***Sorry this wasn't posted earlier! I thought I'd posted it last Friday, but evidently my internet connection didn't cooperate.***
In the previous posts in this series I’ve spoken about some ideas that, if taken seriously, call for a radically different church life than what most of us have known. It’s easy to give lip-service to some of these ideas, but it’s another matter entirely for them to be lived out. Take a look at this article by Jamal Jivanjee, a friend of a friend. He takes a look at this very topic of rhetoric in the body of Christ—saying one thing without necessarily living it out.
In the previous posts in this series I’ve spoken about some ideas that, if taken seriously, call for a radically different church life than what most of us have known. It’s easy to give lip-service to some of these ideas, but it’s another matter entirely for them to be lived out. Take a look at this article by Jamal Jivanjee, a friend of a friend. He takes a look at this very topic of rhetoric in the body of Christ—saying one thing without necessarily living it out.
Most Christians want to live according to what they say.
They want their words and their life to match, and Jesus calls us to this way of living. Usually this is applied to things like not lying, following through
on what you say you’ll do, etc. But sometimes larger, over-arching statements
escape the same scrutiny. So before you decide you’re on board with some of the
things the Lord has given me to share, consider what they really mean.
Jesus Christ is the center of all things
This encompasses not only His Lordship, but His Headship
as well. Jesus Christ is Lord of all creation and Lord of our lives. Most
churches would acknowledge that this is true. But He is also head of the
church, an idea that doesn’t get as much play.
Church activities and meetings are often the product of
business-style planning meetings and strategic vision sessions instead of being
borne out of Christ Himself. If we truly believe Jesus is central, we can’t
organize things on our own and ask Him to bless them. We must give Him His
proper place as head of the church. We must allow Him to have His way, even if
that means fewer people joining us (which it often does).
We are inseparably identified with Jesus Christ
This means that when Father looks at us, He sees His Son
in whom he is well-pleased. His love for us is the same love that He has for
Christ. He doesn’t just put up with us because He has to; He actually likes us,
loves us, and wants to be with us.
Most preachers use guilt and shame to motivate Christians
to live the lives they’re supposed to live. “God’s good, you’re not, so try
harder.” This turns in to a treadmill of religious performance, a constant
attempt to earn God’s favor. But we are one with Christ! He loves us and
has already given us all things in
Him. We have nothing to earn, we have only to receive what He has given.
Many times I hear the phrase “God loves you, but…” Many
folks feel the need to put a qualifier on His love, thinking that it will give
us license to sin. But there is no “but” in God’s love for us in Christ Jesus.
And the reality is that His love, when we receive it and allow it to have its
full effect, leads us to repentance and a godly life. Will we only speak of the
love of God? Or will we actually live like it’s a reality?
Every member of the body of Christ is important
In many Christian groups this idea is stated, but
meetings are structured in a way that undermines the idea. Some are gifted in
preaching and teaching, some are gifted in music, but ALL in the body have
something to contribute to its building up. Meetings look radically different
when all members have not only the opportunity to speak as Christ leads them,
but also been equipped to actually do so. Will we continue to allow meetings to
be dominated by a few, or will we unshackle our Lord so that He can reveal
Himself in and through all members of His body?
An important question
So what will you do? Will you only give lip-service to
these ideas? Or will you live in the reality of what it means to be in Christ?
Will you do you part to allow Jesus Christ to be seen as He is?
In Christ,
Ryan
Ryan