One of the comments this morning that has stuck with me during the post communion breakfast and general Sunday tasks is that the Church is the Bride of Christ and therefore we cannot marry the Church: it is already promised to another.
There is a context: over the last six weeks he has been interviewing mentors. Many of whom gave their lives for the church and people in the church. When they stepped away from that role, they looked for Christ and found that he was not there.
They had been in the business of Christ, but had become instead devoted to the institution. That can be a trap.
Barry reminded us that there is a time to step forward and lead and a time to help, but in all times there was Christ. It is not about being a virtuous church member. It is being with Christ.
And it is never about our righteousness.
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
“Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
(Matthew 6:1-4 ESV)
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
(James 1:19-27 ESV)
Signalling are virtue: tweeting, hashtags, wearing the correct ribbon on the correct day, signing the correct petition, saying the correct memes on faceborg and being a good committee man will not help you at all.
Obeying Christ will.
The issue we face is that it seems easier to signal virtue than obey Christ. This is a lie.
It is better to obey Christ. It is better to do your duty.
This means you won’t be seen as virtuous, but those who boast in such face a penalty you would be better avoiding.
Do not be them. Do not be like them
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