Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
–Ephesians 3.2-11 (NIV)
I have written extensively about how God has moved decisively in Jesus Christ to make it possible for our exile and alienation from him to be ended forever, something the Bible calls “salvation.” But there is another dimension of salvation that is rarely discussed, but which Paul talks about in the passage above. What is that other manifestation of salvation? It is the creation and existence of the Church!
In chapter 2 of Ephesians, Paul has talked about what God’s love in Christ means for individuals. Here he goes on to talk about one way in which the promise of God’s salvation is made manifest for all the world to see. Since all people, Jews and Gentiles, have been reconciled to God through through the blood of Christ, it is now possible for former enemies to be reconciled to one another and gather together as the Church of Christ. Paul reminds the Ephesians (as he also reminded the Church at Rome) that they are living proof of this since both Jew and Gentile made up the Church there. Elsewhere, Paul calls the Church the Body of Christ with Christ being its head. It is living proof of the reconciliatory effects of the cross of Christ and is available for all the world to see as proof positive of the truth and efficacy of the Gospel.
“But wait,” you say, “I don’t see Jews and Gentiles worshiping together. And besides that, more often than not I see church people acting badly.” True enough. But this begs the fundamental issue that Paul raises here. We don’t see Jew and Gentile worshiping together primarily because of their choice not to do so. We see church folks acting badly because we are all terribly broken creatures, not because of anything God has done.
No, in fact, through the blood of Christ, God has made it possible for the reconciliation Paul talks about here to happen. God does not force us to do one thing or the other because he loves us and has blessed us with free will, and real love never imposes itself on the beloved. So it is entirely unsporting for us to blame God for our own foibles, foibles that prevent the true will of God from being made manifest, both within the Church and outside of it.
Besides, the various criticisms leveled against people in the Church behaving badly is terribly one-sided. What critics often fail to acknowledge is the wonderful good that the Church has done over the ages. In this country, for example, you don’t have to look very far to see that many hospitals and schools have Christian origins. At its best, the Church has always been concerned about the welfare of the poor and oppressed and has moved to alleviate suffering and poverty by establishing schools to advance education and hospitals to advance healing. There are many other examples as well, but you get the point.
Moreover, those who refuse to be part of the Church because some in the Church behave badly are really setting themselves up in haughty judgment over their fellow humans. Implicit in the statement, “I don’t go to church because it is inhabited by a bunch of hypocrites” or similar statements is the notion that the critics are somehow better than the rest of humanity.
Really.
To tell you the truth, I used to say this kind of baloney when I was a young man. Only later by the grace of God did I realize that I was, um, just like everybody else.
I hate it when that happens.
In fact, I don’t know anyone who has not been hypocritical or cynical or deceitful or [name your favorite sin here that you loathe in others]. Even the best of us have been afflicted by these maladies from time to time. It is much easier, and far more sinfully judgmental, to be an armchair quarterback and criticize folks in the church than it is to enter the fray and allow Christ to use you as his leaven to help raise up his Body, the Church.
Instead of criticizing the Church, roll up your sleeves and ask Jesus to show you how he would use you to help build up his Body. It’s infinitely more frustrating than being an armchair quarterback but in the end it is infinitely more rewarding because you are helping the Lord make manifest his great love for all people and are living proof of what happens to those of us who take seriously his great act of love on the cross to end our exile and alienation from him.
This is why there is no such thing as an isolate Christian. If we are to call ourselves “Christian” we had better be prepared to gather with other Christians to worship the Lord and to live our lives together to make manifest his great love for his broken and hurting people, both Jew and Gentile.
The Church, broken as she is, stands as a living testimony to the love of God for us in Christ. He doesn’t call perfect people, he calls broken people and loves us despite ourselves. He does not forsake us even when we forsake him, either individually or corporately. And when those of us who choose to be part of Christ’s Body humble ourselves and allow his Holy Spirit to work in and through us, both individually and corporately, exciting and wonderful things happen. And when they do, the world gets to see what it is missing when it chooses to remain hostile to God.
If you are one who calls himself “Christian,” are you living your life separate and apart from Christ’s Body or are you humble enough to let him use you as a part of his Body to testify to the world God’s great love for it through your faithful actions? If you are, I can’t think of any ongoing endeavor that can bring you more satisfaction and fulfillment than that, even as you endeavor to do so in the midst of your own brokenness and others’. But remember, you don’t have to endeavor alone. You have God’s promise to give you his Holy Spirit to equip you for the work in Christ’s Church (and outside of it) he calls you to do.
If you are not part of the Church, today’s passage should serve as a challenge and wake-up call for you to examine your faith and your motives. It also serves to remind you that you are missing out on some real fun, the joy of doing God’s will and work here and now and to be his light to a broken and hurting people who live in darkness. Christ calls us to discipleship but he calls us to be disciples together so that when we are faithful we will bring his Name honor and glory.