To:

The Word of God prayer meeting 12/2/01

Roots & Fruits Series I. Together in Christ: Community

Talk #2: Fight for Christian Community

^{9But you are a chosen people, a royal
priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare
the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
10Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you
had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 1 Pet. 2:9-10
(NIV) (echoing Ex 19:6)}

^{God's plan for his people}

^{Chosen by grace out of all the nations}
^{Holy nation - in their corporate life
/ relationship they reflect him}
^{Royal priesthood - declare him to the
people in darkness / intercede before him for them}

^{Our community is just a particular
expression of his call / plan for all Christians} ^{There is opposition to the fulfillment
of God's plan - requires a fight!} ^{Like Israel coming into the Promised
Land -- we fight, but the battle belongs to the Lord!}

^{Opposition from without - World}
^{Opposition from within - Flesh}
^{Opposition from below - Devil}

^{I. Opposition from the World / culture}

^{There are many ways the culture of
America / world culture opposes Christian community because fundamentally
it does not place God at the center. Let’s look a few key areas.}

^{1. Individualism / Independence}

^{Ironic that our most basic common
value is that everyone should be free to choose their own path}

^{originally tempered by historic concern
for the common good}
^{these days getting pushed to logical
and radical conclusion - you can't tell me how to live my life / what to
do with my body}
^{myth: anything is OK so long as it doesn't
hurt someone else}

^{e.g. push to legalize boy/man love
-- with consenting boys, of course!}

^{in reality all our actions are interrelated
& effect the whole. Basic insight of ecology! And the Bible!}

^{Pursuit of this autonomy doesn't lead
to freedom but either anarchy & being at mercy of the strongest or
the embracing of authoritarianism for sake of protection}

^{Terrible evaluation from Judges
- 'everyone did what is right in their own eyes'}

^{Christianized / spiritualized versions
of this which exaggerate personal/individual relationship with God at the
expense of humbling ourselves and seeking common good}
^{God has a better vision for us than 'I
did it my way' -- mutual service, support, and care of live shared among
his people -- Jesus command? Love one another!}

^{2. Materialistic / Consumer worldview}

^{the one with the most toys wins!}
^{Bombarded with this in media; activity
& values of families, neighbors, co-workers}
^{Can I really be happy if I don't have
a big screen TV, a DVD player, computer upgrade…}
^{Substitution of things for God /of things
for relationships}

^{Time, resources, emotional energy invested
in pursing them and using them undermines relationship with God and one
another}

^{10When you have eaten and are satisfied,
praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. 11Be careful
that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands,
his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. 12Otherwise, when
you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down,
13and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase
and all you have is multiplied, 14then your heart will become proud and
you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of
the land of slavery. Deut. 8:10-14 (NIV)}

Our wealth isn't measured in possessions & net worth but in relationships & an inheritance we are investing in now.

²⁷Peter answered him, "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?"
²⁸Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ²⁹And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. ³⁰But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
Matt. 19:27-30 (NIV)
worth it - this is point of parable of pearl of great price

3. Culture of amusement / entertainment

Not just a problem of content (violent, sexual, etc.) but of focus, priority
live to be entertained. Essentially a self-centered activity
Did Jesus say: The Son of Man came to be amused - on with the show?

²⁶Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, ²⁷and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—²⁸just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matt. 20:26-28 (NIV)

Excessive pursuit of entertainment isolates us. E.g. trying to listen to my wife when the football game is on and finding my head always turning back to the TV.
The Father's way is to imitate the Son in loving service which knits us together. In that context even our entertainment is used to build one another up and deepen relationships

Biblical view is that world culture is idolatrous! Just as true today as when Israel fell in with worship of Baal and Ashtoreth Bill Gothard - idolatry is trusting people,possessions, or position to do for us what only God can do Like landing on a planet with a methane atmosphere - it will not sustain you and is actually corrosive of life. Need to breathe the atmosphere of heaven, which we experience when God dwells in the midst of his people. II. Opposition of the Flesh - we have met the enemy, and he is us! Again, the Bible addresses many ways the flesh opposes our life in Christ. Let's look at a few which especially undermine community life.

