Hey friends.
I pray this finds you enjoying the grace that God has rained on you at this very moment. I am sitting in reflection this morning still pondering Philippians 2 which we finished in Bible study last night. We re read the chapter finishing with Paul's comments about Timothy and Epaphroditus. In it, Paul said the following that is from the Message version...
"If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. "
I fear that the institution is losing the importance of community. I shared recently a story from Francis Chan's church about a gang member that recently joined his congregation and got baptized. As he attended their church for the first time, his initial reaction was, "this is the group of brothers and sisters that I want to stand beside" and he left the gang. However, 5 weeks later he was no longer found in the church. When a congregant ran into him he asked him how he had been. He shared with the member of the church that he had the wrong impression about the definition of 'church'. "In a gang, I know that no matter how tough it gets my gang members have my back. But in your church, I joined, I got baptized and that was it. Outside of the building, no one recognized me. No one invited me to their house. Guess I just had the wrong impression of what being a member of the 'church' was."
Amazing that Francis Chan would share this story with his congregation (honestly, I believe we need more pastors willing to share hard stories to speak the truth even when it makes us uncomfortable. Sign me up for THAT church...)
Take a look at Acts 2. When the church formed, it was all about community...
"All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved"
So, today, I look for community. I look to share in the joys, sorrows and experiences of those I encounter. Today, I look to BE community. To those I know, and those I run into. And may we, as the church and body of Christ, recognize OUR role. May we gather around the table, may we tear down our walls and freely receive that God's grace is enough for us all and the Kingdom work is far from done.
Grace and peace, friends! Grace and PEACE!
Mark
