Wouldn't community life be wonderful if everyone was compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, patient and loving. Imagine life together if we all accepted each other just as we are and quickly forgave when offended. Imagine the strong sense of unity that would prevail in every community that was full of people like that.
Most of us may have to use our imagination because we've never, or rarely experienced such a community. Yet what I've described was the inspired "prescription"the Apostle Paul gave to the church at Colossae 2000 years ago. One small paragraph in the letter of four chapters.
This is the prescription for church community life given to all of us. It is as clear and simple. Don't you wonder why these kind of people are not the vast majority in every congregation? Don't you wonder what has gone wrong when you "bump" into people who claim to have followed Jesus for decades and yet display little of this kind of Christian character?
Local churches should "ooze" with peace - God's peace; with love, forgiveness and unity. Of course you can't expect this from the average church? Or can you? Of course you can expect this - if the local church is submissive to the Word and filled with God's Spirit; if the local church focuses on character and on love as priorities. This should be true of any "average church." And true of me and you.
Most of us may have to use our imagination because we've never, or rarely experienced such a community. Yet what I've described was the inspired "prescription"the Apostle Paul gave to the church at Colossae 2000 years ago. One small paragraph in the letter of four chapters.
"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility,gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." Colossians 3:12 - 15
This is the prescription for church community life given to all of us. It is as clear and simple. Don't you wonder why these kind of people are not the vast majority in every congregation? Don't you wonder what has gone wrong when you "bump" into people who claim to have followed Jesus for decades and yet display little of this kind of Christian character?
Local churches should "ooze" with peace - God's peace; with love, forgiveness and unity. Of course you can't expect this from the average church? Or can you? Of course you can expect this - if the local church is submissive to the Word and filled with God's Spirit; if the local church focuses on character and on love as priorities. This should be true of any "average church." And true of me and you.
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