A Sacred Community

I have always been amazed at the power that God has placed within the local church. On numerous occasions I have been blessed to be a part of churches that discerned and embraced the call of the Holy Spirit. These are congregations that came to know the impact they could have on individuals and families within their center of influence - and made the decision to do so.

There is no question in the hearts and minds of Christ-followers that Jesus is sorely needed in a world that seems to be efficiently making Jesus unimportant. The Evil One is working overtime to pull people away from Jesus, and consequently, away from His church and ministries. Jesus Himself told us it would be so, "the world will despise you because the world hates Me." (John 15:18,19).

So, what is the church to do in times such as these? We could recite Jesus’ Great Commission to, “Go, make disciples, baptize and teach…”. And “as we go”, as we live our lives, we should absolutely be doing that. People need to experience Jesus through us.

It may sound simplistic, but I suggest that what the church MUST DO in these worldly times, is to stand firm and “be the church”. I know that comes off as a “duh” comment, but it really isn’t. Just what does it mean it mean to be the church of Jesus Christ?

I believe that one of the starting points to "being the church" is to be relentlessly attentive to the church's foundation. That is, how strong is our oneness in the mission of Christ? How are we actively and evidently strengthening ourselves in our collective faith - caring for each other, praying for each other, encouraging each other, and holding each other accountable to the model of Christ?

Jesus was clear to remind us of the importance of being attentive to our sacred foundation as the Body of Christ (Matt. 7:24-26) - not just to be satisfied with our inward healthiness, but to strengthen ourselves as the community of Christ to advance His kingdom in a world that enjoys dismantling the entire Jesus enterprise, including His beloved churches.

The church of Christ is a sacred community. It is a “common unity” held together and emboldened in the power of the Holy Spirit for the purpose of introducing the love of Christ into the world.

To be effective and virtuous in that Divine call, the community within us must be genuine, reflecting that deep feeling of heart-to-heart fellowship, sharing with each other, carrying each other’s joys and hardships, and praying for, and providing for each other’s needs.

In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus shared the blessings of those who live in sacred community (Matt. 5):

We are a community of sinners who are “poor in spirit”. That means that we acknowledge that first and foremost we need Christ in our lives.

We are a community of the meek. We are humble in our attitudes toward God and others.

We are a community of the forgiven. Praise God for that! “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”

We are a community with reverence and love for God and His Word, for His Son Jesus, and for His Holy Spirit. And we share that love because we acknowledge that we too, have each been beneficiaries of His love, forgiveness, grace and compassion.

We are a community of generosity. Our love of God inspires us to give, to serve, and to care for the needs of others.

We are a community that remembers God’s faithfulness through our past and present and looks forward to discerning God’s future plans for His churches.

As iron sharpens iron, to “be the church” means that we must strengthen ourselves in the sacred community that Christ has called us to be. That’s what it means to be His Body.

And then, together – as God’s ordained community – we take all that we are, and all that we share in common – all of that “COMMUNITY that we hold and treasure” that God has so graciously embedded in us as His family, and we lay that precious community before Him and we pray...

“Now, Lord, show us the ways to share what you have given us – with those who need the sacred “community” that You have so graciously entrusted to us.