The Bond

"The Holy Spirit is the bond of love in the Trinity and the bond of love in the Church." – Augustine

We understand that what Augustine meant was that the Holy Spirit acts as the glue (bond) in the body of Christ. When we come together as God's people, there is a commonality of 'love', which is given to us by the Holy Spirit. As we should have a unified purpose (to love God and others), the Spirit works in each of us to drive us to this goal. Sometimes we need to be nudged and reminded of our role in this process.

Ephesians 4:3 - "Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace."

In the King James Version is says: "Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

Thought: This bond of peace is not just something that God brings to the relationship - we also need to 'make every effort' to make sure that the bond actually works.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

The pronouncement of faith

It is customary for Christians to remember what unites us as the various traditions and denominations. We do this by reciting one of the Creeds. Usually, it is the Nicene Creed or more commonly, the Apostles Creed (as it is slightly shorter). 

The last part of the Apostles Creed is especially relevant for the Global Church in this season, as we have just marked Trinity Sunday. 

"I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. AMEN." - Creed

John 17:20-21 - 20 “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. 21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.

Reminder: The Creeds were drafted, reworked and modified over many centuries, with the first versions appearing in the 2nd Century. They were initial statements of faith were used during Baptism services.

Remembering that there was essentially only one 'universal' church until the Reformation, the phrase 'holy catholic church' refers to the Church as one collective body. We still use the word 'catholic' in the Creed (small "c") as the word means 'universal.' For folk who worship in the Catholic tradition, they are often remembered as the Roman Catholic Church, as their leadership stems from the Vatican in Rome. Hope this helps us all to understand a little more clearly.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Love strengthens us

" Yes, we know that “we all have knowledge” about this issue. But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church." - 1 Corinthians 8:1-2

As Paul was trying to find common ground in the Corinthians church, especially around the issue of food sacrificed to idols, he made a powerful statement: Love strengthens the Church.

I find it interesting that when we deal with potential issues of conflict, we still try to lean a lot on our 'knowledge' of the issue, instead of seeking Love. Of course, this is a very hard thing to put into practice, but Paul does make a valid point. 

The words of St. Francis came back to me, as I was writing today's reflection:

"O Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand..."

What do you think?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

A journey of renewal and exploration

I would like to invite you onto a special journey. I am going to be leading us on a journey of renewal throughout the month of September. It is something that I feel I personally need, and so would like to make it open for you to join me in this process. For these daily blogs, I will be giving you a scripture passage and asking you to do a few things:

1. Read through the passage once.

2. Spend a few minutes in quiet contemplation - I usually find it helpful to have a journal or diary nearby, so that when thoughts come crashing into my mind, I write them down and get back to them later.

3. Read through the passage again and underline or note any important verses or words that stand out for you.

4. Ask God to show you what this could mean for you, at this point in your life. Write this down. 

5. Is there some action that God could be prompting you to follow up with?

6. Spend some time in prayer, using the passage as a starting point. 

7. Share with someone about the word/verse that stands out for you (you can even email me if you like)

I pray that this journey may be a time of refreshing for us all. 

6 This being so, I want to remind you to stir into flame the strength and boldness that is in you, that entered into you when I laid my hands upon your head and blessed you. 7 For the Holy Spirit, God’s gift, does not want you to be afraid of people, but to be wise and strong, and to love them and enjoy being with them.8 If you will stir up this inner power, you will never be afraid to tell others about our Lord or to let them know that I am your friend even though I am here in jail for Christ’s sake. You will be ready to suffer with me for the Lord, for he will give you strength in suffering.

9 It is he who saved us and chose us for his holy work not because we deserved it but because that was his plan long before the world began—to show his love and kindness to us through Christ. 10 And now he has made all of this plain to us by the coming of our Savior Jesus Christ, who broke the power of death and showed us the way of everlasting life through trusting him. 11 And God has chosen me to be his missionary, to preach to the Gentiles and teach them.

12 That is why I am suffering here in jail, and I am certainly not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to safely guard all that I have given him until the day of his return." - 2 Timothy 2:6-12

"Success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines, practiced every day."- Jim Rohn.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Laughing at ourselves

The last 3 books I have finished reading have all taken a lighter look at the church and the 'goings on' inside the Christian community. None of them have been irreligious at all, but have certainly made me laugh and groan at the same time. We are indeed a strange bunch :) 

Each of the authors have taken their own slant on the characters within the stories, but I have certainly been able to laugh at myself and some of the interesting people in the books. I feel that laughter is a great way of drawing aside the curtain and taking a deeper look at myself. Of course, sometimes it makes me feel sad that the church has missed the mark many times, but it also fills me with hope when I see how many people are sincerely seeking to follow Jesus. 

