On our last vacation, Carol and I visited another church on the Sunday we were out of town. Vacation for us, is not a time to skip church, but becomes a chance to taste worship with out-of-town family. The worship service, not unlike ours, reflected a slightly different theological emphasis, but little effort was needed to quickly assimilate into the family. As we stood around and chatted, it felt comfortable, like when we catch up with family and friends we've not seen for a while.
These experiences always remind me that the Church really is a great big family. Like family, the Church consists of people related by blood (Jesus'), and by common experiences. In Christ, we have been made one, one in relationship around the Christ of the Cross. And as family, we have stories that are well-known everywhere!
When we meet with church people on a vacation, we can pick up the conversation we might have had at home with little or no time for adjustment. Their lives are our lives. We talk about the same things. "In my reading this morning, God taught me...." "I was moved by the sunrise as I thought about the beauty of God." "I hear what you're saying. How can we pray for your family?" These are words we say here, at HOPE, and might say at any church. Yes! The environment might be different. But the family feel develops quickly in church.
This reality, that we are one, is a truth that ought to be more obvious in the way we interact with the people who attend other churches. I often wonder how we are related to the churches up the road, across town, and around the world. I often wonder what we might do to be more one with them.
Perhaps we can learn from the apostle Paul a few tidbits of helpful truth regarding this oneness we share with the members of Christ's worldwide Church as we continue to study the letter he wrote to the Roman church. Please join me in Romans, chapter one.
Paul's letter began as most letters do, "Hello." But Paul appeared to have been sidetracked as he began to think about Jesus. In verse seven (7), Paul finally caught himself and returned to his letter of introduction. He completed his "Hello," and launched into an interesting discussion on the Body of Christ.
His intended visit was mentioned: that he planned to come, that he had been so far prevented from doing so, and that he longed to minister to the people of the Roman church. A closer look at Paul's words reveals a significant depth of relationship that we all share as members of Christ's Body.
Notice Paul's greeting:
Romans 1:7 . . . To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
To the saints in Rome. Paul wrote to the individuals who knew Jesus as Savior, the saints! I find it rather interesting that Paul said that we are called "to be saints." A closer look at his word reveals that he meant we have been called to be "holy," "set apart," or "separate." A saint (every believer) is a person set apart for God's use.
So, one might say that our accepting Jesus Christ as Savior is signing on to be available for God, and to be used ONLY by God. This also would mean that any time we sin, or allow anything come between ourselves and God, we violate our saint-ness. I wonder about the manner in which we attempt to protect our high calling in Christ.
Paul almost always wished that "grace and peace" be common for the person(s) reading his letters. And in this case, he clearly stated that "grace and peace" come from God. "Grace" would be any and every expression of God's favor or graciousness poured into daily life. "Peace" would be any and every expression of rest, unity or harmony that might visit a person's daily life.
Basically, Paul longed for the Roman Christians to know Christ's riches in their daily experiences, that is, to know—to really know—that God is involved in, and providing for, life's needs. How often do you find yourself "remembering to remember" that life's blessings are gifts from God? Is this a good thing?
With his "hello" behind him, Paul pressed on to his first subject, his thankfulness for the Roman Christians:
Romans 1:8 . . . First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.
It appears that the Roman Christians lived the kind of lives that were noticed by others. Everyone was talking about the faith exploits of the Roman church.
I'm sure a lot of people know about me. I wonder what they know, what they think . . . about what they know. Would these thoughts move Paul to be thankful? What do others hear about you or you . . . or about your church? Do our spiritual exploits measure up to being praiseworthy?
Paul continued by sharing that he often prayed for this church:
Romans 1:9 . . . God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you {10} in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God's will the way may be opened for me to come to you.
I doubt Paul casually called upon God to be his witness as he declared his faithfulness in his prayers for the Romans. And I'm sure Paul prayed for God's richest blessings on the Romans.
And then Paul explained that he had been praying for an opportunity to visit:
Romans 1:11 . . . I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—{12} that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith. {13} I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.
Again, Paul explained that he had intended to visit prior to this time, but had been stopped again and again.
Paul had at least three goals for the visit: (1) Paul hoped to impart a spiritual gift, probably not a special enablement, as in what we refer to as the spiritual gifts. Paul more likely spoke of a needed spiritual insight or teaching to be determined after spending time with the Romans. (2) Paul desired mutual encouragement. He would teach for their growth and they would provide the fellowship he missed while traveling. Isn't this the way it should always be when we gather, to give and to receive, expecting mutual benefit? (3) Paul also looked to reap a harvest among the Romans. Ever the apostle, Paul envisioned more for Christ. There would be evangelism and conversion. The church would grow.
When we come together, what is it that you expect? To get? To give? Or to share? I would suggest the right attitude or approach includes an expectation to share what I have, what you have, for our mutual growth.
Perhaps we could make this a homework assignment for our lives: to come to church looking to give something, looking to receive something, looking to find the experience mutually beneficial for everyone. Not member-focused, but Body-focused.
Let's return to where we started, the idea that we are part of a greater entity, not merely HOPE, but the whole Church. What is your/our relationship with other Christians, other churches? Do we think about them? Do we care about them? Do we pray for them?
Do we have enough interest in others to want to do the work of getting to know them? Are we willing to visit a church on vacation? And if we did, would we expect to fit in? Furthermore, do we think about other churches with hearts that are open that we might share into their lives? And how might we serve or strengthen them? Would we be open to an invitation to become closer?
Finally, how often do we think about the oneness we have with the Church, the Body of Christ? What might it mean to pursue this oneness as an intentional part of our daily lives?
WE at HOPE Community will spend time and energy this year developing a relationship with an E. C. church in Lancaster County, PA. This church has been concerned for us, and has been praying for us. Now, we want to become one in new ways. We will share prayer concerns, learning more about each other. We even hope to do things together, to actually meet (as many as possible) face-to-face.
