At a chapel service recently, the speaker made a statement that I never saw coming. He spoke of a TV interview with Bono and a well-known Christian leader during which Bono said something similar to, “I have no problem with Jesus, but it’s Christians I have the problem with”. This statement I’ve heard before, but ALWAYS as a precursor to the speaker telling the faithful listeners in the room, “you’re a bad example, and no one wants to be like Jesus because you are a screw up”. (Okay, maybe slightly overstated)
The point is: this speaker went on to say that Bono should have been corrected when he said that because the body of Christ is the Bride of Christ and has been an incredible support throughout the speaker’s life. I was a little taken aback as I don’t believe I have heard the body of Christ ever defended to that extent.
It got me thinking: we really are a dysfunctional, high-maintenance bride, but no matter how you shake it, we followers of Christ ARE the bride of Christ and for that reason, we need to be careful when we criticize the bride. But even more importantly, we should be mindful of this fact (us being the bride), in how we live and carry ourselves, because at the end of the day, we truly are called to be the representation of Christ to the world. Whew. With His help, we can do it.
I’m currently reading a book called Mere Churchianity in which the author makes a distinction between verbally maligning the body and actually making constructive criticism – an extremely important distinction. He says, “it’s easier to be negative than to say something constructive…I have known church people in every season of my life. They have picked me up more than once, when no one else would bother with me.” He goes on to say how much a part of his life the church has been and how difficult it is to question the multi-billion dollar industry coined “Jesus following”, but he just can’t resist because who Jesus was and how some churches are/how some people live, just don’t line up. (more to come in the future on this book as I read more)
Some time ago, I had an experience that caused me to think for days. Yes, I was “blessed” with the analytical mind of my father (love you dad), so I tend to pick up on certain things and dwell on them for some time.
I was at a gathering at a friend’s house. Now, I love getting together with other young adults who want to be more like Jesus and the main reason is – at the end of the day, HE is the only thing we have in common, and that is an awesome place to be!
We decided to play a game where a question is read (i.e. if you could go anywhere on a vacation, where would it be?) and everyone writes down an answer. The person who read the question aloud then gets to hear all of the answers read by one person, and then they have to guess who wrote each answer. The more they get correct, the more spaces they get to move on the board. All in all – it’s a great way to get to know people.
Any game like this, when played with young adults, is a little risky. You always have people willing to push the envelope as much as possible. The night had some interesting answers that made my face red for a few seconds (obviously, I’m not an envelope pusher J), but towards the end, a question came up that is still making me uneasy inside.
The question was read aloud: “If you could use one word to describe God, what would it be?” Soon after the question was read, a few sighs, murmurs and sounds of disappointment were heard. Immediately my heart sank.
I am human. I thought the dicey answers were amusing and even tried to provoke some when it was my turn, but when that question was asked, the Lord brought me back, on my knees, at His feet, humbled. I was both shocked that a group with only Jesus in common preferred a different question AND convicted that I had similar hesitation to answer the question.
The God who sent His son to die for you and for me, who didn’t have to do what He did, but He chose to do it to glorify His name and to make a way for us when there was no way. The God who has provided for me throughout my entire life in blessings unfathomable – friends, family, finances, Godly counsel, shelter, food, legs, arms, air to breath, etc. and I have even a moments hesitation to fill out a paper with one word to describe such a person?
It’s like feeing like your rounding third base in your walk with Christ and then you step on home plate and realize it’s actually first base that you just reached.
Faithful.
That’s what I put. Even in my desertion of Him over and over, He still is the same yesterday and today. What other word could I possibly use?
So we are (and I am) a dysfunctional, high-maintenance bride of Christ, but He loves us. That being said, we owe Him everything. May we JUMP at any chance we get to come up with a word, or thousands of words to describe just how incredible He is!
