Letter writing
Photo by aaron-burden-64849-unsplash.jpg
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, for the sake of the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus to Timothy, a child of God. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
It pains me greatly to learn that there is growing dissension, animosity, and division within the Body of Christ! How could any member of the body forget that Jesus' prayer was that we all may be one! Was I not clear that if all were a single member without distinction, there would be no body?! How is it then that some members are deciding who belongs and who does not belong within the Body of Christ? In claiming such knowledge, that member is stepping outside the flow of God's love, becoming a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. Has each member forgotten that they are but one branch on the vine? By cutting themselves off from the flow of God's love, a branch will wilt and bear corrupt fruit. When the Gardener sees that the vine has wilting branches bearing corrupt fruit, the Gardener will say, "I will feed the whole vine one more year with my own body and blood. Surely then there will be a great harvest of good fruit, but if not, then I will cut the whole vine down."
You may ask how the flow of love can be restored so the wilting branches can feed again on the body and blood of Christ. That branch must first recognize that its connection to the vine has been cut off by trusting in right belief. Indeed, the temptation to feed on the fruit of the "Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil" is strong. Ironically, it is there that we find an abundant harvest of doctrines, dogmas, creeds, and tracks. But be forewarned, feeding on this fruit will always prove too much for you. Inevitably you will choke on more than you can chew, and then you will become painfully bloated by what you cannot properly digest.
Instead feed on the Tree of Life! There, only one thing is required, and that is to humbly desire the presence of God. Quit your business of trying to find and feed upon the assurance of right belief, and instead humbly bow down at Christ's knee. There you will find yourself directly in the flow of God's love. There you will share in a community of humility, sincerity, and love where hands are joined to move mountains. There, in community, you will eat Christ's flesh and drink Christ's blood. There, you will grow from a child of God into a faithful servant of God, emboldened and empowered to "Follow Jesus, love others, and change the world!"
Be assured that God will reconcile conflicting beliefs and will make whole our understanding in God's time. Striving to do this for yourself is a wasteful task that can become a faith danger. Instead, help the body of Christ to remember that God's love does not insist on its own way; neither is it resentful. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never ends. God's love for us does not depend upon right belief- nor should our love of neighbor depend upon right belief. Remind the members of Christ's body that it is love that we receive when we come into the presence of God - not right belief.
Grace be unto you,
Paul
Tim Sergeant is a member of St. James United Methodist Church in Greenville, North Carolina. This article is republished with permission from the author.