We know that we, as the church, are the Body of Christ and He is our Head. But, as Americans, we too often think of headship in terms of authority. Christ is our Leader, we are His followers. Christ is the Commander in Chief, we are soldiers in His army. Christ is Master, we are His servants. All this is true, but we are missing so much if we think of headship only in this way.
Scripture doesn't use these sorts of analogies. Instead, God inspired simple, clear words that even the simple among us could begin to glimpse the profound mystery. Christ is the Head and the Church is the Body. We are inseparable. We are one. We enjoy a sort of unity that is mysterious and profound.
When Saul was confronted by Jesus on the road to Damascus, Jesus did not say, "Saul, why are you persecuting my followers?" He did not say, "Saul, why are you persecuting the people under my command?" He said, "Saul, why do you persecute Me?"
When someone hits us, we say, "Don't hit me!" We don't say, "Do not hit the arm under my command." We feel hit; we feel pain. We do not sense ourselves as separate from our bodies.
When we persecute the Body of Christ, we persecute Christ. When we tear down the Body of Christ, we do this to Christ as well. He has chosen to be united with His church, to be the Head of the Body.
I'm a preacher's kid. I've seen the dark underbelly of the church. I have the battle scars to prove that we as Christians shoot our wounded. I've fired more than a few rounds myself. I have good reason to be wary of fellow Christians, to be reluctant to fully commit myself to a local expression of the Body of Christ. My problem is not with Jesus; it's with some of His followers.
Or so I tell myself.
The sad truth is that I do not love the Body of Christ as I should. And there is only one possible explanation for this coldness in my heart. It is because I do not have enough love for the Head. God forgive me.
May I love Jesus more. May I love all of Him, with all of my heart, mind, soul, strength. May I love Him passionately and zealously. May I love Him with a broken and contrite heart. May I love Him in purity and holiness. And then I will love His Body as I should.
Hey Rebecca. Hope you don't mind - I've been reading your blog for some time and I linked to your post today.
ReplyDeletethanks!!
Leanne
Great post!
ReplyDeleteOne of the problems I see with your comments is that there are many in 'church' who are not part of the Body. They are seekers and they may even be the pastor! They believe in unity over truth. There is NO unity outside of the truth of the Word.
ReplyDeleteOur churches are such now that even the most basic of discipline is not followed. One cannot even approach a member of the church about rampant sin without being branded a judgemental prig. We have turned it all upside down.
Judgement begins at the House of the Lord. (I grew up behind the scenes, too, so I know what you are talking about with the underbelly. However, today, some of the most cruel, ambitious, power mad people are in the church leadership. Church has become big business.)
Hey Rebecca,
ReplyDeleteI have nominated you for the Thinking Blogger award. You make me think on this blog, just like you made me think...oh...10+ years ago (!?!) when we debated the Ezzos! Thanks for all you think and write!
Good post with a good point; it is not just the church's fault that we are not more in love with the bride. Thanks for the thoughts,
ReplyDeleteMark
Thank you for this blog. Our church is going through a difficult time right now. I am speaking to some women this Wednesday night and God has laid it on my heart, actually pounded over my head all month the word LOVE and the true meaning and where to start. Ephesians 3 & 4 are my references. I would love to use some of your points to tie it all in. I hope I have your blessing to do so.
ReplyDelete