Let's Get it Together

Inattention and disorder are signs of ill health in a community of faith.

When inattention and disorder prevail, our life together becomes unhealthy. Inattention creates vulnerability to attack, especially from within. All begin to do what is right in their own eyes and neglect care for souls, both their own and those of Christian siblings. Relationships become mere rituals, we judge those who do things differently as offensive, and we begin to think of unity as everyone-agreeing-with-me.

Disorder aids inattention by weakening the structures of community and patterns of life together that God has supplied to his people. Disorder makes it easier to neglect the fact that we are all siblings, the children of one Father; we become an affinity group, loosely gathered around superficial rituals. We forget we are family and begin to think of ourselves rather like a club, where one can leave when things get tough or even uncomfortable. We neglect our shared commitment to the truth of the Good News of Jesus Christ. We neglect to pray together, worshiping together, and taking the cup and bread together. We ignore informal gatherings with our siblings, retreating instead to our own spheres.

Siblings, these things ought not to be so. Let us pay attention to our life together. Let us order our life together in learning, prayer, and worship.

Let us truly be the church.