4:1 I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life
worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
4:2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with
one another in love,
4:3 making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the
bond of peace.
4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the
one hope of your calling,
4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
4:6 one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and
in all.
4:7 But each of us was given grace according to the measure of
Christ's gift.
4:8 Therefore it is said, "When he ascended on high he made
captivity itself a captive; he gave gifts to his people."
4:9 (When it says, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he had
also descended into the lower parts of the earth?
4:10 He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the
heavens, so that he might fill all things.)
4:11 The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some
prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,
4:12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up
the body of Christ,
4:13 until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the
knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full
stature of Christ.
4:14 We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown
about by every wind of doctrine, by people's trickery, by their
craftiness in deceitful scheming.
4:15 But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way
into him who is the head, into Christ,
4:16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every
ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working
properly, promotes the body's growth in building itself up in love.
Comments:
In the first three chapters of Ephesians, Paul declares that,
through grace, Christ reconciled all people to God and to each
other. Now, he traces the specific consequences of this
reconciliation for Christian communities that are diverse in their
unity.
I used Ephesians 3:14-21 This Last week as the benediction. I may do
the same this week too. Being communion I have to be short again!
nancy-Wi
The jury is STILL out, but I'm thinking about centering in on
discovering our gifts and growing in Christ.
I know - I know - as broad as the ocean, but hopefully it will
become narrow as the week progresses!
The unity of the faith community is the work of the Holy Spirit
bringing together a diverse group of people whose God given graces
or gifts shape the ministry of the whole. Our wholeness as a
community is grounded in one lord, one faith, one baptism. Holy
Communion presents to us this one unifying presence that calls us
together for our shared task of discipleship. Unity comes from the
Lordship of Jesus rather than commonality.
Hi, I need help. I am struggling to get Ephesians 4:1-16 in my mind
for Sunday’s sermon. Paul calls us to unity in Christ. To that end,
I have considered what is the minimum that one has to believe to be
a Christian, and what is the minimum that one has to believe to be a
United Methodist. “Wesley followed a time tested approach: ‘In
essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; and in all things,
charity” (2000 Book of Discipline, p. 51).
The essence of my question can be posed three ways: 1) What is
“essential,” as per the quote from the BOD, to be Methodist? 2) What
is the minimum one has to believe in order to be Christian? 3) What
is the minimum one has to believe in order to receive communion?
I am inclined to answer all three by saying that if one loves Jesus,
he or she will be accepted into the faith and given communion.
But then, I think about the Apostle’s Creed, and think that may be
the minimum for being identified as a Christian. Further, we United
Methodists are asked “Will you be loyal to the United Methodist
Church, and uphold it by your prayers, your presence, your gifts,
and your service?” Paul said (Eph. 4:3-6) Make every effort to keep
the unity of the Sprit…there is one body and one Spirit… one hope,,,
one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father… After all the
discussion in Mike’s church about Baptism, I wonder is there really
one Baptism?
The reason I am struggling with this is that my first thoughts for
the sermon revolve around the idea that we must agree on ---(the
answer to the questions above), and beyond that we are to live
together in lowliness, meekness, patience, and loving forbearance. I
would like to say something like, “All you have to believe is….”
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. (By the way, it is
quite humbling to be a minister and still be struggling with these
basic questions. I assume those of you with more experience than me
know the answers.)
Leon in NC <><
Boy Leon,
BOLD... I think we all struggle with what do we HAVE to beleive to
be Christian, and what is negotiable. Few would put it as boldly as
you did. I wonder if asking the the question differently might
help.... What do we GET to believe and call ourselves Christian?
Just a word change, but I hate to ever consider faith in minimal
terms. What I think we GET to believe is that The lord Jesus Christ
was born, fully human and fully devine. That he lived a Fully Human
life. Enduring human emotions and suffering. And then, that crazy
GOD MAN CHOSE to suffer in the most inhumane way so that we could
stop worrying about "have I done enough". WE alone are never going
to be enough...but we don't have to worry. We worship a God who
CHOSE to love us and pay our debts. The big question then is not
What do you have to believe, but What will you do with the faith you
have!
Just some thoughts...... I love your honesty. Tammy in TExas
Leon: I don't look at it so much as agreeing on a doctrine, but
agreeing to love one another in community. That's easy to do if
everyone agrees doctrinally, but not so easy if there are
differences, and there will be differences. In the United Church of
Christ (my denomination) the emphasis is on covenant rather than
doctrine. Building community, not making cookie-cutter Christians.
