Gather Together Often!

But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

And if they were all one member, where were the body?

But now are they many members, yet but one body.

And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:

And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.

That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 

                                                                        (1 Cor 12:18-25 KJV)

As I attended a meeting for the South Eastern Conference SEC of the Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC) last night I could not help but wonder why the various members of the Body of Christ are reluctant to come together. I am not only speaking of those who profess to be Christians and rarely gather with others to worship God. I am also speaking of whole congregations who prefer to be isolated from the rest of the Body. 

Sometimes it is doctrinal difference particularly when it comes to gathering with others of a different denomination. Sometimes, it is because they have genuine animosity toward a brother or sister in Christ of another congregation.  Sadly; sometimes, it is also because we do not want anyone interfering in the power that we may have in the congregation that we are in. We simply do not want anyone interfering with the little bit of control that we think we have in our place of worship. Yes, sadly, there are members of congregation who do not have care for one another; but, only to build themselves up. They want no outside interference reminding people that we are all members of the One Body of Christ and that every person is as important as the next in the growing up of the Body. There are those who actually think that we do not need one another and that we are not a part of the same Body. 

The list of excuses used for not gathering together with other Christians is too long to be able to go over them all. But, remember that we are One Body and one member is not better than another. God gives each of us gifts to the growth of the Body and they must be used together "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." (Eph 4:12)

St. Paul wrote to the Ephesians:

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

                                                                      (Eph 4:1-7, 11-12 KJV)

The LCMC South Eastern Conference in conjunction with St. Paul's Lutheran Seminary is sponsoring a conference on the "Two Kingdoms" on Jekyll Island” on April 19 and 20 this year. Join us! More information can be found at this link: https://semlc.org/conference-registration/

Let us not neglect to gather together in the bond of peace often!

God's Peace - Pr. J.