In
the current meditations we reflect on the question: is the full armour of God
of which Paul talks in Ephesians 6:10-17 only meant for individual Christians
or also for the local church as a whole? Does God’s armour only protect
Christ’s life in us personally against Satan’s assaults? Does it equally
protect Christ’s life within the local church which is the Body of Christ? So
far we have seen that Jesus wants to manifest His life in our churches through
our passionate love for God and for each other. We have realized that God’s
Spirit is well able to produce this Christlike love in our hearts and in our
congregations. However, the question remains: how do we protect Jesus’ life in
our churches against Satan’s attacks? The apostle Paul encourages the church in
Ephesus (Turkey) to “be (or: grow, become) strong in the Lord...” (Ephesians
6:10**). In the present meditations we ask ourselves: how does a church that
wants to grow strong ‘in the Lord’ practically look like?
In our last
meditation, we looked at the characteristics of Jesus’ way of serving God and
men. In this meditation we want to see how Jesus’ way of serving characterises
a church that is controlled by God’s Spirit. Indeed, Jesus Messiah is the
divine Servant par excellence. The apostles call our churches to follow His example.
The apostle Paul
writes to the church in Corinth (Greece): “Follow my
example, as I follow the example of Christ.” (1 Corinthians
11:1**). To the church in Philippi (Turkey), the apostle writes: “Your
attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians
2:5**). Finally, the apostle John writes “Those who say they live in God
should live their lives as Christ did.” (1 John 2:6*)
Any
church is
in all likelihood a mix of Christians from different age groups and different
cultures, with different characters, different likes and dislikes, different
educational backgrounds, different professions, different skills, different
gifts, different experiences, different ‘levels’ of faith (from new converts up
to mature believers), different degrees of commitment, etc.
Besides, all church members are in fact
‘sinners saved by grace’. I think that means practically that in a church, old
sinful habits could easily flare up any time again: leadership conflicts,
relational problems, church policy disputes, theological disagreements, etc. From
a human point of view it seems unachievable to train a church in Christlike
service to God and fellowmen.
Obviously,
the answer lies in the presence of God’s Spirit in the church. As God put His
Spirit upon Jesus during His life on earth (see Meditation 140), so His Spirit has
indwelled the church since the Pentecost celebration after Jesus’ ascension.
It
was during that Pentecost celebration that the apostle Peter mentioned the
essential feature of God’s messianic, new covenant people (i.e. the church): “In
those days I will pour out My Spirit upon all My servants, men and women alike...”
(Acts 2:18*) Actually, God had made this promise already by mouth
of His prophet Joel (see Joel 2:28) who might have lived in the 5th
century BC.
The
apostle Paul reminds the church in Corinth (Greece): “Don't you realize that
all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in
you? God will bring ruin upon anyone who ruins this temple. For God's temple is
holy, and you Christians are that temple.” (1 Corinthians
3:16-17*)
He
writes to the church in Ephesus (Turkey): “We (i.e. Jewish followers of
Jesus) who believe are carefully joined together, becoming a holy temple for
the Lord. Through Him you Gentiles (i.e. Christians from the nations) are also
joined together as part of this dwelling where God lives by His Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:21-22*)
God
said already to Moses (13th century BC?) that the distinctive
quality of His people would be to serve Him wholeheartedly: “And now, O
Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God,
to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with
all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the LORD's commands and
decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?” (Deuteronomy
10:12-13**)
Jesus,
the divine Servant par
excellence, lived up fully to this requirement and God’s Spirit wants to
transform God’s new covenant people into Jesus’ way of serving. Jesus showed us
His divine view on true servanthood: “It is enough for ... the servant
(to be) like his master.” (Matthew 10:25**)
The evening before He
dies, Jesus shows His followers that a true Christlike servant not only serves
God wholeheartedly but also His fellowmen: “After washing
their feet (i.e. of His disciples), he put on his robe again and sat down and
asked, ‘Do you understand what I was doing? You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,'
and you are right, because it is true. And since I, the Lord and Teacher, have
washed your feet, you ought to wash each other's feet. I have given you an
example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, no servant is
greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.’” (John
13:12-17*)
Needless
to say that is not only a divine command for individual followers of Jesus but
also for the church as a corporate personality: a Christlike church is a church
that is controlled by God’s Spirit and a church controlled by God’s Spirit is a
serving church, serving God, its members and the world in a Christlike way.
