Jan 25, 2012
The Breathing Church
Posted by Michael Howarth in Gospel Living | Comments (0)
Months ago, I began to wrestle with the idea of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus, and what it means to make disciples for Him. What's necessary? Sure, discipleship requires "everything," but I have a job and I'm in school and I got this thing and I stayed up late last night and you know, life happens. Can you be a disciple and attend church gatherings once and a while? Can you follow Jesus and just kind of learn at your own pace? What is it that we do exactly?
The following are three essential marks of Christ's disciples and the Church that is made of them. These are not the only attributes that make a disciple, but I believe they are the most basic and essential. Without them, proper growth as a Christian is not possible.
Gathering
Showing up is absolutely essential to the Christian life. This is the first motion of the gospel and it is the first motion of the Church. The most basic part of the good news of Jesus is this: He came to us.
Jesus moved towards us, and, in gathering on Sundays and throughout the week, we move towards Him and each other. This first motion is also reflected in Christ's commandment to us to go and create more disciples who form more churches, which more people can gather with. This "gathering" is to the Church what your lungs are to your body. Hold your breath to long and you'll go unconscious. Gathering with fellow Christians keeps you conscious.
Engaging
Beyond showing up, it is essential that we focus our attention, wrestle with implications, ask questions and seek answers. You can gather, but if you don't come to learn, repent and pursue, you will grow very little, or not at all. Again, the actions of Jesus exemplify this essential part of being a disciple: He was truly present with those around Him, watching, teaching, telling stories and being concerned for their lives. His disciples would ask Him questions and discuss His sometimes-confusing answers with one another. When you gather with your church on Sundays, do you believe you are, together, sitting at the feet of Jesus? Are you eager to hear His word and be challenged, eager to engage?
Responding
Beyond gathering with Christ’s body and engaging our minds, we are called to apply what we learn towards repentance, serving, giving, hospitality and the many other forms of Christian response that are other-centered. Jesus came not just to be with His disciples and not just to teach them ideas and precepts: He came on a mission. He calls us to follow Him, to serve others and to freely extend the grace we ourselves have received. This manifests itself in practical ways like hospitality and deep concern for the people in your life. When you gather, and when you engage, are you responding with devotion and perseverance to the call that Jesus places before you?
The Church of Jesus is living, moving and breathing. We walk together, or we don't walk at all. It is on this path, walking together, that we find our true selves and hear His voice.
Posted by Michael Howarth in Gospel Living
