The Church as One

Moe... What a great blog!  Thank you!

This week's reading was just WOW to me! 

I was extremely moved by Sullivan's Chapter 3 in answering the question, "What defines the church we believe in?"  Throughout my reading, I have gained a deeper understanding that the One Church IS a "koinonia," or communion of churches.  I, too, Moe was moved by Sullivan's comments about "one body" and being "in communion" with one another.  Sullivan states, "It is because Christians and their churches share such essential things in common that they are 'in communion' with one another, and thus constitute one body, one church."  The essential things are the same God: Spirit, Lord and Father; the same hope, same faith, and same baptism, which are the "common" things which forms a bond of unity among those who share these commonalities. 
Paul not only speaks unity, but shows the meaning of unity when giving such accounts in regards to the Jews and Gentiles. As Paul believed, I too believe the same.  For there is one goal, one mission, one church: "Christ has been crucified for all, and all have been baptized equally into him."

Moe, in reference to you and me within our classroom/school ministry... Keeping in mind Paul's longing for the division to be conquered and the belief that God shows no partiality is igniting to one's soul.  For we are the church... all of us... together... "One flock all belonging to the one shepherd, having heard his voice, that is having responded to his call to faith."  Classrooms are filled with diversity, a place where maybe we could possibly feel the most like Christ if being guided and directed by the Holy Spirit.  I just imagine Him being among the people, the children... no matter the race, sex, or social standing.  A sense of unity and the one church within.

The concept of oneness of the church has a new and deeper meaning to me within my ministry, my calling, and my life. As Raush quotes in his Intro, "Most Christians, no matter the denomination, tend to view Christian history and the church through the lenses of their own particular traditions.  Because of these lenses, their vision of what has been and what should be takes on a particular theological color."  Therefore knowing this, it is vital to understand and grasp the underlying concept which is, despite all the individual Christians, we are "One person, one church in Christ Jesus."
Perhaps if  we as a church not only believed, but taught and enacted the saying that "Diversity makes up oneness," we could then get a deeper glimpse of who Christ truly is.

This is just a cute picture I found... I loved "Embrace Diversity!"  (And the peace sign within it... because Jesus is PEACE and DIVERSITY, which make up the Church as ONE!!!)