An Ideal Community….

An Ideal Community….

“Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.  Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.  Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.”  Hebrews 13:1-3, NIV)

I read the last chapter of Hebrews this week and realized,  for the first time, that it offered a perfect recipe for an ideal Christian community: whether it be a summer camp, church, Christian fellowship, or a village.  Ecclesia is the Greek word used for “church”, and it means “a gathering together” —-it’s the coming  together of believers of Jesus Christ.  We are, right here,  a small ecclesia.

Hebrews chapter thirteen suggests nothing surprising or unique in the Bible about a fellowship, but remember, this book was written for a mature Christian community that still needed to be reminded of the basics of Christian living. It was not meant as blue-print or agenda for non-believers, or a civic club, but rather as a compass for followers of Christ who were still struggling in the dark world of the Roman Empire.

This past week I’ve been struggling—-both with the inconsistency of how I am not always as wise, careful and mature as I should be, but also at the things that happen in Christian fellowship—that should not be happening!

Here is the counsel Hebrews offers regarding to how we are to treat each other in an ecclesia:

a. Don’t stop loving one another.  No matter what!  Regardless of what they’ve done, how sick they are, how many times they miss church or fall down, don’t stop loving them!  Why did he say this? Because Christian communities are always at risk of becoming indifferent to the others in the community that irritate us.  That’s why we make ourselves unite with other believers each week to be reminded of the truth. We tend to want to stay at home, think it’s someone else’s job to visit or encourage others, or put of fellowship and meeting.  But coming together its essential for loving one another——don’t wait!  Do that visit now. Make that encouraging phone call today. Give that special little gift or that warm word of “thank you” to the ones you love before the sun sets.  Carpe diem……..Seize the day!        

Lately, I’ve talked to some youth and even older adults that are uninvolved with any church. Without giving too much information about them, they all had the same reasons for not being involved in church. It was not doubts about God, or questions about the Bible, or issues with a particular pastor or priest. In each case it was about a member of their own family that had turned them off to the Christian faith and church attendance.   All of them spoke about being “talked down to” by a parent, sibling, or partner about how bad they were and how they should be going to church. But for each of them, something was annoying about the manner in which they were being lectured and the example of the ones lecturing them.   The good intentions of friends and family members can have  the opposite effect if you make the other feel that they are somehow inferior for not attending church. Neither will an attitude of aloofness, spiritual pride, or pious piety upon the unchurched. What will make a difference is genuine interest in the other person. It’s “pre-evangelism”.

But until we are  sincerely kind and caring for the person, regardless of their willingness to come to church or become a convert, we will never be much of a “fisher of men.”  I say all of this because the folks I talked to this past week are good people. In fact, they display more humility and character than some of us within the church!  Perhaps that’s part of the problem. They look at the lives and dealings of those that never miss a worship service and conclude, “I am better than they are and I never go to church!”  And perhaps they are right, but as but as C.S. Lewis would say, “you should have met the same church members before they came to Christ and joined the church …”.

Nevertheless, for some, I am the only proof that the Christian faith is real—or that Christianity is just a fairy tale.  Some look at me and are inspired to increase their faith….but how many more think twice about being a disciple of Christ because of my inconsistent life, bad choices, sins, and selfishness. Eyes are always upon those of us who bear the name “Christian.” I am not able to maintain an act for long. Either He dwells within me and bears fruit or I am an artificial tree. May I, and those in this room , be well-rooted in Him and able to draw others to Him.

b. Embrace and be kind—or hospitable— to strangers, i.e. don't get so smug and comfortable with those at your table that there’s no more room for another!   Remember when you are tempted to look down your nose at that liberal, or fundamentalist, or CNN commentator, or muslim, or atheist or sexually perverse: God loves them and Christ died for them. They have value and are precious to God. The early church was always reaching out to those who are not yet “in.”—and so must we!  God does not want us getting overly cozy with those we’ve known for years and years—He wants to embrace those that need fellowship!  We should always pray about“expanding our borders—and increasing our fellowship.”  This must be our hope; we need to be willing to get excited about being uncomfortable with new folks in our fellowships that have taken our seats!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

One of the things that grabs my attention the quickest when I visit France is all the handicapped, crippled, blind and slightly demented people I see on the streets of the cities. I am not saying that France has more than we do in the USA—perhaps they have fewer. But they are seen in France, and I just don’t see these kind of people that often in North Carolina.  I also wonder if we are more inclined to “put them away” in our country. Maybe we put them into special homes where no one else has to see them. Maybe we justify this by telling ourselves that it’s for their own protection and treatment.   

We might have good reasons for putting away all the folks that have physical or mental shortcomings, but one thing is clear to me when I see them in France: I have compassion on them because I can see and touch them…. in a way I could not just by reading about them or seeing a TV special regarding their plights. Walking right up to them made them individual….children of God…. in a way a poster or special campaign for them does not. I also noted that my troubles and challenges quickly receded to the back of my mind as I thought about all that these folks are up against everyday of their lives.

I whine and whimper about how hard my work is and how unappreciated and misunderstood I am — and then I am literally face to face with a man with no legs—begging for food… or an old lady bent and twisted so much that she has to strain to see what is in front of her… or a man muttering and arguing with someone that is not there as he crosses the street.  What on earth do I have to complain about?                                                                                                                            

Thank God for letting me see how difficult life is for some,  I thank Him for the inspiring lives so many of them live and never seem to complain about.  The Bible speaks about angels and how God sends them to protect the “little ones”. The author of Hebrews admonishes us to be kind to strangers because it might just be an angel. I wonder sometimes: Was that a bent up old lady… or an angel?  Was that man really insane… or was he a messenger of God?           

