Sunday: The Strong Corporate Sense of the Church
WEEK 20
SUNDAY
THE STRONG CORPORATE SENSE OF THE CHURCH
Romans 12:4-8
We have seen the things that went into the making of the church at Antioch. We must now turn to the authentic marks of Christ as seen in that church.
First, the church had a strong corporate sense. They were not a group of individuals coming together periodically to worship, then returning home. They were an organism, not merely an organization. The koinonia, the fellowship, was at the basis of this church. How do we know? Two things let us see into its heart. The account says of Paul and Barnabas, “For a whole year they [were guests of] the church” (Acts 11:26 RSV; “were guests of” is the margin note). They weren’t the guests of a rich individual in the church, but the guests of the whole church.
The next thing that lets us see the corporate sense of the church was the fact that when they fasted and prayed, the Holy Spirit could speak to the whole church and say, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul to the work I have called them to undertake” (Acts 13:2). They listened and obeyed as a corporate entity. They were so attuned to one another and to God that they heard corporately and acted corporately.
That is important, for it became one secret of the spread of the faith in that ancient world. The faith spread partly by its message and partly by the fact that the ancient society was decaying; a feeling of spiritual insecurity was pervading it. This new society in the church was an un-decaying society in the midst of a decaying society. So people pressed into it for spiritual security. Here they found love across all race and class lines; here they found a people who cared—for everybody. People need deeply to belong to something significant. When they joined this society, they inwardly felt: This is it. I’ve found ultimate Reality in human relations. This is the homeland of my soul. Here I belong. I asked an African American maid in a hotel, “Do you go to church?” She replied with her face all lighted up, “Yes, I really go to church.” “I really go to church”; you could see for her it was a homeland.
The church at Antioch had a strong corporate sense; the organism was working itself out as an organization.
Blessed Savior, make our hearts into your home, a place where you can dwell and feel at home. Then let us welcome everyone of all races and classes to our home. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: I am resolved not to go to church but really to go to church.