a/k

Of Christians and the Body

There was a time, not too long ago, when I took great offense to someone using my name and “Christian” in the same sentence. It was a rebelling against the name-defining-the-institution churches full of hypocrites who obviously had never considered that “Christian” might mean more than social status or a “feel good religion” [wow, how's that for a long sentence]. Ironically, in hindsight, the time I was most critical of the church coincided closely with a spiritually and emotionally low trench.

I used to think the true church would be persecuted. Now I'm less sure there is only one true church. I used to think the institution could never provide the spiritual manna like a fresh, reactionary movement could.

Used to be, if someone asked me what denomination I was, I'd smugly reply, “None”. Somewhere along the way, something changed. There's this longing, this love sized hole in every person's heart. I could go through my whole life hating and distancing myself from the establishment, or I could be a lone prophet in the establishment. There is a difference.

Jesus said, “People will know that you are mine if you love each other”. Now if someone asks me whether I am a Christian, I emphatically say, “Yes!”. And, echoing Shane Claibourne (The Irresistible Revolution, Zondervan 2006), if someone asks me whether I am Catholic or Protestant, I fight the urge to say “neither” and instead reply with “Yes!”. That's the difference Jesus makes. The body is bleeding, dying—we can't jump ship now. Let's patch the holes, break down the differences. Kneel at the altar as brothers. And be whole. A whole body of Christ.