commUNITY

So as you know I've been on a "community" kick, and will likely be there for quite some time.  The more I read and the more I write about it, the deeper I want to dig.  Call me an emergent thinker if you must, but I think there's something really special behind the idea of community.  As a matter of fact, I'm pretty sure that Jesus thinks so too.

"My prayer is not for them alone.  I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.  May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one:  I in them and you in me.  May the be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me" -Jesus, John 17:20-23

I believe it all begins with our fundamental understanding that Jesus is exactly who He says He is.  He is God's son.  He sacrificed Himself that we may have a restored relationship with God the Father.  It is through Him alone that we may gain salvation.  Now we (the church) may have some conflicting views on things such as worship, baptism, communion, etc, but ultimately, Jesus is Lord and that's our message.  That's our gospel.  I find it rather interesting as I read that people invest so much time and thought into writing books and blogs in an effort to provide how-to's for churches around the world (ironically, most people are only writing concerning the American church).  I mean, is there really a cookie cutter pattern to follow to "reach the lost"?  Surely not, otherwise Paul would have had no need to say: "Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.  To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews.  To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.  To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law.  To the weak I became weak, to win the weak.  I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.  I do all this for the sake of the gospel that I may share in its blessings." 1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Paul didn't have any patterns to follow when it came to sharing the gospel.  His goal was to do whatever was necessary that people may come to the saving knowledge of Christ Jesus.  Period.  He knew that what was most important was to first establish a relationship with Christ.

Rich Mullins once said "[other areas of the world] underline different parts of their Bibles than we do...but maybe there are some basic truths that are big enough that we can find unity in them...I'm not sure that truth is quite the way we understand it.  I'm not sure that truth has to do with statements of belief as it has to do with truth is alive, and that it is a person, and that person is Jesus."

Ultimately our focus must be on presenting the message of love and hope that is in Christ Jesus.  Let us be united in this fundamental belief that the world may know He is who He says He is...  After all, that's what He prayed for..


side note: In case you don't know anything about Rich Mullins, I'm sure soon I'll create an entire post (or series of posts) about him.