Embodying Christ in Community

This is the third part of a series based on the the 2nd year of Mennonite Church Alberta's call to action: To Encounter, Embrace, and Embody Christ in Community.  In the last posts we have been challenged to open our eyes, ears, and all our senses to encounter Christ in the people around us and in our relationships with them, as well as to open ourselves to embrace the changes to which Christ might be calling us as we embrace our role as a part of God's body here on earth. Today we we will look at the call to embody Christ in Community. What does this mean in our congregation? Do our actions, our rhetoric, our choices let those with whom we interact see Christ, alive and working through us? It is challenging to think that, for some people, we may be the only glimpse of Christ in their lives.  What do they see?

The Scripture passages for this week are John 13:34-35 (“I give you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, so you also must love each other. This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, when you love each other.” -CEB) and 1 John 4:7-13 - a call to embody love because God is love. A later verse in that chapter summarizes:  "God is love, and those who remain in love remain in God and God remains in them." (vs 16 CEB). So I see the simple answer to how we embody Christ is through love - love of God, love of self, love of neighbor, love of all.  I think that to embody Christ in community means building a community of love.

Unfortunately, that answer is simple to say but hard to actually embody.  What do we do when two people have opposing views?  How do we love them both? What do we do when someone is hurting another person?  Can we love both the one causing pain and the one on whom it is afflicted? How do we "speak the truth in love" when someone is doing something that seems so wrong? What do we do when people are stuck in their traditions and opinions and aren't willing to explore new ways of doing old things, or even new things? What do we do when another seems so blind?  Can we heal their blindness as Jesus did? How do we build a community of love when it seems some people are so assured of their "rightness" (righteousness?) that they do not have time to listen to another perspective?

Many situations call up complicated emotions and automatic reactions. Personally, I have the most difficult time with people who claim an authority to have things done their way, without seeming concern for the effects on others, especially those to whom they are not closely connected. I have trouble with those who swoop in from the outside of a community and proclaim judgement on those whose beliefs lead them to a different ethic. I find myself critical of those whose beliefs lead them to believe right beliefs and actions are more important than caring for people. So am I any better? I cannot claim to have the answer to truly embodying Christ in all ways.  I do think, however, that if we truly believe we are beloved children of God, people for whom God cared enough that Jesus was sent to lead and love and even die for us, it will help us not lash out in fear. It can give us the confidence to speak humbly yet with assurance even when what we say is not necessarily popular. If we believe that the other person is also someone for whom God cares so deeply that Jesus was sent for them, too, maybe we can be less harsh with them. 

To build a community of love, one that can embody Christ, we do need to work together, respect each other, listen to each other, and be willing to acknowledge we may be wrong. We need to open our arms to the sinners, like the adulterous woman in John 8, (or ourselves). We need to be willing to touch the unclean, or have them touch us as the story of the bleeding woman found in the synoptic gospels (Matthew 9, Mark 5, Luke 8). We need to reach out to those who are seen as less than, who cannot advance our careers or status, as Jesus did to the children (Mark 10, Luke 18). We need to be willing to be meek, hungry, merciful, pure in heart, and even persecuted (Matthew 5) because we know God is with us and God's opinion is more important than people's. When we turn away from someone in need, or cast harsh criticism at someone with whom we disagree, or even push our own agenda over the community's needs, we embody a different being from the God we worship: The God who keeps promises; The God who loves the world; The God who shows mercy and grace; The God who holds the whole world in a loving embrace.  We fool ourselves if we think we can proclaim to be Christians and live with ideals and priorities so different from Christ and no one will notice.  When we do that we are serving a lying god and taking the true God's name in vain.  Let us instead work to be Christ to each other and to others outside our walls.  Let us learn to listen.  Let us learn to care deeply.  Let us learn to recognize that others, through whom Christ may be speaking, may have information and/or insight we do not have. Let us work on love, and on learning to truly embody Christ, individually and in community.

May you feel God's loving presence in you, with you, and surrounding you. May God empower you to embody Christ to all you encounter.