Oct. 15, 2014

The blemish of the bride is self mutilation.

Comedian Emo Phillips wrote a joke about our tendency as Christians to obsess over the differences between us while ignoring the many beliefs and practices that we have in common.    Here’s the joke:
 
Once I saw this guy on a bridge about to jump. I said, “Don’t do it!”
He said, “Nobody loves me.” I said, “God loves you. Do you believe in God?”
He said, “Yes.” I said, “Are you a Christian or a Jew?”
He said, “A Christian.” I said, “Me too! Protestant or Catholic?”
He said, “Protestant.” I said, “Me too! What denomination?”
He said, “Baptist.” I said, “Me too! Northern Baptist or Southern Baptist?”
He said, “Northern Baptist.” I said, “Me too! Northern Conservative Baptist or Northern Liberal Baptist?”
He said, “Northern Conservative Baptist.” I said, “Me too! Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region or Northern Conservative Baptist Eastern Region?”
He said, “Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region.” I said, “Me too!”
“Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1879 or Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912?”
He said, “Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912?”  I said, “Die heretic!” And I pushed him over.
 
It is very unfortunate that within the body of Christ, His church there should be division. It's okay for us as Christians to have differences in preference of worship styles, service structure and particular points of scripture we emphasize. These lead to the unique individual make up of local bodies. It allows people of differing preferences to find a local church they are comfortable in. It allows for specific vision and mission focus for each church. We must however always look to what we share as common beliefs and values. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to the world to pay the price for the sin of all people. He died on the cross and was raised up again. His resurrection was witnessed by many people. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will return again to establish His eternal kingdom. We as believers followers of Christ are to get ourselves ready and share the good news of the kingdom to all the world. We have the Bible, which is God's Word, and the Holy Spirit to guide us in truth.
 
These are my words. I hope you can read them and say yes, even if you would say it a little differently or add emphasis to one part or another. Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, and so to the church today, addressing  division within the church.
 
1 Corinthians 1:10-13
 
10 Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you. 12 Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of Christ.” 13 Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?  
 
Again it's okay for us to have differences and preferences. It's okay to have differences even in how we interpret and apply certain scriptures and we should never compromise core truths and values for the sake of  tolerence and inclusiveness. But we need to recognize that Jesus is coming back for His church and His church will not be identified by a denominational title or a mega-church logo. He is coming back for a spotless bride.      
 
 
 Rev 19:7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready."  8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 9Then he said to me, "Write, 'Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.'" And he said to me, "These are true words of God."…

 How can the bride be spotless and clean when she is obsessively self mutilating, cutting and tearing parts of her own body. This division that exists within the church is one of the greatest deterents to people coming to the Lord.. There is enough strife in the world, the church should not be filled with it also. The church needs to repent of her self mutilation and begin to see herself as the spotless bride Jesus sees.

If you are one who has lived outside the church, in part for the very reason I mention here, I encourage you to seek first the kingdom of God. I encourage you to love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul. I encourage you to delight in and abide in God, to daily be renewed and filled with the Holy Spirit. Your relationship with God will grow and as it does you will change. The psalmist says in Psalm 37:

 3Trust in the LORD and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.  4Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart.

As God changes us, He gives us the desires of our heart. His desires become our desires. One of His greatest desires is for His church, His bride to be one with Him, unified and without spot or wrinlke. If we want to take part in that glorious reunion with Him we need to love the rest of the body.

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit forgive me where I have allowed my judgment to seperate me from others in your body. Help me daily to draw near to You, to delight in You, that I might see as You see. I look forward to the day You return for Your bride. But until that day I recognize that each day is a gift and an opportunity to prepare myself and Your bride. Holy Spirit fill me today, I yield to You. Be my guide.