The Church in the World

The Church as a visible community in this world must be the arm of mercy in the face of injustice, love in the face of hate, humility in the face of pride.

We in Christ have liberty, a liberty obtained not by revolution, rebellion, or reformation, but through the cross. The only way to freedom is the cross.

 The world has been confronted by the cross of Jesus Christ - it has already been frontally assaulted. Liberation has been won for slave or free. For us to fight in a physical rebellion or revolution undermines the victory we have in Christ. He has overcome the world! He said that His kingdom is not of this world. If His kingdom were of this world, His servants would fight. If His kingdom were of this world, the cross would have never been necessary. He was not a revolutionary fighting against the injustice, oppression, suppression, or taxation of Rome. 

When we truly understand liberty, then we understand the Cross. Our hope, our LIFE, our desire, our existence, is not of this world nor in this world but solely in Christ - in Him are all things. 

It is not REFORM this world needs. This world is ripe for destruction. To stay in this world for Christians is to be part of it's rough and tumble, yet abide fully in the Body of Christ, Christ manifested in the visible community of the church. Neither revolution nor false submission is the answer. We must bear testimony to the finished defeat of this world through the life of discipleship. Our duty is submit under present authorities, not to harbor resentment against them. 

It does NOT matter what others do, but what WE do. Do what is good without fear of man. We do not act righteously to receive the praises of men, but only to please God. We must refrain from all evil, all rebellion, all malice, etc. We are to live quietly, gently, meekly, peaceably with all men. We are like lambs led to the slaughter. We are free and have nothing to fear. 

Though we preach with meekness and love, the gospel, the Word of God, has the nature to provoke fury in the enemies of the cross. The GOSPEL, the living Word, is what this world NEEDs. We are willing to suffer whatever consequences if we know that we are doing the Will of God and our hearts are not only pleasing to Him, but our actions are exactly as demonstrated and dictated by Him. As Christ is, so we must be in this world. 

(Ideas taken from Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Cost of Discipleship, the chapter The Visible Community)