"Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Heb. 10:24-25)
For many of us church life has likely been about "doing church" most of our lives. We go to Church services, attend Bible studies, work on committees, and a variety of other things, including ministries. And yet in our day, church attendance as a whole is decreasing, and while sociologists tell us that spiritual interest is at an all time high, people do not see the importance of church.
Maybe that is because we lost sight of the fact that it is not to be about "Doing church" but about being the church. Relating to Christ first, and then to the members of His body in such a way that church is real, and vibrant, the living organism that God desires. Our responsibility is not to be about building churches (the group, not the building.) That is Jesus's responsibility. He said, "I will build my church."
Our call is to be disciples and then to make disciples. A part of being a disciple is connecting to the body, belonging to local expressions of the church, particularly in small cell groups. The purpose of being together is to encourage one another to love and good works, says the scripture above.
Maybe when we focus on being the church, instead of doing church, the world will see the church as significant and relevant once again. When people that don't know God see that we are genuine and real, they will be attracted to the Christ who lives in our hearts.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
Washing Feet (Discussion Fodder)
"Lord, do you wash my feet?" (John 13:6)
Can you see that picture? The God of the universe, clothed in human flesh, is kneeling on the floor washing the disciples feet. We have done that in small group settings in our church. Generally, however, the feet are clean and soft and nothing like what Jesus must have encountered. In that culture they walked, either in sandals, or barefoot. In West Africa where we work in missions they walk everywhere in flip flops. The feet are calloused, and dirty, and yes, we have done foot washing there as well.
But the whole point of the lesson is that as followers of Christ who would reach a lost world for with the Gospel, we must be willing to do the most common and humbling of tasks. Jesus said that a disciple is not greater than his master. Jesus said that if we understand what He did in washing feet, we should be willing to follow His example.
Do we want the jobs where there is greater glory? Do we prefer the seats of honor? Must we have our name in the headlines, or at least in the church bulletin? Are we willing to humble ourselves and reach out to the homeless? Or what about those with HIV, the leoprosy of our day? Are we willing to go the extra mile? To turn the other cheek? To deny self? To truly humble ourselves? What about loving our enemy? Can we take off our outer garments and get down on our knees in the dirt and wash feet?
Someone once said we actually believe as much of the Bible as we practice or seek to obey. I wonder if this chapter on Jesus washing feet is missing in many of our modern personal Bibles.
Can you see that picture? The God of the universe, clothed in human flesh, is kneeling on the floor washing the disciples feet. We have done that in small group settings in our church. Generally, however, the feet are clean and soft and nothing like what Jesus must have encountered. In that culture they walked, either in sandals, or barefoot. In West Africa where we work in missions they walk everywhere in flip flops. The feet are calloused, and dirty, and yes, we have done foot washing there as well.
But the whole point of the lesson is that as followers of Christ who would reach a lost world for with the Gospel, we must be willing to do the most common and humbling of tasks. Jesus said that a disciple is not greater than his master. Jesus said that if we understand what He did in washing feet, we should be willing to follow His example.
Do we want the jobs where there is greater glory? Do we prefer the seats of honor? Must we have our name in the headlines, or at least in the church bulletin? Are we willing to humble ourselves and reach out to the homeless? Or what about those with HIV, the leoprosy of our day? Are we willing to go the extra mile? To turn the other cheek? To deny self? To truly humble ourselves? What about loving our enemy? Can we take off our outer garments and get down on our knees in the dirt and wash feet?
Someone once said we actually believe as much of the Bible as we practice or seek to obey. I wonder if this chapter on Jesus washing feet is missing in many of our modern personal Bibles.
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