I write my second blog with an apology for not keeping to my original commitment to post once a week. Actually, I’m bit surprised for apologizing for this, as I thought my first apology would be for theological or philosophical reasons rather than tardiness. To my defense, the “Comment” option was somehow disabled and it took a bit of time to get it enabled again (theologian not technician). I did not want to post, without giving you the opportunity to comment. But it is up and running again and so here I am. Now that it is, I think it is time to talk “church”.
AHCC, like most churches, is a church in transition. We are still discovering who we are as the church. In a way, discovering this is like discovering who we are as individuals. How we view ourselves can either keep us from achieving our potential or launch us toward it. I have known too many people who could not fully see how God made them and subsequently they allowed themselves be less. So it can be with churches.
Jesus did not hesitate telling us what He thought about the church and He employed multiple metaphors to illuminate His view. The Flock, the Bride of Christ, the Body of Christ is but a sampling. When considered together, Jesus clearly had a grand perspective of His church. He expected it to reflect the divine DNA from which it came into being. Like Him, He anticipated the church would be world and history changing. ..I’m not sure that is what we are seeing today….at least in America.
I suppose we could get into a really heated discussion as to what is wrong with the American church. But I would rather focus on its potential greatness. Just a cursory reading of the Book of Acts, reveals not just a dynamic ecclesial leadership, but a powerful ministering church. As such, the world of the early church was not so much changed by its leaders as it was by the community of Christ followers. These believers rocked the Roman world. They lived lives that Christ modeled before them and they continued the ministry to others He started. In a sense, looking at Christ ought to give us a glimpse of who we are. In the word of the ancient Antioch church we are “Christians”, “Christ-like”.
I guess I am freshly challenged to consider who I am in the light of Jesus. I am too quick to define myself “by” myself. But that should not be the case. I am in fact “in Christ” (Ephesians 1) and now He is, in great part, what defines me. This of course is even more applicable to His church. If we want a clear view of who we are, we need only look once more to our Lord. This perspective can launch us to our potential as the church, the Flock, the Body and Bride of Christ.
What do you think?