Emmaus

Yesterday Ayedefer and I had one of our, now routine, one hour talks about kingdom life. It is always insightful to get his perspective on how church is done here in the U.S. in relation to Ethiopia. We talked about living in community and the gospel mandate to live out our faith in the midst of a community of faith. Ayedefer had a prophetic word for the American church. He told me that all healthy Ethiopian churches live in community, worship and live together and care for one another. He said the only churches that cling to an individualistic mindset are the churches that are sinful. Notice he did not say that the leader sinned or that there was a difference of opinions in the church. Corporate sin. This is a difficult concept for many of us who have been told to work out our faith on our own for so long. We work out our faith and work on our sin individually. A biblical view would inform us that both faith and sin happen in community and we cannot separate ourselves from that at any point. My sin affects my neighbor in one way or another. Militarism, consumerism, materialism, greed, individualism, lust and covetousness have infected our life and church and the two are so enmeshed, in the worst way possible, that we can’t find our way out. The only way out of corporate sin is through the community of faith confessing our sins and reconciling and forgiving one another so we can reclaim our vocation as the light of the world.
As I talked with Ayedefer yesterday he stated that we were like the two on the road to Emmaus, and since then I couldn’t stop thinking about how true that was. When I talk to him and when I have the privilege to speak with many of you, my friends, about the kingdom don’t we feel on fire as we and the spirit commune and kingdom is revealed to us. Peace be with you all.

Reading: The Kingdom of God is Within You, Tolstoy
Listening: Destroyer, Angels of Light