INCLUSIVE CHURCH # 3, 9/17/2012

THE NATURE OF THE CHURCH on page 14 says, “Far from being corruptions of the church, a multiplicity of churches exhibits the manifold riches of the Christian life.” You and I know that a boat load of words have been used to claim the high ground of being the one true church.  Just the opposite is true.  We somehow want to limit God’s expression in Jesus.  The earliest Gospels have four pictures of Jesus that are quite different, add to that Paul.  When the early Christina Church expanded, there were many views of Jesus and how God reveals divinity through him.  That has continued down to the present day.

It is important that we see that a wonderful inclusive note is struck here.  “Multiplicity” shows the richness of Christianity.  How about applying a principle like that to a whole host of issues today.  Political life? Varieties of educational philosophy?  World Religions? Cultural norms? A host of sexual questions? And so many more areas of human and Christian searching.

It is scary to some to be open to listening to other melodies.  There is a constant desire to have only one melody and it takes faith to listen to harmony.

What do you think?

INCLUSIVE CHURCH #2 9/10/2012

Disciples understand Church to be inclusive.  That means that “... church appears whenever the believers in Jesus Christ are gathered in his name.” (Pg 7 THE NATURE OF THE CHURCH pamphlet by James O. Duke).  Sadly, so much is still spent on bickering, arguments, even insults among Christian churches. We all share such richness in Jesus Christ.  Can we not learn from each other?  Do we not learn from each other in our own community?  We are different, each of us, but gathered together in the presence of Jesus, the church appears.   

Inclusiveness is a wonderful insight into human possibility.  Our very distinctiveness when brought together in common belief in Jesus, creates community. 

This open understanding of the universal Church is a rich hearing of the symphony of possibilities in Christianity. The New Testament gives us ample examples of differing directions and understandings of Jesus, beginning while Jesus was alive. History offers examples of differences in every age.  Disciples hold the base teaching that “…the church appears whenever the believers in Jesus Christ are gathered in his name.” This is a matter of pride to me. I am a member of the Disciples of Christ, who recognize the richness in the melodies of the universal Church.  And, yes, it is a challenge to listen to the other music in this Christian symphony.

Mark 9:38-40. “John said to him, ‘Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.’ Jesus replied, ‘Do not prevent him.  There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me.  For whoever is not against us is for us.’”

What would you think would be the ground of exclusion from the universal church?

Would you mind walking with me for a while?  I am catching up on what it means to be a Disciple.  I joined Chalice because I saw the friendly Christian atmsophere, the sincere working at being Christian and a word and eucharist celebrated with depth and meaning.  But there is a lot more to our community, like ecumenism, open and affirming, meeting the challenge of the challenged and an interesting history.  So, I got a hold of a pamplhlet  called THE NATURE OF THE CHURCH, by James O. Duke.  It was a first in a study series for the Disciples Church.  The language is simple direct and uncomplicated.  I enjoyed it. Perhaps you would like to journey with me, a new guy from a very different tradition.  I intend to simply comment on the highlights as they hit me.  Perhaps you could fill in the blanks.  There will be a new posting each week.  Join me.
Bill Shea