In the end, it is important for all of us to remember that God didn't call a group of perfect disciples to lead the church, but a group of believers who knew that they had to rely on the grace of Christ. 

Psalm 126:2 - We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, “What amazing things the Lord has done for them.”

In case you are wondering which books I have been reading, here they are:

• Till the Fat Lady Sings - Bob Jackson
• The Sacred Diary of Adrian Plass aged 37 3/4 - Adrian Plass
• Heavens Doors - Lynda Rose

Living in Grace

D3LM3

A most unique gift

When we receive gifts from loved ones and friends, it is usually an indication of a deeper relationship between us. I mean, how often do you give gifts to someone you don't really appreciate and enjoy? I can't recall ever doing that.

We are reminded that at Pentecost God gave us the greatest gift of all - Himself. Jesus had been explaining to his followers that they should expect this GIFT, but in true fashion, no one knew what this gift would be. 

Acts 1:4 - On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about."

"Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”  - John 4:10

The challenge for us all is what we will do with this most unique and indispensable gift. Sadly, too many of us have left the gift unopened and unused.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Employed for you

When we say the Methodist Covenant Prayer, there are a few words that may have lost their original meaning over time. For example:

"Let me be employed for you or laid aside for you,
exalted for you or brought low for you..."

Traditionally we could understand this to mean that regardless if we are employed/unemployed we would be content in God's will. However, there is a different perspective on this, that I feel draws all of us into God's greater work, regardless of our employment status. This difference also implies that every single believer has some work to do, in the Kingdom.

Colossians 3:23-24 - Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

If we note that God has given us all spiritual gifts and natural talents, then we need to offer these back to God and to apply ourselves to these tasks. Our 'work' for the Lord will be to live for Jesus. If God has called me to serve as an usher in church, or a children's church teacher, or a pastoral care assistant, or anything else, then I am 'employed' in serving God in the Church. 

What would this mean for you at the moment? 

What 'work' does God have for you to do at the moment?

Are you willing to pick up the mantle and serve Christ.

Have you considered that our work is a partnership with God's spirit? We work with God and not for God?!

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Here I stand - I can do no other!

It was on the 3rd January 1521 that Martin Luther was excommunicated from the Church by Pope Leo X. One of the main reasons for this was the way that Luther challenged the official Church doctrine on various issues. He was a man of principles and conviction, which led him to proclaim "Here I stand; I can do no other!" when he was ordered to recant his beliefs.

Although we may not be asked to make the bold stand of Martin Luther, but we will be asked (everyday) to stand for Christ. Sometimes we will face huge uncertainty and maybe even opposition, but we will be ask to commit to Jesus.

Matthew 24:13 - "but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved."

In what ways are you being asked to stand for Jesus today.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

P.S. If you would like to support my writing ministry, please check out my Patreon site. Thanks for the willingness to support this ministry. All proceeds go towards the writing of new material, as well as making the content/books more affordable for the community. God bless. 

Re-imagining Church - part 2

Last month I wrote an article for Scripture Union magazine on Re-imagining Church. As I began to explore this huge topic I realised that I have undertaken a task that was larger than I initially thought. Thankfully, SU was gracious enough to let me explore the subject in a second part, which was released yesterday. If you would like to read the article please simply click this link. 

I do believe it's a worthwhile read and I would love some of your comments on what I have wrestled with in writing. Thanks and God bless. 

Stanley Hauerwas says it best when he writes,

“God’s truth is credible to the world only when it sees a community shaped by the truth … if the Gospel is to be heard, it must also be seen.”

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Fighting for unity in the church

I had the privilege of writing an article for the Scripture Union magazine a while ago and it was published last week. It is around 'fighting for unity in the church' - if you find the time please click on this link and have a read of the article. There are some other great articles from other authors there too.

Click here to read the article 

Ephesians 4:3 - Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Re-imagining church

What do you think the church will look like in the future?

I have been asked to share a few thoughts with a group of leaders on what it could mean for us to 'Re-imagine church.' This is with particular influence of the Covid pandemic and how we have all had to do church differently. For the purpose of this blog, I am deliberately choosing to use 'church' with a small "c", as I believe the global Church will take it's lead from the grassroots movements of the local communities of faith. 

As I have start applying my mind to this tough question, my gut response is this: "Our focus in the Christian community will need to be on the small gatherings of Christ-followers, instead of on the bigger worship gatherings." And this is not a bad thing at all - it will just take a shift in our thinking and how we analyse church. 

Up to about 15 months ago we got drawn into the trap of thinking a church was successful based on three criteria: 

How many people do you have in your church?
How many buildings do you have - what facilities do you have?
What resources do you have? Financial and human resources were a sign of a thriving church.

