Church: Joining Your Imperfect Self to Other Imperfect Selves

By Scott Sauls 
When the local church falls short of Jesus’ vision for the church as a “radiant bride” reflecting his glory, a “city on a hill” that shines with attractive good works, “the salt of the earth” that prevents decay and promotes flourishing, and “the light of the world” that makes dark places less dark, some Christians are tempted to leave the church for some other alternative.

For many such Christians, the common refrain is, “I want to be part of something that’s more like the New Testament Church.”

I always scratch my head when I hear Christians say this. In several incidences, the actual “New Testament Church” was less attractive, less authentic, less flexible, less loving, less truthful, less beautiful, and less Christ-like than the church of today. If anyone has ever been tempted to hit the eject button on the local church in favor of creating their own, more robust faith experience, it was people who were part of the actual New Testament church. It is because so many first century Christians had a foot out the door that the writer of Hebrews urged them to not give up meeting together, “as is the habit of some” (Hebrews 10:24-25).

One “New Testament Church” that we would all be tempted to abandon was the church at Corinth.
One of the most celebrated passages in the Bible is 1 Corinthians 13, famously known as “the love chapter.” In this magnificent chapter, we are told that love is patient and kind. It does not envy or boast, and it is not arrogant or rude. It is not demanding or irritable, and it does not hold a grudge. It resists things that are wrong and celebrates things that are true. It bears, believes, hopes, and endures all things.

Wonderful, right?

Did you know that when Paul wrote to the Corinthians about love, he didn’t have wedding ceremonies or cross stitch art in mind? Did you know that he was actually rebuking them because each of the attributes of love was something that they lacked?

The Corinthian church, a prominent “New Testament Church,” was filled with problems. A brief journey through Paul’s first letter to this community of misfits tells us that they were known for judging each other harshly, creating major divisions over minor theological issues, committing adultery, initiating frivolous lawsuits, divorcing without biblical grounds, parading “Christian liberty” in front of people with a bruised conscience, ignoring the needs of the poor, and the list goes on. Paul could have very easily written off this community. He could have very easily thrown in the towel.
Why didn’t Paul throw in the towel on the New Testament Church? For the same reason that Jesus didn’t thrown in the towel.

Church is family.

Membership in a local church means nothing more and nothing less than this: Joining your imperfect self to many other imperfect selves to form an imperfect community that, through Jesus, embarks on a journey toward a better future…together.

Surprisingly, Paul begins his confrontational first letter to the Corinthians with affirmation and assurance. In spite of their many flaws, sins, inconsistencies, hypocrisies, and weaknesses, he is hopeful for them, not because they are stellar people but because Jesus is a stellar Savior. Jesus will complete the work that he began in them, and Paul knows this. So, instead of hitting eject on them, he doubles down on his involvement with them. Instead of shunning and shaming them, he speaks to them as his beloved brothers, sisters, sons, and daughters in the faith. Instead of running from them, he runs toward them. He names them not according to their failures but according to their redemptive status, using words like “saints” and “sanctified.” He thanks God always for them and reminds them that Jesus will sustain them until the end. Though they are messed up now, Jesus has a plan to transform them into people who are glorious and guiltless.

Paul looks at the broken local church and envisions beauty. He looks at the sinful local church and envisions sainthood. He looks at the undesirable local church and is overcome with desire for her flourishing. Paul thinks about the church in the same way that Jesus does. He thinks about the church as family. Daughters and sons of God, with whom he is well pleased. The bride of Christ, to whom he has betrothed himself forever. Sisters and brothers to one another, fellow heirs of the Kingdom.

Family.

As Saint Augustine once said, sometimes “the Church is a whore…but she is still my Mother.”

Not only is the Church our Mother, She is also Jesus’ wife.

By Scott Sauls   http://scottsauls.com/2014/07/10/church-whore-still-mother/  

One Who Comes Alongside to Help

by Stan Ott:
 
I was waiting  in the hospital for a routine blood test when I became aware of a strained mumbling voice nearby. Looking up I saw a good-looking man in his early 40's in a wheelchair having difficulty speaking and clearly sitting uncomfortably. An older gentleman, almost certainly his dad, was trying to arrange a supportive pillow behind his head. Then I saw the sign on the wall next to them, "Speech Therapy."

Something about it was unspeakably sad. I do not know if he is an injured veteran or suffering from some terrible affliction but this young man in the prime of life is in a deep hole and his father is in there with him.

As I was heading out of the hospital I was immensely aware of the gift of health and then of the thought, “Go back and say something.” I wondered what that would be and if it would be invasive. I paused puzzling and then headed for the exit except I found my legs taking me back the way I had come.

I knew somehow my mind was not directing my steps and I wondered what I would say. I walked right up to the old gentleman and his son looked them in the eye and said, "I feel impelled to tell you I am praying for you. May God bless you." The gentleman immediately and sincerely replied, “Thank you,” as he continued to adjust the pillow for his uncomfortable son.

This episode had nothing to do with me. My gesture of concern may have taken five seconds. That father is offering care 24 hours a day every day. The true paraclete, the one who comes alongside to help, comes alongside for the long haul.

God did want me to see something and to say something. I left overwhelmed with the feeling of sadness for this family and the deep awareness of those close to me and others who are in similar places of suffering. 

It may be a cliché to say it, but when our Lord said these words, he actually meant them, " “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens,” Matthew 11:28* "...weep with those who weep,” Romans 12:15 and “Comfort, O comfort my people” Isaiah 40:1.

by Stan  Ott
Feb. 17, 2015
Perspective

Love & Marriage at Valentines Day

Valentines Day is this week.  (Have you thought of how you're going to express your love for your beloved?)   This is a time when romance seems to be in the air and many couples think of getting married.

Did you know that married couples tend to be better off financially than single folks?  Marriage reduces poverty and financial hardship for disadvantaged mothers and children, and cohabitation is less likely to reduce poverty than marriage.  Alternatively, parental failure to marry or divorce seems to increase children's risk of failing in school.   (from http://www.nationalmarriageweekusa.org/images/research/NMW30Conclusions.pdf)  Overall, married couples enjoy more financial stability than singles.

So... don't let the cost of a wedding keep you from getting married.  I believe that the ceremony's meaning is more important than a fashion show.  The quality of the bride and groom's relationship is what's going to matter in the long run.  The relationship is more important than a fancy shindig.  The reception, pictures, beautiful clothes, wedding location are all secondary to the marital relationship, especially in determining whether the marriage is going to last in the long run.  One of the most meaningful weddings that I've seen, consisted of the bride and groom, their immediate families and a few close friends, standing in a circle in the front of the sanctuary, while the couple exchanged vows before God.

It is possible and meaningful to get married in a modest or low-cost wedding.  Feb. 7-12 is National Marriage Week.  See http://www.nationalmarriageweekusa.org/affordableweddings for affordable wedding ideas.

Above all else, remember the words of I Corinthians 13:4-7, in which Paul describes agape love.
        Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not     
        dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love 
        does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always 
        hopes, always perseveres.
Paul wrote this to all the believers in the Corinthian church, which makes it apply to all Christ-followers today, not just newlywed couples.  If you're a not in a romantic relationship, look for how you might  share a bit of God's love.  Could you give a non-romantic gift to a friend because you appreciate him/ her?  Could you treat a friend to a Pepsi and dessert or a meal?   Send a friendship card expressing what you like about her/him?  

Agape love is God's giving, sacrificial love - the kind of love needed in EVERY relationship.   
P.S. There's still time for you to tell your beloved how much you love her/him!