/are/will be redeemed. This is not easy-believism, this is no cakewalk, this is surely not a continually ball of fun. It’s raw, it’s wearing, it’s tiresome and, quite frankly, it hurts. But, it’s worth it. It’s worth it because, “There is a Redeemer, Jesus God’s own Son; precious Lamb of God Messiah… Hope for sinners…”
It's worth it to know Jesus and enjoy Him more than the paltry fleeting pleasures of sin. It's worth it to have one simple thing to live for. It's worth it to be a "sell-out" to who you were for who he is. It is worth it to be passionate about a singular all-encompassing purpose. "To live is Christ."
It’s a feeling often-found in airports and at dinning room tables that of leaving friend and family. The feeling that both causes ones heart to sing and to weep simultaneously.
It’s the feeling we should get in churches; it’s the scene we should see in our lives. The feeling of going out to fight the war, the scene of loving God more than family or friends. Whether it means leaving for far lands or meeting friends in coffee shops and behind white picket fences doesn’t matter. For Christianity is a fight to believe and fight to kill sin and a fight to grow.
Christianity is a war. To be Christian is to be at war. Thus it is a struggle and a fight to simply have faith that you were/are/will be redeemed. This is not easy-believism, this is no cakewalk, this is surely not a continually ball of fun. It’s raw, it’s wearing, it’s tiresome and, quite frankly, it hurts. But, it’s worth it. It’s worth it because, “There is a Redeemer, Jesus God’s own Son; precious Lamb of God Messiah… Hope for sinners…”
It's worth it to know Jesus and enjoy Him more than the paltry fleeting pleasures of sin. It's worth it to have one simple thing to live for. It's worth it to be a "sell-out" to who you were for who he is. It is worth it to be passionate about a singular all-encompassing purpose. "To live is Christ."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)