One of our staff and I were in Puebla once walking through a bazaar several years ago, and a young man walked past us begging for food. We both recalled that he did not appear to fit in, and as we both turned to look at him again he was gone—vanished. It was as if we were being tested to see how we would respond to cries for help. We failed the test. What if I treated every strange man, woman and child as if they were really an angel? What if I treated them if they were really Jesus Christ? Isn’t that  precisely what Jesus told me I was supposed to do?

c. Remember those that are not with you because they cannot because they are in jail, or in the hospital, or bedridden, or even out of fellowship because of quarrels and disagreements.   Sometimes we choose to forget the very ones we once claimed to have a deep and abiding love for.“Remembering” refers to missing them and wishing they were back! You will pray for effectively and  treat them different if you miss them and pray for them.  I read the story about how Peter was put in jail by Herod and subsequently how the  Christians prayed for Peter.  The background was that James, the brother of John, was just killed by Herod, so these folks were praying mightily.  And then, of course, the miracle happened. God answered their prayers and Peter was miraculously freed from prison by an angel and walked to the house of the folks that were praying for him. He knocked on the door as they were praying for him, and the girl answering the door was so shocked that she left the door locked, and Peter outside(!) as she ran to tell the fellow believers that Peter was outside—-no longer in jail.   But the people praying for his deliverance could not believe it and told the girl she was crazy.  It’s reassuring to know that even the early Christians had moments when they were dim-witted. They prayed for Peter’s deliverance, Peter was delivered, and they could not believe that their prayers were effective!

This past week I again prayed for our brother, Chris Clark.  But unlike my past times of prayer, I prayed the moments he was in need of prayer—-which is during the wee hours of the night. So each time I rose from my bed—and I have some sleeping disorders, so it was a.lot—-I prayed for Chris and the attack he is enduring every night. Each time I got out of bed—-four or five times—-I made Chris and his protection to focus of my prayers!  And Chris told me that he’s been sleeping well!!

So why are you and  I so slow to believe in the efficacy of prayer?  We do we hesitate to trust and understand, when, just like these early believers, we have seen God do the impossible many times before!  The truth is that Peter would one day be arrested, and tradition tells us, crucified up-side down - regardless of those prayers that were being lifted for his deliverance. There are times when God answers “no” to our requests—-just as He answered “no” to His own Son’s request that “this cup pass”.  But there are far more times when He answers in the affirmative and our lives are blessed beyond expectations.   We should never pray for what we merit, nor should we wallow in self-pity before God about what I think we don’t deserve. Peter and Paul certainly never did this. They were resolved to allow Him to have His perfect will in their lives—-even if it meant jail, banishment or martyrdom. We talk about being abandoned to Him, but it’s surprising how quickly we squeal when things get difficult or He fails to answer us in the time and means we think most efficient!   Peter was delivered,  because the eccleisa prayed for him.  God heard their prayers and it pleased God to answer their prayers in the affirmative.  There is power in the prayers of men and women who believe that He hears  them and that He is pleased with their petition.  Do we pray like that?

Praying an authentic, heartfelt, earnest, sincere prayer is key to moving mountains. Did you pray today for those who lead our church, city, state, and nation?

More and more I am discovering not only the strength, but also the efficacy of corporate prayer.  For the past several days I have been burdened by some needs at the camp, and whereas some folks tell me that they are “praying for me”, there are few that I trust to pray for me.  I have asked the trusted few to pray about important matters because my prayers seem to be going nowhere. I have been humbled in seeing immediate answers to my prayers when people of faith intercede on my behalf.

I have also noted the reciprocal effect. People come to me with personal needs and I stop what I am doing and concentrate on their need, intercede on their behalf and things happen—much faster than when I pray for my own needs.

Obviously God wants me to depend upon others when it comes to my personal struggles, my challenges in ministry and concerning unanswered prayers in general.

Perhaps you are also perplexed about why your prayers are not being answered.  I challenge you to ask someone you know who has an intimate relationship to Christ to personally and emphatically intercede for you. Miracles will follow.

-Don’t stop loving one another.  How to help you do this? Think about where you would be if God stopped loving you….

-Embrace and be hospitable to strangers.  Imagine every man, woman and child as Jesus Christ or an angel He has sent to test us. The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.(Emerson) “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.” Churchill. Those who are happiest are those who do the most for others.”– Booker T. Washington

-Remember those that are not with you.  Write down their names, make it a point to pray for them, expect and pray for good things… The death of a beloved is an amputation—CS Lewis It takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, and a day to love them, but it takes an entire lifetime to forget them.

….But let close with one last admonition found not only in Hebrews, but most of other letters written to the first choices. There is one thing the church must solidly, consistently and immediately contend. And that is inappropriate sexual behavior.  Neither Jesus or the apostles go into sordid detail about what is appropriate or in appropriate, but Jesus was clear—-one man, one woman, joined in holy vows for their early lives.  Paul spoke about even a hint of sexual promiscuity is to avoided.

The author of Hebrews said this:

“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.”  (Hebrews 12:14-16, NIV)

Again, hear what he said: See to it that no one is sexually immoral—-or is godless like Esau.  Why Esau’s example?  Because he gave away his entire inheritance for a bowl of stew!  Some people have given away their marriage, family, friendships, reputations and their witness of Christ for an affair…. a one night romance….a fleeting relationship that they should not have entered into…..and  perhaps, if they were regularly reminded, by brothers and sisters who loved them, of their responsibilities in an ecclesia, to flee from sexual,  it would not have happened.  We’re told to “see to it” that no one in our fellowship is sexually immoral.  We do that by holding each other, in sincere love.  accountable, talking about what’s right and wrong in relationships, and by earnestly praying for each other.