Jesus isn't Christ because he is God's Son.
Jesus is Christ because of his obedience to God's plan.
It's like putting a wheelbarrow in the garage. It doesn't become a car, does it?
People aren't Christian because they are in church or because they believe in Jesus.
People are Christian only whey they are obedient to Christ's teaching.
The goal is not belief, the goal is action. It's not jumping through hoops of right behaviors, it's genuine responses in the nature of God, Jesus' style.
Serving.
I love how Paul pleads with the church at Philippi. It's not a Hell, fire and brimstone sermon or a get-down-on-his-knees begging, but its a humble cry for the people who are dear to him to take seriously the word they have heard and said they accepted and understood. But they didn't. The plea was simple, as the response to Jesus is supposed to be: serve one another, love one another, agree with one another, be real friends with one another. Set aside yourself long enough to think of someone else, do for someone else.
I wonder sometimes what happened to community. I see glimpses of it sometimes, but it seems that we have to create a program to make it work these days. We need to tell people to deliver cookies, to call on the sick, to pray. Instead it should be the other way around. A community of believers should already be doing these things and more, because of their deep concern for each other.
Someone asked me the other day if I had visited so-and-so (it doesn't matter the name, because it changes every week.). My response was no, have you?
Paul pleaded with the church to BE the church, because being the church is responding as Jesus would...
...as a servant to each other.
And to see that fully happen would bless any pastor's heart. Or my way of putting it
That would be Awesome!
Peace ><>
pc
2 comments:
PC,
You message touches my heart. The church and Christianity are really not about us, but about them, those we reach out to, and bring them to know Christ.
My morning prayers must contain "it's not about me Lord, please put me to Your work.
God is Awesome, All the time.
I witnessed a great example of community while growing up in the south. I saw respect mixed with closeness. I'd call my best friend's mom by her first name, but with a "mrs." in front of it. Not only did you know your neighbor, you might of had dinner with them twice a month. Rarely did anyone lock their doors. If you had a party everyone on your block was invited usually and they actually showed up.
I took that for granted back then because it was all I knew.
Everyone enjoys that sense of community. I'm not a very social person and I still loved it even as a shy kid.
It is more than a pastor's dream come true, It is a dream the church should accept as a reality. If we embrace Christ, then shouldnt we as Christians be embracing this concept of 'being' the church in a real and living community?
Post a Comment