Craig in NY
I have another question...I am so very comforatable with Christians
who's docterine is different than mine. But recently I have
encounter workers in the church..Employed in the church, who are so
open as to say believing anything is okay and that it is not
necessary for us to encourage people of other faiths, Muslim in
particular, to come to know Christ. I have a lot of trouble going
that far. But not sure how that should be expressed. My standard
answer has been to share that my understanding is that it is only
through Christ that we find salvation. I will let God make judgments
on all others and trust that He alone knows best. But I don't want
to NOT encourage others to know christ. Any others struggling with
this? Tammy in Texas
I am concentrating on the image being gifted by the grace of God -
looking at the gifts we all receive (laity, as well as clergy) for
building up the body & equipping the saints. It seems to me that the
heart of this passage is its message of helping one another to grow
in unity so that the body can function at its best. But this unity
does not mean that all of the parts have to be alike - only that
they each, within their unique functions, work together for the
health of the body. Anyone else got ideas along these lines?Sermon
title is "Gracefully Gifted."
Tammy, I also struggle with this issue. There is a part of me that
says that all believers in God are headed to the same destination.
Yet, in my heart of hearts, I do believe that salvation is only
found through Jesus Christ. I cannot, for the life of me, understand
how people who have been reared in the Church can convert to Judaism
or Islam or B'Hai. But they DO! What is missing in what the Church
teaches that allows those who are at least nominal Christians to
deny the salvation offered by Christ and embrace these other faiths?
Somewhere along the line they seem to have missed connecting the
teachings of the Church with the experience of personal
relationship. Yet, they continue to seek some sort of faith journey.
I continue to struggle with the issue.
Robbie in Central Kansas
It's funny as I was driving back from West Virginia from taking my
mother back home, here to Ohio. I like Southern Gospel Music, So I
kept hearing these words out of the Blue. From the Bluegrass gospel
tune " Go tell the World Paul, I'm counting on you" That's what Paul
did told "US" about True Love. In the days like today's culture,
since I am female I relate to that statement True Love-and Prince
Charming. True Love seems impossible to find now... will 1/2
marriages ending in divorce. But, We can take paul's word and realty
them to KNOW TRUE LOVE OF GOD! <p> That Song's Chorus goes like
this: I counted on Adam...I counted on Cain...I counted on Jonah but
he was the same... I counted on Judas but he proved untrue... It's
all to you Paul, I'm counting on you... <p> The Torch has been
passed to us, now by Paul He's counting on you Clerically Blonde in
west Ohio
Robbie,
Thank you for struggling with me. I have enjoyed the opporatunity to
reach out in Christian love to many Muslims as my child is being
treated at a hospital where there are many middle eastern patients.
I don't ask them to convert, but have had the chance to share faith
stories. It is pretty exciting really, but then, I worry about their
salvation. But then I remember, it is not mine to worry about but
the Lord's. That is comforting..
hUgs... Tammy In Texas
Hello all,
Just returned from YOUTH 2003 in Knoxville, TN... a gathering of
some 9,000 + youth from around the United Methodist Denomination and
world. It was a good time, some parts disappointed me as a UM... one
was that we sponsored 500 children for Compassion International,
while at the same time little if anything was mentioned about UMCOR
or the GBGM VIM program which helps the WHOLE community and not just
those who happen to have their pictures taken with flies around
their eyes, bellys bloated and hair orange tinted by lack of
nutrition.
Still, we are the BODY of Christ... I like "The Message" by E.
Peterson on this passage...
"You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same
direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have
one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who
rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything
you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness. Ephesians 4:4-6
(The Message)"
Glad to be home...
pulpitt in ND
Robbie in central Kansas, I am working along the same lines that you
are--emphasizing building up the body of Christ. My title is "Robust
in Love". I want to emphasize that the unity of individuals in
Christian community means a greater diversity of gifts, talents,
faith stories, passion and power for the work of Jesus Christ. All
too often we interpret being Christian as being wimpy. We don't
stand for anything. We are called to be meek, mild and forgiving
even when repentance is not evident. I believe Paul calls us to
bring together our various faith stories, our visions, our passion
for Christ to create a robust, vibrant, rainbow of faith that
reaches all manner of folks in this world. I think we get wimpy when
we think we have to be all things to all people and everyone must
fit in everywhere. The truth is Christian community is not about me
fitting in in every aspect of my church, it is about me having a
niche where I belong, where I can make a difference in God's name.
In this case diversity strengthens the body of Christ so we can
reach more folks in the name of Jesus.
