Jesus didn't die for me: Jesus died for the Church. God's plan for all creation was perfect from the start. Then, sin ushered death into the world. God's redemption and restoration work became the better way. God restored hope for all humanity, particularly rescuing the Bride of Christ, the Church (Ephesians 5:25-32).
For those that respect a sermon more if it's sprinkled with Greek words: ἐκκλησία.
It's a feminine noun. A singular name, applying to people in a group. Without the group, there is no Church. In some contexts in the New Testament, the name is applied to those who love Christ in a place. But it's not applied to a group of people with a preference. The Church is the Church.
Contemporary American theology gets stuck in this idea of individualized faith. We distort passages like Paul's claim that "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost" (1 Timothy 1:12). Pretending that Christ died for one person alone is an arrogant, egocentric and narrowing view of the Creator God. This view limits the power of our Great King and pardons ourselves from loving our neighbor.
When I think that Jesus died for me, specifically, I'm able to question if he also will rescue and restore those I disagree with. It's easy to tease a friend from "another church" or judge another "church family" this way. But the Church is not an extended family, able to bicker around the Thanksgiving table. The Church is a single Body (Colossians 1:15-23) with Christ as the head. Why do we waste time arguing with one another over petty disagreements and structure superimposed by ourselves? We're not arguing as brothers and sisters. We're the very Bride of Christ, an integrated body (1 Corinthians 12:12- 31). Being an individual member of the Church is to be part of the entire, global Church throughout time.
I have been hurt in so many circumstances by people within the Church who forget their identity as the Bride. Disagreements within the Church cut my soul because we are One in Christ. Rules beyond the rules of the Bible limit our shared freedom in Christ (Galatians 5:1). Don't treat me like your little sister, but grow with me in understanding our great King, our blessed Bridegroom (2 Timothy 4:1-5). Let us allow each follower of Christ to love and serve as Christ calls them, for Christ is calling us, together as the Church.
The Church is imperfect. The Church has hurt me, is hurting me, and will hurt me again. The Church is in constant need of Jesus' grace, being "cleansed by the washing of water with the word" as it says in Ephesians 5:26. For those currently hurt by the Church, I'm sorry. Hold deeply to the promises in the Scripture. Cling to our Identity in Christ, together.
Peter writes of the Church in Rome metaphorically, as a woman in Babylon, ministering from the ruins of a nation that represented former slavery (1 Peter 5:13). John cautions against those who stand in the way of the Truth, that the Church is to follow Jesus alone (3 John 9). The Church is a beautifully dangerous person. Paul writes virtually the same personalized reminder at the beginning and end of each letter, encouraging the Church in her holy Identity. My favorite picture of unity within the very person of the Church is the backstory for the letter to Philemon: asking a Church leader to welcome back the fugitive (Onesimus) who personally hurt him in the past (Philemon 8-20).
So this Advent season, as our human-made traditions attempt to further divide us within sanctuary walls, let us rally around our Rescued Identity. Let us cling to the Cross of our Savior Bridegroom. "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for God who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day is drawing near." (Hebrews 10:23-25). Be the Church. Join the Church. Love as the Church.
Sunday, November 24, 2019
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Ephesians 5
Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints. Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting – all of which are out of character – but rather thanksgiving. For you can be confident of this one thing: that no person who is immoral, impure, or greedy (such a person is an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them, for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light – for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth – and find out what pleases the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention. But all things being exposed by the light are made evident. For everything made evident is light, and for this reason it says:
“Awake, O sleeper!
Rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you!”
Therefore be very careful how you live – not as unwise but as wise, taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil. For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is. And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church – he himself being the savior of the body. But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word, so that he may present the church to himself as glorious – not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. In the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one has ever hated his own body but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church, for we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is great – but I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
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