So Missions and Evangelism was rather good today, it usually is, but with a change of teachers... I don't know, but I'm a Sanders Fan!
Talking to Chuck DeRolf, I got the answer to the question in regards to the dysfunction in the body of Christ overseas in Japan; Apparently (which I already knew about Japan) the Buddhist beliefs tied to Japanese culture provide a family/unity feeling... He explained that because of the Western and/or American missionaries who come on their own, come as an individual - it is this that the Japanese pick up and this is one of the things that hinders missionary work in Japan. He told me that the church is growing in Japan, but this is one of the barriers...
I completely understand where he is coming from: Those who are followers of Jesus (including me) have different stances on different views, and because of this, there is a brokenness in the Body of Christ.
I am looking forward to this Easter, because I get to hangout with my cousins... But I've realized (for several years now) that I also dread going up... The catch-22 lies in the relatives outside of my cousins - My Uncle, Aunt and other cousin: Not to speak too ill of those who are family, but, I am worried about the mixed messages given, between my Uncle the days outside of Sunday. You see, He's a pastor, but the way he is prior to Sunday is... well... unPastor like. I sometimes recognize hypocrisy and it really gets to me sometimes, especially when my Uncle is rude to me (when he's around) and on Sunday he puts on his Sunday best... He shakes my hand and smiles like I am worth something to him, but... Because of such actions I dread interacting with that group of family members with the exception of my cousins...
I think I will write a paper of sorts describing the ways I feel about the body of Christ and then in conclusion I will write how I and others who are followers of Jesus can change the flow of this disunity, this dysfunctional lifestyle.
I, for one, am sorry for anything I have done that has caused disunity in the body of Christ - I have differences that are not accepted, and I am sorry if I have not looked past the differences and recognized - Hey! Why I am doing this? This person is a follower of Christ, why should I view them any different.
I need to be more unity-centered with those who are my Brothers and Sisters in Christ.
Going on by God's strength alone,
[n][v]
Monday, April 10, 2006
1 comments:
Commenting on your entry starting "I am looking forward to this Easter…"
There is a prayer composed by Ephraim of Syria, which I say every day. (Most of my prayer is in my own words, but along with praying the psalms daily, we pray other written prayers. Some evangelical Xtians think that composed prayers are not good, because they're written down. I feel that we need both kinds when we call upon the Lord. If you make this prayer your own, you may find it helps you in ways you might not expect. So here it is, and I am quoting it from memory.)
"O Lord and Master of my life, take away from me the will to be lazy and to be sad, the desire to get ahead of other people and to boast and brag.
"Give me instead a pure and humble spirit, the will to be patient with other people and to love them.
"Let me realize my own mistakes, and keep me from judging the things that other people do. For you are blessed, now and forever more. Amen."
When we say this prayer, we make a full metania (prostration—that is, we kneel, place our hands on the floor in front of us, and touch our foreheads to the floor between them, and then stand up again) after each of the 3 petitions.
Brother, I feel and hear what you are saying about hypocrisy and about the disunity you have experienced. Whatever happens, please remember to never think or act contrary to the plain meaning of the Word of God on any topic, especially when questions of unity are the issue. We may sometimes want to love others who are unwilling to love and obey God as they must, hoping that our love will somehow save them (this is the kind of Xtian I tend to be), but we have to remember that whatever we do, think, say or feel, we cannot outlove God, and if we try to save those by our efforts, or try to include and unify ourselves with others who rebel against God, we may find ourselves opposing God as well. Let's all love one another and, knowing for sure that we agree 100% on the truth of salvation only through, by and in Jesus Christ, let us never work against each other when we find out we may disagree on the peripherals, but let us cover up one another's possible mistakes, and keep our eyes on Jesus and off each other.
This is the unity that comes from above, not from man, who always wants to enforce a rigid unity of thought and/or action based on man's ideas. But true unity among us is only possible when we model it on the unity that exists in the Trinity, three equals with a single will voluntarily and lovingly surrendered to one another.
When followers of Christ understand the structure of love within the Trinity, they can begin to live in the same unity on earth.
The most excellent book I have ever read about authenticity, freedom in Christ, and true unity among followers of Jesus, is the book "Hymn of Entry" by Archimandrite Vasileios. I may blog excerpts from this book from time to time.
Have a blessed Easter!
— Romanós
Post a Comment