“He came and preached peace to you
who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we
both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently,
you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with
God’s people and also members of his household, built on the
foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus
himself as the chief cornerstone.“ Ephesians
2:17-20 [NIV]
Some
translations use the old fashioned word sojourner, a lodger or temporary
resident, for the word that the NIV renders strangers. We are no longer lodgers
but permanent members of the family. When you are a lodger, renting a room, you
probably don’t get involved in house maintenance, you use the facilities
provided and when you’re done you move on. If you are a family member, living
in your family home, you take part in the maintenance of the building, even if
it’s just emptying the bins. A consequence of Christ’s peace is that we are
members of the household.
The more
familiar biblical picture is not of maintaining a building, but of being the
building. We are the bricks which are being laid on the foundation.
One of Charles
Spurgeon’s more cutting quotes comes to mind here:
“I know
there are some who say, “Well, I’ve given myself to the Lord, but I don’t
intend to give myself to any church.” I
say, “Now why not?” And they answer,
“Because I can be just as good a Christian without it.” I say, “Are you quite clear about that? You can be as good a Christian by
disobedience to your Lord’s commands as by being obedient? There’s a brick. What is the brick made for?
It’s made to build a house. It is of no use for the brick to tell you that
it’s just as good a brick while it’s kicking about on the ground by itself, as
it would be as part of a house. Actually,
it’s a good-for-nothing brick. So, you
rolling stone Christians, I don’t believe that you’re answering the purpose for
which Christ saved you. You’re living
contrary to the life which Christ would have you live and you are much to blame
for the injury you do.”
Putting it
positively, Christ’s peace, leads us to be part of a family that we should want
to be involved with, our desire should be to support each other and help the
church grow as active participants.
Father – Teach
us how to be family
Guy Mowbray
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