Hear the Ancient Wisdom by Charles Ringma

Author:Charles Ringma [Ringma, Charles]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9781621895787
Publisher: Wipf & Stock Publishers
Published: 2013-03-08T08:00:00+00:00

Romans 13:8–10

July 18

A Communal Identity

In our contemporary world marred by an unhealthy individualism and by a church that has succumbed to similar values, the challenge of a communal identity remains a prophetic call.

The biblical story is the story of a people. The work of Christ was to bring into being a new humanity anticipating the fullness of the new creation. And the work of the Spirit is to break down barriers and form people into a community of one heart, one set of beliefs, common life-sustaining

practices, and cooperation in service to the world.

This movement towards commonality is always under threat. It is so today. It was so in early Christianity.

The unknown author of the Epistle of Barnabas acknowledges this: “Do not withdraw within yourselves and live alone, as though you were already justified, but gather together and seek out together the common good.”199

In this call to commonality, the author seems to suggest that

Christians need each other in the growth of faith. No growth without community seems to be the theme.

This poses a key challenge for us. Consumer Christianity, which characterizes much of today’s Western church, needs to become a servant Christianity where we bless others, but where we are also open to the goodness of others towards us.

Prayer

Lord, renew your church into a community of faith, love, and service.

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