A while back I edited down a few minutes from one of Rob Bell’s message at Mars Hill. I refer back to it from time to time and have also added it in a semi-regular rotation on OrangeNoiseRadio.
The message comes from his series on Philippians and its always a great encouragement to me to just go back and listen to the 10 minutes or so that I edited down from the end of his message.
The clip begins with Rob Bell speaking on Ephesians 2:14-18…
For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
my paraphrase of his message…
God is making a new humanity through Christ.
This new humanity means that whatever it was in the past that you thought could be used to divide you — Jesus is bigger! Whatever way in the past you’ve convinced yourself that we’re over here and their over their — Jesus is showing you that those divisions and barriers have been destroyed.
There’s something that trumps all those ways you’ve cooked up to divide yourselves — and it’s Jesus!
Imagine if a church took the the new humanity seriously?
No matter what end of the spectrum you find yourself on – we have something that trumps all that. We have something in common – and what we have in common is bigger than what we don’t have in common.
We can ask all sorts of questions about what ways we’re divided, but what if we started asking two new questions instead ::
- Can we agree on Christ’s body broken and blood poured out for the healing of the world?
In the new humanity, God gives us the power to offer grace even to those who don’t believe like we do. When you feel a conversation is getting heated, simply stop and ask the other person, “Can we agree on Christ’s body broken and blood poured out for the healing of the world?” The rest becomes simple details.And even for those who may not believe in God, simply ask them, “Do you believe the world needs healing?” Of course they will. So suddenly you have all sorts of things in common.
- Can we agree that we need the grace and peace of Christ?
Even your enemies are going to be glad to admit that you need the grace and peace of Christ. You can at least agree that each other needs the grace and peace of Christ đŸ™‚
If we can agree on these two issues, then the rest is simply discussing the boundaries of God’s healing and grace.
Apparently Paul realized there would be arguments over music, meat, style of worship, approaches to ministry etc. And knew we would need to join together around these common beliefs.
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. – Phil 2:1-4
Imagine if this became your frame and mindset? Imagine if this shaped your reality? That we all need healing and we all need God’s grace and peace.
What would that change in you? What would that change in the Church? In our church? In our small groups? In our families? In our marriages?
(image from bemky)
