COMMUNITY

Community

When I think of the word community, I break it down to its root words: common and unity. Common means: of, relating to, or being; belonging to or shared by two or more individuals or things or by all members of a group; of the best known or most frequently seen kind, (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/common) to name a few. Then I looked up unity. A totality of related parts: an entity that is a complex or systematic whole; a condition of harmony; the quality or state of not being multiple (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/common). The reason for me doing this is because I needed clarification of my mind and Spirit. In the readings, I was taken aback when I read on the bottom of page 23, “All those that have detached themselves from it must recognize it, and return to it” (Sullivan, 23). I thought to myself, could I be that far off course in my faith? God has given me such great gifts, and revelation…
            I kept reading, and began to see hope for my state of confusion. At the bottom of page 26 to the beginning of page 27, spoke of how the term “the church of Christ is the Catholic Church was changed to “the church of Christ subsists in the Catholic Church. Also as I understand it that it was to ensure that we know the historic applications of the Catholic Church and the Church of Christ. This clarified the true teachings in my mind, because I had just read Lumen Gentium, Chapters 2, paragraph 14 which stated: “Whosoever, therefore, knowing that the Catholic Church was made necessary by Christ would refuse to enter or remain in it, could not be saved. I take my salvation so seriously that I was completely shaken.
            I really received a lot of understanding from this week’s readings. It was not just about a dogmatic approach, but about bringing God’s people to an understanding that as His children, we must forget about our own agendas, and work together towards spreading the Gospels of Jesus Christ. Scripture puts it better than I can, so I will leave you guys with this Luke 9:23 NKJV. “Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+9%3A23&version=NKJV).

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!!!)