Christlike service
means first of all serving God wholeheartedly
The apostle Paul write to the church
in Rome about the way we should serve God personally. Paul writes: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers,
in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and
pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any
longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your
mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good,
pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:1-2**)
However, I think that we could apply
this to the church as a corporate personality as well. Should my church
not also commit itself totally and sacrificially to God’s service? Should it not
be driven by the vision to serve God with Christlike holiness? Should my church
not strive to conceptualize an ‘alternative Christlike culture’ instead of
conforming to the ways of the world? Should it not develop a Christlike policy
in all its facets and learn to examine what God’s perfect will is for its
organization, its live and work?
Christlike service is on
display in a caring church
The apostle Paul requires that my churches should be an epitome of Christlike service to its members and to the outside
world: “Love
each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never
be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically. Be glad for all God
is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful. When God's
children are in need, be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of
inviting guests home for dinner or, if they need lodging, for the night.” (Romans
12:10-13*)
Furthermore, Paul challenges the
church in Rome: “The
Kingdom of God is ... a matter of ... living a life of goodness and peace and
joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please
God. And other people will approve of you, too. So then, let us aim for harmony
in the church and try to build each other up.” (Romans
14:17-19*)
Paul
praises Christians in Achaia (Greece) who were outstanding in their commitment
to serving their fellow Christians: “You know that the household of
Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves
to the service of the saints.” (1 Corinthians 16:15**) What an
example these Christians are to our churches!
To
the churches in Galatia (Turkey), the apostle writes: “You have been called to
live in freedom -- not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to
serve one another in love.” (Galatians 5:13*)
Christlike service
means sharing material possessions generously
I
think that Jesus did not only speak to individual followers but also our churches
when He said: “Don't worry about food-- what to eat and drink. Don't worry
whether God will provide it for you. These things dominate the thoughts of most
people, but your Father already knows your needs. He will give you all you need
from day to day if you make the Kingdom of God your primary concern. So don't
be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you
the Kingdom. Sell what you have and give to those in need. This will store up
treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven have no holes in them.
Your treasure will be safe-- no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it.”
(Luke 12:29-33*)
In
obedience to Jesus’ command, a Christlike church is ready to serve its fellow Christians
elsewhere when they are in need. Luke reports an early example of this in the
Book of Acts: “During this time, some prophets traveled from Jerusalem to
Antioch (in Syria). One of them named Agabus stood up in one of the meetings to
predict by the Spirit that a great famine was coming upon the entire Roman
world. (This was fulfilled during the reign of Claudius.) So the believers in
Antioch decided to send relief to the brothers and sisters in Judea, everyone giving
as much as they could. This they did, entrusting their gifts to Barnabas and
Saul to take to the elders of the church in Jerusalem.” (Acts
11:27-30*)
The
apostle Paul testifies to the church in Corinth about the immense generosity of
the churches in Macedonia: “Now I want to tell you, dear brothers and
sisters, what God in His kindness has done for the churches in Macedonia.
Though they have been going through much trouble and hard times, their
wonderful joy and deep poverty have overflowed in rich generosity. For I can
testify that they gave not only what they could afford but far more. And they
did it of their own free will. They begged us again and again for the gracious
privilege of sharing in the gift for the Christians in Jerusalem. Best of all,
they went beyond our highest hopes, for their first action was to dedicate
themselves to the Lord and to us for whatever directions God might give them.”
(2 Corinthians 8:1-5*).
Let's not forget that this Christlike selflessness was surely the result of God’s powerful
work in those churches!
Some
other texts on the generous giving of the early churches we find Romans
15:25-27; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 8:7-24; 2 Corinthians 9:1-15; Galatians
2:10.
