Category: Church (Page 20 of 59)

“Put on the full armor of God so that y’all can take your stand against the devil’s schemes… Put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, y’all may be able to stand your ground.” ~Ephesians 6:11-13

Every person listening to these words of Paul was familiar with the Roman soldier. They knew what he looked like, how he was dressed, and how trained for battle he was. Every one also understood very clearly that Roman soldiers did not exist as individuals. The story of the victory of Rome over the armies of the world is not about a Roman soldier. It’s the story of the Roman legions.

They knew how to march together into victory after victory. Arms locked, shields overlapping, protecting themselves and one another on all sides — they were an unstoppable force. Together. Their power was in their movement together. What made them impenetrable and kept them undefeated was their step by step movements as a single unit. Together.

I imagine that before each battle every soldier would not only put on his own armor, he would also help other soldiers with theirs. He would help another guy strap on his helmet and tighten it up, he would assist a fellow soldier or two in cinching up their belts and sharpening their swords, he would oil his own shield and the shields of others, he would check the breastplates and re-tie the boots of every soldier who marched near him. He wanted the soldiers next to him and all around him to be well dressed and ready for battle. His own life depended on it!

As with us. If your breastplate of righteousness isn’t buckled on straight, I’m going to suffer. If your belt of truth is sagging a bit, I could wind up in trouble. If my feet aren’t laced up with readiness, it could impact you. If just one of us is going into battle with a big chunk missing in their shield of faith or with no helmet of salvation or sword of the Word of God, we’re all going to be in danger.

Most of us are very aware that it’s difficult to practice our Christianity. Some days are harder than others. But following Jesus in this world is certainly not easy. We may not be aware, though, that our individual struggles are all part of a much larger Kingdom battle. Every personal victory of yours is a victory for all of us who call Jesus our Lord. In the same way, every defeat you suffer is a defeat for the Kingdom.

We need to be in the business of checking armor. Yes, check yours first; but don’t ignore the neglected or missing pieces from your buddy’s set. Check each other. Tighten up your walk and that of your Christian brother and sister. When we’re doing discipleship together, my armor helps give you cover and your armor plays a role in protecting me, too.

The devil is scheming. He’s clever. He’s methodical. He uses cunning and strategy. He plots and plans. He knows all our individual and communal weaknesses. And he’s serious about hitting us hard.

So we commit to helping each other get ready. Then we walk into the battle together.

Peace,

Allan

“After Christ’s work on this earth was completed, God continued to work through the Holy Spirit to create and empower a new community characterized by mutual servanthood, radical equality, and an unprecedented sharing of power and resources. Their experience demonstrates that spiritual life and power are to be found only in community… Biblical community is a commitment to take the spiritual journey together, to be present (in face-to-face relationship) with each other as we are transformed by an increasing connection with God and with each other.”

~Ruth Haley Barton, Equal to the Task

Barton claims that “spiritual life and power are to be found only in community.” She doesn’t say spiritual life and power are enhanced in community. She doesn’t say community will make us better Christians or that community is the preferred way of walking with Christ. She says rather emphatically that it’s the only way. Does that resonate with you? Or do you resist it?

In Ephesians 4, near the end of a discussion about the unity of the Body of Christ, the apostle Paul writes that if God’s people will live and worship and serve together we will grow. It’s in this community of mutual service and love, within the context of this devotion to one another in the name and manner of our Lord Jesus, where we grow up and “become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

As a result of life together, we are “built up,” we are unified in both faith and knowledge, we grow up in Christ. Together we are stabilized against any false teachings. Strong. Confident. Sure of our salvation and our purpose in the Kingdom of God.  Well supported and coordinated as we stretch and grow.

God is at work to form community, to create a people. We are not a bunch of conglomerated individuals. We are members of the Body of Christ and we all belong to each other. The call is to hold firmly to our Lord and walk with him as we live with and for one another. Together.

Peace,

Allan

“His intent was that now, through the Church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ~Ephesians 3:10-11

I’m struck by the lofty vision Paul has of the Church. According to the apostle, the Almighty Creator of Heaven and Earth is today using the Church to proclaim to all the powers and authorities above and below what he has done and is doing in Jesus. Paul says the Church — the Church, for crying out loud! — is the vehicle God is using to communicate to the world what his salvation plan is all about.

Most of us just view Church as a place that puts on services.

No, Scripture tells us that the Church is God’s megaphone to the planet and beyond. The ways we live in the Church, the ways we talk as Church, the ways we mourn and rejoice, the ways we weep and laugh, the ways we sacrifice and serve and heal and restore is the way our Father proclaims and demonstrates his holy plan for saving and reconciling the world.

Boy, that puts an unparalleled importance on the Church.

According to Paul, the ways we treat one another and interact with the community around us causes the beam of his eternal glory to burst right out of our church buildings. That light, so obvious to anybody who comes in contact with us, declares with unmistakable force that God is sovereign here, the Jesus is Lord here, that the Holy Spirit works here, and that the powers of darkness are in big trouble!

God’s purposes have already been accomplished in Christ. What remains is the unfolding of what’s been established. And the Bible says God is doing that through us.

Peace,

Allan