1. selfishness / self-centeredness

like someone in a hypoallergenic suit, self-centeredness causes us to walk around in our own little bubble cut off from the life and concerns of others

¹If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ²then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. ³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. ⁴Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Phil. 2:1-4 (NIV)

we have a responsibility for our own interests, which involves surrendering them to God, but we are called to be lifted out of the potential quagmire of self-concern by taking on the interests of our brothers and sisters, as well. Community is a team sport!
Particular temptation of those who are advancing in age / have reduced energy -- desire for comfort and ease. 'I've served my time, let someone else do it now'

Instead let's follow the example of Caleb

¹⁰"Now then, just as the LORD promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the desert. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! ¹¹I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. ¹²Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the LORD helping me, I will drive them out just as he said." ¹³Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance. Josh. 14:10-13 (NIV) 2. Fleshly use of the most disreputable member of the human body -- the tongue!

⁵Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. ⁶The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. ⁷All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, ⁸but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. ¹⁰Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. James 3:5-10 (NIV)

grumbling, criticalness, negative speech, gossip, slander, careless/ loose talk
might as well pour gasoline on the community and throw on a match
tongue can be a powerful tool for building up people & a body of people

²⁹Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Eph. 4:29 (NIV)

3. Disillusionment / discouragement

Been there, done that. Once burned, twice shy. Skepticism/cynicism masked as wisdom.
Shortcomings and failures of ourselves and brothers and sisters make us take our eyes off the Lord and focus on us. Like a football receiver who 'hears footsteps'.
Understandable response -- but not faith filled!
Christian community is not ever possible as the product of even the very best people, because it is the life of the body of Christ. It is a miracle!
Requires that we keep putting our eyes back on God & looking to him

⁸"But you, O Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend, ⁹I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, ‘You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. ¹⁰So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. ¹¹"All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. ¹²Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. ¹³For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. ¹⁴Do not be afraid, O worm Jacob, O little Israel, for I myself will help you," declares the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. Isa. 41:8-14 (NIV)

III. Opposition from the Devil When God took the Israelite slaves out of Egypt and formed them into a holy nation / nation of priest, He did spiritual warfare against the gods of Egypt

When Israel entered the Promised Land to set up the commonwealth of God, they did spiritual warfare against the gods of the Canaanites.

When Peter in his first letter instructed the Christian community under great pressure and persecution, he reminded them that they were engaged in spiritual warfare. But that the victory belongs to God so they should stand firm in faith.

⁸Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ⁹Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. ¹⁰And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. ¹¹To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Pet. 5:8-11 (NIV) IV. Circumstantial Complications - Opposition of space and time Challenging careers, older children, aging parents

Being part of 2 communities - our churches & The Word of God

cannot maximize both
do not want to automatically minimize church in favor of community
work to find balance individually and communally
part of our call to be an ecumenical community -- worth suffering for!

Christian community involves a fight - but it is worth the fight!

How do we carry on this warfare?

faith: Christian community involves a daily miracle because it is the life body of Christ, not just human activity. Keep turning our eyes and our hearts to God.

The work of the Spirit ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty. Zech 4:6

Denying ourselves, taking up our cross daily, and following Jesus

Resisting the Devil -- in Jesus' authority, not our own!

Conclusion Life of Christ expressed in Christian community does not just happen & left unattended does not remain undiminished over time. It results from the gracious action to God stirring up his people by his Spirit to act. Because it is under constant pressure from without, within, and beneath, it will corrode and crumble unless it is constantly protected and rebuilt.

Like Gideon, we might be basically peace-loving people who would rather be left alone. But the Spirit of God has come upon us in an hour when God's people are under great pressure to fight for existence and prospering of the corporate expression of Christ's life in Christian community. Let's join the fight. It's worth it, and it is the fight that God is fighting!