Let the Church speak

THOUGHTS: On Sunday we talked about the way in which the Bible contains the image of the “Church” (all believers, everywhere, in all times) as the “mother” of Christians. She’s our mom in a way, and moms try to speak into the lives of their kids. AND THEN, kids get to decide whether they will listen or not. We are like that with the Church.

In certain issues, the Church gets to speak into our lives to determine what is sinful. For instance: The way the Church has interpreted the messages from God and interpreted the messages of those who interpreted those messages, has set a standard of sexuality for me as a man to be either abstinence or heterosexual, life-long, monogamous Christian marriage. So if I veer from that, I know I’m sinning.

But in other issues, the Church speaks into our lives in ways that don’t prevent specific sin but that prevent foolishness and promote wisdom. As a young married youth pastor who stressed over all the troubles in the kids’ lives, a man in the Church advised, “Share things with your wife, but don’t go home and dump on her. Find ways to handle the stress that don’t bury her in it.” That’s stuck with me for over two decades and has improved my marriage! Thank you Mom / Church / Christian Friend!

ACTION: Make church – steeple – people with your hands.  (Place your hands back to back, knuckles on one hand flush with knuckles on the other hand, then interlock your fingers, and fold your hands together with your fingers inside. Point your two pointer-index-fingers up for the steeple, thumbs together for the doors, and then open the doors, and extend your fingers upward – the people in the church. As you wiggle them ask your brain, “What have the people of the church been teaching me lately?”

PRAYER: “Lord help me to listen to the Church like my mother, even when it’s confusing, challenging, and perplexing. Help me to hear your voice through the voices of the Church.”