In my study of the book of Ephesians today, I read the passage of Scripture that so many object to or skim rather lightly over; and in so doing, miss the real teaching of it.   Judging from the writings of some professed Christians, the Church has, for them, negative connotations, or "bad vibes."   Maybe we don't have "ears to hear" what the Scriptures say, or maybe we allow our past encounters to cloud our vision so that we don't have "eyes to see."

[Jesus’] disciples asked him what this parable meant. He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, ‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’”

- Luke 8:9-10 (NIV)

 What follows is the "controversial" passage on "Wives and Husbands."   In this passage we see the mystery of the Church within the teaching of marriage.   Paul says that in marriage, (just as in the Church) we are not merely individuals, but individual, interdependent  parts of the whole.   My comments are included by the emphases:

" Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.  In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.' This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.   (Ephesians 5:22-33)

Now, if you've read this far, examine yourself.  Are you willing to let Scripture - God's Word to you - govern your life and speak to you personally?   Those who challenge the Word in these points are those who are prone to be unfaithful or unloving in marriage and in their relationship with the Church.   These are serious issues and reflect our true spirituality.  None of us is autonomous in these two relationships.  We are part of the whole and the rest of the organism is Christ and every other member of the family, our personal family or the Church family.

I was reading for this week's Bible Study Fellowship lesson from Acts, chapter 19 when I was struck by verse 32:  "Some therefore cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was confused, and most of them did not know why they had come together."

The context was that the apostle Paul was preaching in Ephesus when he was followed by a girl possessed with an evil spirit, which Paul then cast out of her.  There went out a complaint from those who had been profitting by this girl's "gift." (Really, it was a curse keeping her from a normal life and she was being used)  An uproar resulted from the owner of the girl protesting and much of the city joined in.   This is where verse 32 comes in.

At first, I was amused.  It sounded like utter confusion - well, it was an unruly mob rioting.   Ever been around when a mob goes out of control?  It is a scary thing.  The mob has a "personality" all its own, but no mind - just blind rage.   In fact, Paul had been in this type of thing before and had been stoned, carried outside the city limits, and left for dead.   That's how much mind and heart a mob has. 

The next time you are thinking of joining protesters, remember that even if there is no violence, there will be an absence of purpose.   Most there will either not really understand the situation or will be there for reasons that you don't want to endorse.   There can be many strange bedfellows in a thing like that.   I don't think I need elaborate.

But all of this leads me to the question uppermost in my mind.   Everytime we join in with others, we owe it to ourselves and others to understand what our purpose there is.   Specifically, in church.   I've written several posts about why people leave churches or shop around for new ones; and in every case, I wanted to illustrate the real reason for gathering together with other believers.    It would be interesting to hear the reasons that readers of this would give.     If your reason is just to have a 'feel good' experience or have fun, the world still holds the best shows.  But if your reason is to be part of a community of believers worshiping and serving God,  learning to know Him better and to understand the implications of the gospel for your life, then the world knows zilch about that and you will dry up spiritually.

So, why are you doing what you are doing?