Separately Together

July 27th, 2009.

Three weeks of separation by Church! My wife is now in West Branch as a minister and I am in Ann Arbor as a minister; but not separated as a couple! We commute and use technology to talk. We encourage and support one another as much as possible and we enjoy our times together.

It is somewhat like that for the folk of a Church. Together on Sunday; separate through the week; yet not separated. We are still the Church together when we are apart. We are united in Christ who never leaves us. When we come together it should be like the joining of lovers - a passionate time of worship and fellowship and encouragement.

But I fear we too often take the gathering of the Church for granted; indeed I suspect too often that we do not miss one another enough. Our passion is limited and often dependant on what the worship does for 'me' rather than what it is flowing from us.

1 Corinthians 14.26:

What should be done then, my friends? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.

The passages from Paul that talk of the Church gathering indicate what people can bring to the event; not what people get out of the event. We live in a culture that says, "What's in it for me?" The culture of the Kingdom is more, "How can I give to the work of the Kingdom?"

I suspect that's why Church is so boring - we try to take and when everyone just takes, little energy is created and little nourishment is found. And those who pour in the energy for the whole become depressed, or worse, break down in health and spirit.

When each gives even a little everyone is fed with much left over. Now that would be great worship!