Today, as I was walking to church, I had to take a number of detours due to preparations for yet another procession. During this month, various churches around Antigua are celebrating the feast of Corpus Christi, or the Body of Christ. They primarily do this through “holy hours” and processions in which the Eucharist is carried throughout the city.
Their focus is on the Catholic belief that Christ is present in Holy Communion. While I don’t ascribe to this doctrine (though I’m not sure we evangelicals have any clearer an understanding of the mystery of the Lord’s Supper and the impact it can have on us), it did get me thinking about another meaning of the Body of Christ—His church.
I was a bit surprised when the topic of Pastor Mike’s sermon today was also the Body of Christ—comparing the church today to the early movement of the people of The Way (the first century church). It was a logical continuation of my thoughts on the way to church. His focus was on the passion the early church had for speaking out about what they had experienced in the life, death, resurrection and appearances of Jesus.
Reflecting upon what we speak out on I’m afraid too often it’s about denominationalism and our personal interpretation of the Bible. How much of our time is spent debating peripheral issues while a dying world is waiting to hear the Good News that Jesus has come to set us free. How seldom does the world see us as Christians living in a way that reflects and invites freedom? So often our approach to non-believers is “you have to” rather than sharing the freedom that comes in Christ.
We get stuck on debating doctrine, practices, philosophies and methodologies. Don’t misunderstand me—I do believe in absolute truth. I do believe that everything in the Bible is absolutely truth. What I realize, however, is that my understanding of these truths is flawed by my own limited intellect, agenda, attitudes, and personality. (The basics of my faith, and I believe the essentials for all Christ followers, can be found in the statement of faith of the Josiah Foundation, my sending organization—short, clear and to the point.) I love this quote from a recent newsletter by James MacDonald: “On the majors? Conviction. On the minors? Tolerance. In all things? Love. “
So, what is the cost of unity among Christians? Our dying to self—to our understandings, preferences, and agendas. To become, as Jesus prayed, one in mind, heart and spirit:
21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (John 17:21)
That we would seek to have the Mind of Christ, which, by it’s nature will change us and lead us from conflict to unity. Could it be that the division among Christ-followers impairs our ability to share the truth through it’s very nature?
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