Our
Lord Jesus, who is the Head of every church, warned us already for the trap of
materialism: “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love
the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both
God and money.” (Matthew 6:24*)
I
think it is good for our churches to keep in mind that God does not want us to
give reluctantly or und compulsion for “God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7**)
A
church family that grows strong in Christlike service, will also be dedicated
to praying and caring for persecuted fellow Christians. The author of the
Epistle to the Hebrews encourages us to do so: “Don't forget about those in
prison. Suffer with them as though you were there yourself. Share the sorrow of
those being mistreated, as though you feel their pain in your own bodies.” (Hebrews 13:3*)
Christlike service
means also proclaiming the Gospel to those who are not yet saved from God’s coming
judgment
A Christlike
church serves the world first of all by sharing the message of salvation through
Jesus Messiah, the Servant of God: “He was despised and rejected by men, a
man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their
faces he was despised, and we esteemed Him not. Surely He took up our infirmities and
carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by Him, and
afflicted. But He was pierced
for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that
brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah
53:3-5**).
However,
Jesus warned the church that sharing its Lord’s message could also mean that it
would share in its Lord’s sufferings: “Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No
servant is greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will persecute
you also. If they obeyed My teaching, they will obey yours also.’” (John 15:20**)
Like
the first century church in Jerusalem, a Christlike church will ask their Lord
to empower them to proclaim the Gospel fearlessly and with courage even in the
face of enmity and persecution: “Now, Lord, consider their threats and
enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.” (Acts
4:29**)
The
apostle Paul shows the church in Corinth how he reaches out with the Gospel to
anyone he meets: “This means I am not bound to obey people just because they
pay me, yet I have become a servant of everyone so that I can bring them to
Christ. When I am with the Jews, I become one of them so that I can bring them
to Christ. When I am with those who follow the Jewish laws, I do the same, even
though I am not subject to the law, so that I can bring them to Christ. When I
am with the Gentiles who do not have the Jewish law, I fit in with them as much
as I can. In this way, I gain their confidence and bring them to Christ. But I
do not discard the law of God; I obey the law of Christ. When I am with those
who are oppressed, I share their oppression so that I might bring them to
Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone so that I might bring
them to Christ. I do all this to spread the Good News, and in doing so I enjoy
its blessings.” (1 Corinthians 9:19-22*)
Is
that not a true Christlike policy for my church as well?
Training the church
for Christlike service should be at the heart of its leadership
In
his letter to the Ephesian churches, the apostle Paul shows that the risen
Christ gave leaders to the church to train them first of all in serving God and
fellow man: “It was He (Jesus) who gave some to be apostles, some to be
prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to
prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be
built up...” (Ephesians 4:11-12**)
Notice
in the continuation of this text that a church which grows in Christlike
service also grows in Christlike love: “... until we come to such unity in
our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature and full grown in
the Lord, measuring up to the full stature of Christ. Then we will no longer be
like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe because someone
has told us something different or because someone has cleverly lied to us and
made the lie sound like the truth. Instead, we will hold to the truth in love,
becoming more and more in every way like Christ, who is the Head of His body,
the church. Under His direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly.
As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that
the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.” (Ephesians
4:13-16*)
-----
I think it is clear by now that a
church which is growing in service to others in a Christlike way, is a church which is increasingly controlled by the power of God’s Spirit. The apostle Peter
points to this when he says: “If anyone serves, he should do it with the
strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus
Christ. To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4:11**)
Translations: * New Living
Translation; ** New International Version.
About "God's major project: Transforming me and my church into the likeness of Christ", see Meditations 45-48.
About “The Church as a
‘Corporate Personality’, see Meditations 63-65.
About “The Church as a
new (messianic) community, consisting of all the followers of Jesus”, see Meditation
29.
About “The Holy Spirit and His
ministry”, see Meditations 27-34.
About “The two Tracks of Maturing in
Christlikeness”, see Meditation 100.
About “How to overcome the power of sin in my life?”,
see Meditations 101-130.
About “How to overcome the power of sin in my
church?”, see Meditations 131-140.
