...Jesus and His Way...

One of the things I like about the Reformation is that it strikes me that the view of the church was not so much an institution as it was a movement. I like this view of the church because it reflects the view of Jesus towards the church: Jesus didn’t create an institution, nor did He create a culture within the church that was political, although His teaching certainly impacted the politics.  I don’t even believe that Jesus was setting out to create a religion or a denomination.  I feel like He was starting a movement, defined and energized by the Holy Spirit, with the intention and goal to change the kingdoms on earth into the Kingdom of God!   Just think about it.

I remember years ago listening to a talk given by a key leader in the church who was asked why there was such animosity and disagreement at times between the churches, and his response was that one could study the Reformation from a historical perspective but not from a spiritual perspective because the Holy Spirit was not present in the Reformation.  When I heard him speak incorrectly I remember thinking about how Jesus spoke of His church: Jesus called His disciples with the words, “Come and see” John 1:39.  In Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Jesus asked others to “Follow Me.”   And at the end of the Gospels, Jesus sent His first disciples out with the words: “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation” Mark 16:15.  Jesus never spoke of the church in terms of following or coming to the Apostles — it was always focused on following Jesus Christ!  And then as you read the Acts of the Apostles you will find the Holy Spirit of God unfolding in the sacred story, and there I believe you’ll notice a pattern. You cannot help but notice that there really is a movement of God in the world.  

The church was then — as it is now — a Christ-centered movement completely focused on Jesus and His way.   In fact the church was initially referred to as The Way because the Way of Jesus was The Way. The Spirit of Jesus, the Spirit of God, that sweet, sweet Spirit, infused their spirits and took over. And following the Way of Jesus resulted in the abolishing of poverty and hunger in their community.  Some might say they made poverty history.   The Acts of the Apostles calls this abolition of poverty one of the “signs and wonders” which became an invitation to others to follow Jesus too, and to change the world.   It didn’t take a miracle. The Bible says they simply “shared everything they had” Acts 4:32–35. The Way of Jesus Christ moved them in that particular way.   And they also learned how to become more than a collection of individual self-interests. They found themselves becoming a countercultural community, one where Jews and Gentiles, circumcised and uncircumcised, had equal standing (Acts 15:1–12).  

So dear friends, which ever church of which you are a member always remember that you serve much more than a mere institution or tradition — you serve the movement, the Way, of Jesus Christ.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.

From the Bible:

“Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood”

Acts 20:28.

“Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit” Ephesians 2:20-22.

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit” Ephesians 2:19-22.