the paradox of "my life"
I've been reading Hebrews 11-12 for the past few weeks.
I don't know if I should be excited or convicted, but it lit a fire under me. It's like I've never heard the message before. It all seems so new to me.
The great cloud of witnesses; the great people that came before us; the pioneers of the faith. They united together under the banner of God, and their lives call us to unite.
Check out 11:39-40
Our faith is not my faith. I am not an island. I am not on my own. I am part of a community of faith. a community that I am responsible to and for. A community that I am accountable to. A unified body with a unified mission. Apart from the community I am not whole; am not complete; am missing something; am not me.
How does "my" life fit in to the vision of the Christ. I guess it doesn't. Only a life surrendered to him can fit into his vision. My life is not my own. It belongs to Christ. It belongs to the community.
My Life: a paradox
think about it
I don't know if I should be excited or convicted, but it lit a fire under me. It's like I've never heard the message before. It all seems so new to me.
The great cloud of witnesses; the great people that came before us; the pioneers of the faith. They united together under the banner of God, and their lives call us to unite.
Check out 11:39-40
Not one of these people, even though their lives of faith were exemplary, got their hands on what was promised. God had a better plan for us: that their faith and our faith would come together to make one completed whole, their lived of faith not complete apart from ours.
Our faith is not my faith. I am not an island. I am not on my own. I am part of a community of faith. a community that I am responsible to and for. A community that I am accountable to. A unified body with a unified mission. Apart from the community I am not whole; am not complete; am missing something; am not me.
How does "my" life fit in to the vision of the Christ. I guess it doesn't. Only a life surrendered to him can fit into his vision. My life is not my own. It belongs to Christ. It belongs to the community.
My Life: a paradox
think about it
5 Comments:
I have nothing to add. Just wanted to let you know that I agree and think I'll sit down with the book of Hebrews very soon.
we miss you.
Hey Deroche,
Sorry I have nothing profound to say except I had a dream that I met you and Judy at a restaurant in Indy. Does that mean you're coming to Indy soon or should I come there for some friggin' awesome BBQ? By the way, my relentless hunt for BBQ equivilent to that of KCs had proven fruitless. Indiana BBQ has nothing on it.
This is something I've thought about recently. With our individulistic society it is hard to think as ministry (as an example)as not just "my ministry", but "our ministry". Or to not concentrate on what God's plan is for me, as much as what is God's plan for His people. Maybe this isn't what your getting at, but I understand how hard it is to realize you are apart of something huge and to not just focus on yourself. (Sad to say I am no good at e-mails, yet can comment on other blogs. Laziness? I think so!)
Nate
DeRoche,
I appreciate your attention to those who have come before us. Based on my exposure to the Emerging church, or as I call them the SUBMERGING church, has lost sight of this.
Attending an ecumenical school (5 denominations working together) I've experienced unity as we embrace out denominational heritage. In remembering the saints who came before us in our unique histories, we have come to appreciate each other all the more.
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