-1 Corinthians 13:4-7
I've decided that if I ever write a book I want it to be about the Gospel, cultures, and how the two relate. Within culture diversity is found, and oftentimes where diversity is found, so is division. Schisms in the Church are often created because of this very issue, because of diversity, though really it shouldn't be an issue at all. Diversity is beautiful, from God and reflective of God's creativity and character. I believe that within the Church common ground needs to be found in regards to cultural diversity. How can the Church strive for unity while at the same time embracing individual differences, all for the sake of preserving relationships? How can we as the body of Christ each be uniquely different while at the same time all standing together, all being the same? What exactly is the common thread that makes diverse individuals the same? Is unity important at all-why or why not? Is there room for division? If so, what matters and what doesn't? After all, the Bible is clear against false teaching. How does discernment play a part in all of this? There's a lot to be said regarding unity and the Gospel, but what I've been reflecting on lately is diversity amongst believers. With each member of the body being different from one another, how is unity maintained?
I think at the end of the day, the answer has to be Jesus.
Which means the answer is also this: love.
It is love that will unify the Church, because it is love that will, in all ways and situations, edify the Church. Love will hold us together, and practically this takes various forms. At some point I want to blog about these topics that I'm mentioning, about culture, the Gospel, and how the two intertwine. Tonight is not the time to begin a new series (I need to finish the other ones I've started), but perhaps it is not far off. Tonight I'm merely sharing a Gospel truth, perhaps the most important lesson of all, that serves as a reminder to every part of me, mind, body, heart, and soul: love is at the center.
Why is this? What makes love the cornerstone, the glue that holds believers together? I think it must have something to do with the idea of worship, because love is the absolute core of worship, and worship is the absolute goal of the believer. As a Christ-follower, I should not focus on doing right or wrong, on producing good fruit or even avoiding bad fruit. These goals matter, but they are not goals at all; they are end products of worship, and worship is the goal.
As believers we tend to see ourselves as being in a constant state of missional living, which isn't false, exactly, but I think we may need to readjust our focus, recenter our gaze. It's true that as we live we are called to love, so in this way we are indeed missional people. God has given us a mission and as people who claim Christ we have accepted this mission, this call to live in love. However, some wisdom from John Piper captivated me tonight:
Worship is always the goal.
No matter what one is doing, whether it be discipling another person, leading a bible study, singing praise on stage, praying by one's lonesome, prophesying, speaking in tongues or engaging in other spiritual gifts, practically teaching, serving while on a mission trip or literally any other act at all, the act itself should never be the focus.
Worship should always be the focus.
When we focus on worshipping God out of a pure and loving heart, then our lives produce fruit that is Spirit-filled, works that are from a firm-in-real-faith heart. When we focus on worship, our lives show evidence of it.
The goal is worship, because when the goal is worship, the question becomes one of the heart. When we focus on worship, we are forced to ask ourselves where our hearts are at. When we check the conditions of our hearts, we are able to focus not on works but rather on the faith we have, because out of our faith should our every act flow. Our faith in Christ spurs our acts, not the other way around. With our eyes fixated on Christ, the ultimate example of love, we are overwhelmed by grace, joyful in hope, convicted by mercy, and motivated by love to live in love.
When we look to the cross, we are reminded of love, and when we are reminded of love, we are humbly brought to our knees.
Which allows us to only respond in worship.
