Question:
If you were going to write or create a recipe for the ingredients of 'a church' or for 'the church' what would you include as the ingredients necessary to do so & why? What would they be? (Or to word it differently, what do you feel would be some of the ingredients present or NOT present in that gathering). Trying to make this simple : 0 )
For myself I think a freedom in sharing and love of the Word,
openness amongst all,
honesty and genuine love & interest in one another,
love, love of Truth,
mutual respect,
mutual sharing,
lots of hope & encouragement for one another,
loving generous leadership,
very giving hearts to all - including those in any need or difficulty,
community in the sense of sharing life and giving life to each other
sensitivity to one another's pain & the need to work through and process that as a personal thing
I think I could go on and on here : ) I guess I have just had lotzz of time to think about it.
I would like to see His love as the main goal, the expression of that & the work of His love constantly and gently moving all in the direction of yielding more to the Father (the Father's will expressed as a group). And that desire ( for His will ) would be expressed in our lives as a result of His love restoring our hearts and gaining a deepening expression. But not something we work to make happen, or 'set out to do'. Instead the exchange taking place because His love has captured us, His love is doing it. Father's love settling within and dispelling our fears.
5 comments:
Ruth, What a relevant post, considering people are leaving churches for many reasons. I think I would love to see more encouragement. I call it the lost 'gift' cause it's usually seldom found in churches. As mentioned before I long for fellowship once again, but we wait for our Papa to show us a place where our relevant gift can be used to encourage others.
Many of my relatives are mormon. They are in a false religion and yet I see them sacrificially taking care of each others needs. Maybe it is because they believe in a "works" religion.....I do not know? But they should not be more loving and benevolent than us? I actually get mad when I see time after time.......christians who have the ability to meet a need and yet simply say, "I'll pray for you"???
Lennart,
I found the encouragment that I often saw present in 'church' was for the benefit of the denomination, encourage you to 'join their program' 'to get involved'. This works as long as you are interested in their program :)
What I was trying to point out in the post perhaps more than anything was my own desire for the simplicity and sincerity of having my heart knit together with others for the single purpose of experiencing Him, His love in all. Perhaps I should do a post on what I would not necessarily see as an ingredient!
Ike,
Perhaps they see one of the main functions of their religion is to look out and care for each other. I think many religions have this in common probably : ) . It's that intense sense of belonging that we all hunger for, but which also makes us vulnerable as well.
Thanks guys!
When we join a computer club, Rotary or similar organization we can experience acceptance mutual fellowship and even genuine care and love. Only His love last for eternity though. Even the good from the tree of knowledge of good and evil was bad. If its not based on the fathers love through Jesus -our humanitarian care could be wood hay and stubble. Many to whom was said "depart from me I never knew you" did great works of love and power. Because they weren't centred on Him they missed the mark. Whatever is not of true faith is sin. To trying and be like God without God is perilous territory indeed. I am not saying that "good " done without him is bad but I am saying that apart from Him we can do nothing. Cornelius was given the real goods partly becasue he was already being benevolent to other people.
So whats the recipe look like? I cant agree more with what my sister has said about the love of God. But like a rain forest it will be filled with diversity that fits together as a whole. There will be friendships of twos and threes. Groups of worshippers. Teachers and encouragers and prophetic giftings. Five fold like teams will set off for local towns and far off places alike. Everyone will realize that they can minister and be given a space to do so. Above all -everybody will be esteemed the same as one another. Sure you will always love more that friend is close to you but I mean generally we wont see one person "better" or worse than another. Gone are the days when preachers and worship leaders are given presents and special meetings when they move on. Gone are the days when people will move on unless daddy says so. Gone will be the days when acceptance is based on your job , your kids school or your weight. We will all stand side by side stretching to the horizon. Much of the religious scramble today is based in being recognized and sought after in order to "make it". I was reborn in a "made it" family and as soon as we recognize that we will be accepted for who we are and not for what we can do. There will be no formulas and every country and group will be different. After loving him with all our hearts we will love His family to the extent that we will be williing to die for them. What will that look like? Lets start by praying together and just hanging out together. Sharing living helping and eating together. Sigggghhhh heaven. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Being a part of the living body of Christ should be one of the most challenging and exciting experiences on the face of this planet. Give us grace to do this Lord.
HI Dale,
I love your comment! I love the idea of diversity in the recipe. It was something I never really thought about, but I can see how important this particular ingredient would be in terms of the recipe. Diversity helping to make it unique & whole: definitely something only God can create.
I particularly want to re- emphasize these points that you made:
"Above all -everybody will be esteemed the same as one another
We will all stand side by side stretching to the horizon.
There will be no formulas and every country and group will be different."
It is simply so exciting to think of the Body of Christ in the way you have shared here. I appreciate that so much.
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