I can not see where Christians would ever find perfect community until our perception of such is adjusted to accept the fact that our fallen human nature is an inevitable part of it. Jesus' entire ministry was with the lost sheep.
Even if the purest of saints were to isolate themselves from the world, they couldn't escape their own human nature. We do what we don't want to do, and don't do what we should.
Fellowship belongs to those who walk in the light as He is in the light. We love one another as God, through His Son, loved us. Love is sacrificial, and like Jesus, we lay down our lives for one another. I believe this is the essence of fellowship. Not that we find sinless saints, but that we find saints willing to confess their sins to one another because it is only by the Spirit that one confesses with their mouth.
If we see someone in the body of Christ sinning, we are to call them to account. If they repent, we have brought them back into fellowship. If they deny us, then the love of God is not in them and we have no fellowship with them.
The greatest burden to fellowship is the mingling of the church and the world, perpetuated by leaders who refuse to sanctify the communities of those who "go to church".
Beyond that, the fellowship of believers are simply those who are led by the Spirit first. The working out of community develops through the same patience that our Father has afforded us.
PJR
1John
Hi Paul, I have been thinking about community, and like what you said in the beginning, because humility is a mark of the true Christian, and this is essential for community. I see that in you, and appreciate you for that. Much love.
ReplyDeleteGod's incessant love for me continues to break my heart, causing me to see others through His eyes. Such a long process, and humility was able to get only a foothold!
DeleteThanks for your encouragement, Pam. I still need so much more breaking!
I'd like to add-
DeleteI realize this is an "identity crisis" issue, but the process is undeniable. :-)
Well said Paul. " the fellowship of believers are simply those who are led by the Spirit first. The working out of community develops through the same patience that our Father has afforded us." I am finding this to be true, though hard to walk at times :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm reminded of the apostle Paul, when he took issue with Mark and they parted ways. Paul had even been to the 'third heaven'! But later we see they had reconciled. Hard to walk indeed!
ReplyDeleteThis is very true. My biggest issues with christians in the churches I have attended was that so few actually want to live authentically. They treat the scriptures as a kind of accessory to their church life, but don't actually understand the power of the gospel. In the cases where I have had to deal with others who have allowed their flesh to lash out or simply indulged in sin because they enjoyed it, there has hardly ever been any who have been willing to even admit they were at fault, let alone deal with the offense.
ReplyDeleteI would love to say that I am always willing to deal with my own flesh, but to be frank, I can't think of any situation in the last 30 years where anyone from church has actually come to me and said I need to deal with something. Meaning that people don't want to face up to their own sins so they don't come and deal with other people's either. It's a club of sorts where what the mouth doesn't confess the heart doesn't grieve over.
The times when my family has had to talk to me about things, there is always the backlash of course where you think they are being unfair but in the end, you realise they are right and you confess and repent, and God does a work in your heart. There is something so necessary in the life of God dealing with the flesh within his own family, honestly, openly and with sincerity.
I totally agree. Confession is the world's greatest weakness but the believers' greatest strength. Witnessing the lack of it in churches is very telling. It is simply conforming to the world's standard of strength and weakness. The world's ways are so backwards to what Christ teaches and to find it in a place where the broken should find comfort is just appalling.
DeleteThank you for sharing your heart here. Others do need to hear that they're not alone!