Leon in NC, I have done much thinking, praying and studying about
"the essentials in faith". For me it always comes down to this
question, "Do you love Jesus?" Sometimes I think we make faith so
complicated our folks get confused. Sometimes I've stood at the
death bed of a beloved church member who has shared the love of
Jesus all their life and been heart broken by their fear that they
are going to hell because they "haven't been good enough." After
years of ministry I've finally learned to ask, "Do you love Jesus?"
and when they answer, "Yes." Then I assure them that nothing can
separate them from God's love in Jesus. Indeed not only are they
good enough but they are precious, imperfect, beloved children of
God.
This discussion always reminds me of what John Wesley said, "If your
heart is as my heart then take my hand." What is the common
denominator in our hearts of faith? One simple question, "Do you
love Jesus?"
Thanks for stimulating my thoughts! Diana at the lakes
I will be focusing on vrs. 11-15, "Building the Body of Christ." For
an introduction I found an email on "how to tell your in a Redneck
Church." Since we are in the South, it is a hillarious way of
looking at what the church should not be, and then looking at what
it can be!
Diana at the lakes,
When you ask the question,"Do you love Jesus?" you need to follow up
on a positive reply with a second query, "Why?" Folks have many an
idea about who and hat Jesus is. Some of their notions are
erroneous, and need clarification, or debunking. Rent the movie
"Dead Man Walking" and see how the nun has to get the young murderer
past his kindergarten idea of a Jesus that makes everything O.K.
just for the asking. Wesley's statement about "if your heart is as
my heart," follows a number of items on which Wesley expected hearts
to agree, before taking another's hand.
The best tactic may be to refrain from questioning others' doctrines
and faith and simply explain your own answer to the question, "Why
do I love Jesus." The world will see if your faith in Christ makes a
difference in you which they wish to share. This is witnessing at
its simplest and most convincing level. tom in TN(USA)
From the CD, "O Veggie, Where Art Thou?' (I love Veggie Tales!):
"... the Bible makes it plain, that in Christ we're all the same,
and one day we'll be gathered together in his name.
We'll belong to the first united bapticostal brethbyterian
methodiscopal nazaristic faithaholic charismental fundamatic
Holy-Spirit-filled fanatic Church of God in Christ our Lord, with
all of God's children harmonizing, singin' in one accord You can
call youreslf what you will, it don't make no difference as still...
One Spirit, one body, one church, one faith... One Lord!"
Amen.
Heather in Sharon
My family reunion is this Saturday. With each passing year, distant
cousins have less in common. My adult children refuse to go. A
common set of great-grandparents is not enough to bind them to
strangers. This Sunday I will ask the question, what binds
Christians together as the body of Christ? It is not a common
genetic code but our common baptism and the fellowship we share
around the Lord's Table. It is loving one another as Christ loved
us. Fred in NC
Leon:
I agree that one must be able to say with affirmation, "I accept
Jesus in my life". That is an important step. But, there are many
tenents of our faith that are the same or similar to other world
religions. What makes being a Christian vastly different? Many
people accept Jesus - accept his teachings and wisdom. A theological
dividing point for Christians vs. Non Christian is simply faith in
the mystery of the Trinity, God expressed as Father, Son and Holy
Spirit. A belief that with true repentence, sins are forgiven and a
recognition that God's grace can save us. Jesus came into the world
as fully human, fully divine and without sin to bear our burden of
sin and offer to us ever lasting redemption.
To me, those are the common essentials that all Christians should
say, "yes, I believe that." As mentioned prior, belief in the
mystery of the Apostle's Creed or Nicene Creed gets at the heart of
the faith of Christianity.
Now, how this basic and simple faith is interpreted, practiced and
indoctrinated varies from denomination to denomination. To me, the
first step is confirming in one's heart a desire to follow Christ/
Jesus - but the desire must be more than a longing, it must have
faith behind it.
Of course, if you are Methodist, you are most welcome to preach
about how this revelation of God in Christ fits into your
denomination's particular expression of these universal Christian
Faiths.
These universal truths are what unify all Christians, and separate
us from the Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, Muslims, Jews, Hindus,
Buddhists, Wiccas, Daoists etc...
Hope that is of assistance: Padre Dwayne, Ontario Canada
Hi,
Thanks to Padre Dwayne, Diana at the lakes, Tammy in Texas, and
other DPS folk for helping me think through the issue of Christian
unity. On July 29 I asked questions about the minimum beliefs in
Christianity. Your comments and ideas have been very helpful this
week. Following is an outline of the sermon I am planning for the
homecoming service at Gilboa UMC in Rutherford Co. NC (established
1820), with a rough draft partially filled in. I hope this rather
long posting is OK.
