Shared Commonality: Building Relationships in the Body of Christ [3]

For too long Christians have seen congregations form and disband because of divisive differences. These differences often define a “crisis of community.” With God’s help, there is only one way to defeat this strategy that Satan has so often successfully employed over the centuries. When Christians focus on their “shared commonality” this helps create the practical path of the Spirit’s power to create unity among God’s people.

            This “shared commonality” is made up of emotional bonds, like-mindedness, and symbols [Wendell Willis, (2011-2012). “The Erosion of Community: A Challenge to the Church.” Christian Studies 25: 11.;  Arthur P. Cohen, (1985). The Symbolic Construction of Community. Chichester, England: Ellis Horwood, Ltd., page 20ff.]

            Emotional bonds come from a deep heart of love for one another. Jesus promoted this kind of relationship with the following: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” [John 13:34, 35].

            Like-mindedness comes from a deep heart of respect and deference for one another. Paul says it this way:  “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus” [Philippians 2:4]. The mindset of Jesus was always thinking of others first, giving up self and claims of superiority.

            Symbols help bring to visual and experiential level what the heart most embraces with others. This is behind Paul’s questions: “¹⁶ Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? ¹⁷ Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf” [1 Corinthians 10:16-17].

            As Christian leaders we model these three things: a deep heart of love for others with strong emotional bonds, a like-mindedness for others with respect and deference, and helping others to experience appropriate symbols that reflect the common faith.

            I remember years ago that a friend of mine reminded me that Christian leaders are living symbols of unity among God’s people. This is why it is so critical for each one of us to intentionally embody our “shared commonality.” This gets at the heart of authentic, transformational leadership. What is most real and life-changing is what we desperately need to be modeling for others. Anyone can boss. Not everyone can embody!

            May God give us a strong, shared commonality that finds its expression in the emotional bonds of deep love, a like-mindedness of Jesus, and participation in common symbols of our faith. What richness and depth this commonality brings to our relationships in Christ!

In Christian love, Curtis

Hungering for a Sense of God? Building Relationships in the Body of Christ [2]

Nearly a decade ago, Frederick Buechner in his book, Secrets in the Dark: A Life in Sermons, made this observation about the church:

            “Much of what goes on in churches, I am afraid, is as shallow and lifeless as much of its preaching and as irrelevant to the deep needs of the people who come to church hungering for a sense of God’s presence that they more often than not never find” (p. 284).

            “Shallow and lifeless.” What a stinging rebuke to preaching and church gatherings! I once heard another person say that the spirituality of most Christians today is about an inch thick and mile wide! The opposite of “shallow and lifeless” is “depth and life!” What gives sermons and church gatherings “depth and life?”

            Hunger and thirsting for a sense of God’s presence is the place to start. I think that Dietrich Bonhoeffer was right when he maintained that the presence of the risen Christ among his assembled people was what made church gatherings different from any other kind of assembly. Do we really believe that Christ is among us? Do we really believe that Christ has and is providing “depth and life” to our preaching, praying, singing, giving and encouraging one another?

            If we as a congregation are not helping others in their hunger and thirst for God, then we are failing in our calling as God’s people. Jesus declared in the Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled”(Matthew 5:6). Both old and young alike are “leaving church” because they see it “too reflective of the American consumer culture” [Wendell Willis, (2011-12). “The Erosion of Community: A Challenge to the Church.” Christian Studies 25: 11.]

            More than ever, Christian leadership (pastors, shepherds, ministers, deacons, teachers, parents, etc.) needs to model “depth and life” in one’s Christian walk. Only when one’s walk has depth and breadth will the gatherings, whatever form they take during the week, be transformative. Christian leaders must be models of transformation that demonstrate with boldness “one has been with the Lord” (Acts 4:13).

            “Shallow and lifeless” or “depth and Life”—which shall it be for us? As we build relationships to the glory of God, may we help others to fill their hunger for God with depth and Life!

In Christian love, Curtis

Erosion or Cohesion? Building Relationships in the Body of Christ

          I want to begin a series of articles on the community nature of the body of Christ. I will be taking some of my ideas and cues from an article that Wendell Willis wrote with the title: “The Erosion of Community: A Challenge to the Church.” (2011/2012).  Christian Studies 25: 9-19.

          One important trend has been noted regarding the  nature of religious community. Even though researchers and sociologists agree that there has been a rise in the interest and practice of personal spirituality, the same cannot be said regarding how people identify with religious groups. One person notes that, “people do not belong to church the way they once did, even when they show up for religious services.”

          A deeply imbedded value has changed for many Americans. “…Recently Americans have tended to value institutions as support systems, without sensing any obligation that they may have to those institutions” [Willis, p. 10].

          What this has brought about is the religious phenomenon of church shopping and church hopping. Questions of taste precede questions of service. Where one chooses to attend religious activities too often is based on self-serving criteria.

          This erosion of personal commitment to a group negates a fundamental cohesion that is necessary to any form of group life. Perhaps there is some logical reason for this—the church has presented herself in the past as an unyielding institution where people are used instead of served. We will continue this discussion in the next few weeks. One parting thought…The church coheres when the body of Christ offers the heart of Christ with the hands of Christ! This has to be embodied by men and women of faith who are led by the Spirit of God. 

In Christian love, Curtis