August 13, 2009
Together Again
I recently joined 13 fellow believers for a pot-luck dinner. At one time we had belonged to the same church, but today we attend five different local congregations. At the time of our separation from one another, it was somewhat painful. None of us wanted to leave the church we had in common, much less the fellowship we shared with one another. I suppose the Apostles and the 72 disciples (Luke 9:3, 10:1) may have had similar feelings as they were split up. I think my pot-luck group shares a bond with those in the early church who were sent out…you cannot be returned to one another with joy unless you’re first separated.
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Gail;
-----The Yellow pages list forty-five churches in the Montrose/Olathe area. It saddens me that probably most of forty-five preachers consider each to be their flock. But I know one of them acts with the vision of Christ’s body in the community maybe as much as he regards the congregation he serves as “his flock.” Would it not be nice if all the preachers approached the feeding of their flocks more as a community pot-luck than eating at home? I have said it many times, and I will continue saying that Christ’s body does not dwell within the four walls of a church building. Therefore, the primary recognition of what being a disciple is should be given to His body in the community at large first, then between the four walls second. Hence, “Go ye into the community,” would have real meaning.
-----Just one social problem, for instance, that would be solved by interactive churches is the pitiful availability of affordable, quality education for our children. Sure, the public schools offer very affordable education. But we all know of how it lacks quality. Private schools offer quality education, but the cost is like paying college tuition! Who can afford that for twelve years, and then another four? But forty-five churches could certainly provide a sufficient facility to offer education competitively priced with public education. And among the members of all those churches, there are probably plenty of people who could contribute a couple hours a day to teach. What about state certification requirements for teachers? The greatest reason never admitted for those requirements is to assure the monopoly government has in training your children. Do you not think that churches interacting in all communities state-wide would be a force strong enough to dump the bulk of the illegitimate certification requirements? Anyone proficient in his career is proficient enough to teach a child the information relevant and basic to his career, and is probably better able then are professional teachers.
-----But, alas, our brothers and sisters are all fed privately in their own church homes. The culturally shaping force the church could be to the community remains reduced to the barely perceptible heat of scattered embers. Oh! For the burning heat of churches come together at the community potluck! For what could be! We must accept with thankfulness and joy the little ember that is each our church home, and only dream of the burning flames of interactive churches.
Love you all,
Steve Corey
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