Leon in NC<><
I. Spiritual Gifts
The challenges to Methodists have been different at different times.
In 1802 A Camp Meeting was held in Rutherford Co. NC,…during
preaching services people would fall to the ground. This was called
being “struck down.” Methodists congregations began to grow around
this time and there was conflict with other denominations. “One
Presbyterian man in order to cure his wife of Methodism shaved her
head and put plaster on it.” * It is my opinion that he greatest
challenges we Christians today face is apathy—it really doesn’t
matter that much if you go to church or not, and you can believe
anything you want, it’s OK because it really doesn’t matter. Paul
and the early Christians faced other challenges…. Paul delineated
various gifts that help the church deal with the challenges…
Discussion of Gifts…
II. Unity
Paul also called us to walk in unity…. Jesus, in John 17:20-23
prayed that we may be one...(that we) be brought to complete unity….
Wesley followed a time-tested approach, “In essentials, unity; in
non-essentials, liberty; and in all things, charity.” This week I
have thought a good bit about the idea of “in essentials, unity.”
First, I considered what is the minimum one has to believe to be a
Methodist, and what is the minimum one has to believe to be a
Christian…. Then, I considered I considered various ecumenical
movements such as the World Council of Churches, and Promise
Keepers. … Then I considered what is the minimum that one has to
believe in order to be Christian. Some have suggested that all you
have to do to be Christian is to love Jesus. If you believe in
Christ and Christ alone is that enough? Well what about the
trinity…So, can we say that if one can say the Apostle’s Creed and
mean it with all their heart that is the minimum requirement to be a
Christian? Well, what about the thief on the cross? … Then I
concluded that this approach to Christian unity is all wrong—I don’t
think we can find Christian unity by determining doctrinal standards
or ecumenical affiliations. I do think doctrine is important—we
Christians must believe in Christ! I really don’t think Jesus was
just asking for cooperation between denominations when he prayed
that we be one. Somehow we are missing something.
III. They'll know we are Christians by our love
God told the ancient Israelites to “Love the Lord your God with all
your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” When
Jesus came, he added to this and said, Love the Lord your God with
all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and
with all your strength. (and) Love your neighbor as yourself.
I think love may be the one essential that demonstrates our unity in
Christ. It seems to me that the unity Paul and Jesus calls us to is
a living, vital relationship with him and with each other that is
not restricted to the limitations of doctrinal decrees. The words of
a song say this well…
Chorus And they'll know we are Christians By our love, By our love
Yes they'll know we are Christians By our love
We are one in the Spirit We are one in the Lord… And we pray that
all unity May one day be restored We will walk with each other, we
will walk hand in hand…. And together we'll spread the news that God
is in our land We will work with each other, we will work side by
side…. And we'll guard each man's dignity and save each man's
pride.**
There are various gifts, there are important doctrinal matters, and
there is love; and love is the greatest of these.
Amen.
*The Heritage of Rutherford Co., NC, vol. I, 1984, Ed. William B.
Bynam, © Genealogical Society of Old Tyron Co. **©1966 Lorenz Corp,
FEL Publications Words and Music by Peter Scholte
Thank you all! It helps enormously to find others struggling with
the same questions, and working toward the same message for God's
people, the church. May God's blessing be on all of us this week as
we seek His WORD for His children.
RevJanet in CNY
Leon et al: Mulling over the "what must we believe" question, I
became interested in the question itself. Why are we determined that
our relationship with God is ultimately in our hands? And belief is
not something that can be made by us, is it? It is something that is
evoked by stimulii outside ourselves. Are we saying "What must I
convince myself is true in order to make God give me the prize?"
kbc in sc
"What must I convince myself is true in order to make God give me
the prize?"
I like this question because I think that too often we make faith
the new works.
What if it is so much more radical that that.
I think it is like breathing. Before we knew about oxygen we still
took a breath every day. And we were sustained for life.
Before we knew of the incredible love of God, that love still
surrounded us and was taken in with every breath.
But knowing it somehow makes it more wonderful. Knowing it makes me
know what I am capable of though God's Spirit and power.
Knowing it changes the way I look at everything.
And so I share that knowledge that others may be strengthened by
knowing it too. mspastor in RI
msPastor in RI...
do you mind if I quote you? You put, rather elegantly, what I feel.
I don't know of a time when I didn't know Christ. he has simply
surrounded me forever. But as I have grown to understand that love
and learn what a priveledge it is to share that love, it has been
amazing. It has nothing to do with what I do. I doubt my kids could
tell you when they first knew I loved them. But they have always
known it. How much more incredible is Christ's love! Thanks..tammy
in texas