Is this a fair way to decide if a church is a success or not? If we measured Jesus on these 3 criteria, how would he have scored? He would be seen as a failure, wouldn't he?

Remember that the truest definition of 'church' comes from the Greek word 'ekklesia', which means 'the called out ones' or 'an assembly.' The Church began as a group of people, called out of the world, to recognise Jesus as their Lord and Saviour and then to follow him. 

Sadly, 'Church' has come to mean a physical space and modern dictionaries include this as part of their definition of what a church is. We should remember that the global Church didn't meet in official Church buildings/Cathedrals for nearly 300 years - we managed to do the work of God and follow Jesus without gathering in massive spaces. 

So, for this reason I believe that part of Re-imagining church is going to call us back to our roots. These roots included a few of these key ingredients:

They were small in number; 

undoubtedly filled with the Spirit of God; 

loving each member extravagantly; 

showing compassion to the community;

Mission minded;

living faith and not caught up in systems.

These are just a few of my brain-storming ideas on this topic. I WOULD LOVE to hear some of your thoughts on this. Please take a minute to respond to this question: What will Church look like in the future?

1 Corinthians 12:27 - Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

Romans 16:5 - Greet also the church that meets at their house.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

New tasks

The last year has increased our capacity to deal with unwanted change and to equip ourselves with the skills need for new tasks. In the ministry I have had to learn to adapt and have often felt totally out of my depth and comfort zone. The reading from Acts 6 takes us back to a time when the church was expanding and they disciples needed to make some decisions and changes. They decided the following:

"Meanwhile, we’ll stick to our assigned tasks of prayer and speaking God’s Word.” (The Message)

While, they decided to focus on what they were equipped to do, they let others get on with the other tasks, in order to allow the church to flourish. This is always a challenge for us in the church. I have learnt to rely on the amazing gifts of God's people and to work together as a team - we all need each other in order to move the Kingdom forward.

One of the things I have begun to do is put a few of my messages, bible studies and podcasts onto a new hosting app called Anchor. If you haven't visited it before, please take a look when you have time. Thanks. 

https://anchor.fm/delme-living-in-grace

Living in Grace

D3LM3

No Strangers Allowed!?

When you read the title of today's post you may be mistaken that I am suggesting that we don't allow strangers into our Churches, but please read the quote first before jumping to the wrong conclusion:

 

"In our world we're much more comfortable with posting a sign like "No strangers allowed" that reflects the suspicion and fear of our time. But perhaps it is time for us to acknowledge our fear, confront it, and turn that very slogan on its head. "No strangers allowed" means that in the Kingdom of God nobody is a stranger, therefore in this congregation nobody is a stranger." - Alan Brehm, The Waking Dreamer, 2009.

How does that sound? Challenging?

In truth we are sometimes worshipping in churches where we feel like strangers. We may know the faces of people, but do we spend time listening to their struggles, trials and deep needs? Christian community is a hard lifestyle to live out, but when we seek to be the body of Jesus, then we should also strive to make sure that no one feels like a 'stranger' in our midst.

Ephesians 2:19-22 (The Message)

 That’s plain enough, isn’t it? You’re no longer wandering exiles. This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You’re no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone. God is building a home. He’s using us all—irrespective of how we got here—in what he is building. He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now he’s using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together. We see it taking shape day after day—a holy temple built by God, all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home.

Living in Grace

D3LM3 

Live for something more

I have noticed that when churches, communities and organisations become so focused on themselves, they start to breakdown from the inside. Petty arguments, disagreements and issues become our focal point and sap most of our energy. However, when we return to the 'reason for our existence' (for Churches that is to Love God and Love Others), we begin to let go of the trivial stuff and realise the importance of our mission.

I could sum this up by saying: When we live for something/someone else, we come alive and focus on what it life-giving instead of the petty issues.

Stephen Gaukroger – “When local churches are absorbed with ‘external’ needs, ‘internal’ issues (such as worship and unity), are not major sources of contention… Let us get our Churches focused upwards to God and outwards to the world.”

 
What trivial matters are sapping your energy at the moment?

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Gathering Together

 

We gather together this week as Church Synod's, to worship, pray, deliberate, debate and fellowship in Jesus name. These times may not be everyones "cup of tea", but we understand the importance of gathering together as the Church leadership and representatives of all our various groups. Please can you PRAY for the Methodist Church of Southern Africa as we prayerfully elect a new Presiding Bishop this week, and also as we choose a new Bishop for the Cape District. Thank you.

"In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews^[a] among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. ² So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. ³ Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them." - Acts 6

Also read: Hebrews 10:23-31

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Victorian Parlor or Family Room?

