July 27th Rector's Blog

Dear Parish Family:

"Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love." (Ephesians 4:15-16).

Paul is comparing how unity within the church or body of Christ is designed to work versus the going it alone spiritual journey. And the latter is dangerous.

So many, both young and old have either pulled away from Church or have become comfortable with a universalist approach to spirituality. Food, Fellowship, and Entertainment in many ways are the only attractants that bring people to Church beyond weekly worship. These aren't bad for the body of Christ, but they aren't going to hold it together either.

If you want to know the direction an organization is headed, you need to take a deeper dive. You need to talk to the head and get to know the what, why, and how it is going to grow and remain sustainable for a lifetime. Otherwise, why would you be a part of something that you don't believe in?

What holds the body of Christ together begins with speaking the truth in love. Like the song from Casting Crowns - "If We are the Body, why aren't his arms reaching?, why aren't his hands healing?, why aren't his words teaching?, why aren't his feet going?, why isn't his love showing, there is a way?"
Jesus is the way, the only way to go for trust and truth in life.

In Christ we have been given so much that our thoughts should be like his - towards others. The "joints" which equip the body of Christ come together for making the body grow - building itself up in love.

Jesus didn't always speak the words people wanted to hear, but he always spoke the truth in love. He taught us what we should turn away from and who we always can turn to. How do we do the same? If you can remember these words: "Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him." (Luke 20:38)

We worship a living God and life in Christ brings life to the spiritually dead! When we hear of a life filled with sickness, fear, grief, and anger - these cause an emptiness that can make life seem worthless.

That is why we need the full body of Christ to grow into, not only the food, fellowship, and entertainment joints. Our greatest fears are put to rest when we realize we are part of Christ's own body, complete with purpose and meaning. Christ is the head, "the author of our salvation, and perfecter of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2). Christ alone is the one who pulls everything and every soul into sync with his forgiving, healing, and saving grace. Finally, Jesus directs those who receive him into a new direction in life, one that has purpose and meaning, and one that never ends. That is His plan for holding the body together.

Growing up more and more into his image because we are loving, learning, and serving the way he lived on earth. And to think we are his body being held together by the One who loves us beyond measure. Well, I just got chills.

Jesus promises there is more life to come!

In His Love always,
Rags+