October 23rd, 2013 Commentary on Henri Nouwen's Daily Meditation

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Daily-Meditation--Being-in-the-Church--Not-of-It.html?soid=1011221485028&aid=bO4XEbMjfMM

In case the above link to Henri Nouwen’s Daily Meditation doesn’t work:

Wednesday October 23, 2013 

Being in the Church, Not of It

Often we hear the remark that we have to live in the world without being of the world.  But it may be more difficult to be in the Church without being of the Church.   Being of the Church means being so preoccupied by and involved in the many ecclesial affairs and clerical "ins and outs" that we are no longer focused on Jesus.  The Church then blinds us from what we came to see and deafens us to  what we came to hear.   Still, it is in the Church that Christ dwells, invites us to his table, and speaks to us words of eternal love. Being in the Church without being of it is a great spiritual challenge.

My Commentary:

Yesterday I was privileged to hear a great presentation and pastoral introduction to a denomination that truly cares for the original mission/purpose of “why we gather to scatter,” as well as how they intend on caring for their congregations.  I will purposely leave out their name because it’s not to be an advertisement for them more than to point out when we see true faith and value come together for Christ Alone and of GRACE Alone.

As leaders of the Body of Christ—the priesthood of all believers; we need to be living into our values.  Living into our values centered in Christ alone in the Word is discipleship.  As the Bishop said last night: “Hear the Gospel, don’t just read it!”  This means taking it into you deeply incorporating it truthfully in your lives.  This is allowing the Holy Spirit to equip you for the work of ministry to which we are all called according to our gifts.  We’ve heard this from St. Paul.  Community as the Body when lived in the Light of GRACE examples natural fruits of gracious, intentional, loving behavior…  Where pastors are real shepherds, where Bishops are real pastors to the Pastors, not figure heads or corporate icons of institutional glory! 

We have a long road ahead fighting with idolatry, heresy and vices that has woven itself into the corporate church…  We will need to look first at the internal church to ask ourselves:  For whom do we have true life from?  Christ Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life—we must VALUE to live into the New Life he has given us through GRACE.

God Bless Your Wednesdays!

Nicole Collins