 

In doing some reading around the 7 Churches of Revelation, I came across this delightful piece from Eugene Peterson. He makes this lovely observation about the church and challenging us on what we expect from a church community:

"The churches of the Revelation show us that churches are not Victorian Parlors where everything is always picked up and ready for guests. They are messy family rooms. Entering a person's house unexpectedly, we are sometimes met with a barrage of apologies. St. John does not apologise. Things are out of order, to be sure, but that is what happens to churches that are lived in. They are not show rooms. They are living rooms, and if the persons living in them are sinners, there are going to be clothes scattered about, hand prints on the woodwork, and mud on the carpet." - E.Peterson in Reversed Thunder

I think there is a lot for us to chew on in this passage. It calls me to reflect on our desire to make church 'nice' and  'clean' - or to remember that because we are all "sinners in need of grace", there is going to be a mess in some parts of our community.

Seeking to make our churches look like "show rooms" is not going to help us live in them and make them spaces for the entire family of God. What do you think?

1 Corinthians 1:10 - I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Behaving Badly

 

"When we Christians behave badly, or fail to behave well, we are making Christianity unbelievable to the outside world." - C.S. Lewis (Mere Christianity -1952)

There are a few insightful things that emerge from this quote for me:

1. Do you note how C.S. Lewis uses the word 'We'?
In making his challenge to the Christian community he is not pointing fingers at 'others', but recognising that in himself lies the danger of failing to represent Christ.

2. Our actions have consequences beyond our church context. We can make Christianity believable (or unbelievable) for those seeking God. Sadly, there are many of 'us Christians' who make our Faith hard to believe in.

3. People are looking for spiritual 'hope' and we can effectively point them to Jesus. This is a fine line for many of us, because we like people to notice 'us', when in actual fact, we should be deflecting all the attention onto Jesus. If people only see 'us', then our failures will be a stumbling block to others experiencing Christ.

What do you think?

Acts 5:32 - We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him.

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Where is your Church?

I have been asked this question a fair number of times - "Where is your church?"
The simple answer is always just to give them the street address, because that is essentially what they are asking, but I want to mention that it is not my church at all - it is God's Church!

I came across these Latin words the other day, which help us understand this on another level.

• Ubi Christus, ibi Ecclesia – This means .... "Where Christ is, there is the Church."

  So there is our answer. Where Christ is present, that is where the Church should be!

Worth thinking about!

Living in Grace

D3LM3

What's so funny about that!!!

As I got out the car this morning I hit my elbow on the top of the door - well, actually I hit my 'funny' bone on the door and I can tell you, there was nothing funny about it! If you have done something similar you will get my point!

The weird thing about the "funny" bone is that isn't even a bone at all - it's actually a nerve, which is called the ulnar nerve.This got me thinking about the various words we use in our languages and how these words can easily become embedded in our speech. The same applies to the words we use in church circles that have become part of the norm. Sometimes we use 'church' words that end up excluding others for the family of God. We may do it unintentionally, but it happens.

When Jesus spoke to people he always addressed their core needs and he spoke in such a way that people could respond to His love. His message was always clear, even if some people refused to believe in him.

Revelation 14:6 - And I saw another angel flying through the heavens, carrying the everlasting Good News to preach to those on earth—to every nation, tribe, language, and people.

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Would God destroy the Church?

Would God willingly destroy the Church?
This may seem like a weird question to be asking and I guess the answer depends on your understanding of what 'Church' is. However, before I answer the question, let me tell you how I come to ask it.

In the 2nd chapter of Lamentations, Jeremiah makes some very strong statements concerning the destruction of the Temple and "God's anger" at the sin of the people. Take these as an example:

.....He has broken down his Temple as though it were merely a garden shelter (v.6)

...The Lord has rejected his own altar; he despises his own sanctuary (v.7)

...The Lord was determined to destroy the walls of Jerusalem (v.8)

It seems that God was willing to destroy the "outer facade" of the Temple/Church in order to allow the people to come to their senses. God was not as attached to the bricks and mortar, as we sometimes are - God's greatest concern was that the hearts of the people had turned from Him. The people had sold out to other gods and so God allowed the destruction of religious symbols, in order to win back the hearts of his children. It seems extreme, but it seems to be so.

So, if we understand 'Church' to mean bricks and mortar, then I would be so bold as to say: "Yes, God would sacrifice mere materials if it brought back his children to him. God is more concerned about our hearts than our buildings."

However, if you see 'Church' as meaning 'the bride of Christ', then the answer to first question is 'No!' Of course God wouldn't destroy his bride, but I do believe that he would keep calling us to remain true to our first love.

As we continue to towards Easter, let us remember that this season is a time of introspection and cleansing - ask God to purify your hearts and minds. Grace and Peace to you. 

What are your thoughts on this? Send me a reply or email: delmelinscott@gmail.com

Living in Grace
D3LM3