“Church. What came to mind when you read the word ‘church’? An image of a building? An experience you have had? What came to mind? If someone asked you to describe your church, what would you say?”
This is how I started this article two months ago as a way to promote the “Church Narrative Project.” My mind returns to this thought this month because I want to us to think about what it means to be church from two different perspectives: biblically and historically.
Biblically speaking the church is the ongoing incarnation of the “Body of Christ” (see 1 Corinthians:12). We, the gathered community, represents Christ in the world. Like our human bodies, the church is made up of many individuals (cells) each having special gifts and purposes. Like our human bodies, these cells have been gathered into organs (think congregations) that have a purpose for the health and functioning of the body. And like our human bodies, these organs are all interconnected through various systems (denominations) to fulfill the purpose of Christ in the world in bringing about God’s reign on earth as it already exists in heaven. By definition, every part of the body is interconnected and interdependent with each other. All are needed. No one is dispensable. And just because one individual is different, or one congregation is different, it doesn’t mean they do not need to be connected to other Christians. That is the nature of the church.
Historically, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada, came into being for the purpose of healing the fractures and divisions within the Body of Christ. We came into existence when the Church, the Body of Christ was continually being fractured and broken into ever smaller communities of presumably believers each believing they were the one true church. In reality, such fracturing of the church is an indictment against us when we try to bear witness in the world to the unconditional love of God. Thomas Campbell, in his “Declaration and Address” wrote that the Church of Christ on earth is essentially, intentionally, and constitutionally one.”
This is who we are, my friends. There are many forces at work in the world that would like us to believe and act otherwise. However, I believe we are at our best when we maintain the unity of church in a spirit of love for all. I believe we do more for the cause of Christ when we work in unity with all believers to promote the Way of Life Jesus lived and taught. I encourage us to dedicate ourselves to this work and resist those who seek to divide.