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24We should keep on encouraging each other to be thoughtful and to do helpful things. 25Some people have gotten out of the habit of meeting for worship, but we must not do that. We should keep on encouraging each other, especially since you know that the day of the Lord's coming is getting closer.
*Hebrews 10.24-25 (CEV)
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Samuel M. Shoemaker, in The Experiment of Faith, gives four aspects of a "redemptive community."
1) It is personal.
This includes happenings between persons and to and within each person; the personal includes the individuals and the whole in communion. Spiritual community entails a progressive heightening of intimacy: between the communion and God, between the members, within oneself.
2) It is compassionate.
Persons are eager to assist. They are non-judgmental toward others. They breathe out hope and concern. This does not mean that the group affirms some "love" that lacks principles and virtue; only that the communion maintains its standards in a spirit of graceful empathy.
3) It is creative.
This creativity concerns, again, insight for each individual and the community as a whole. The leadership and group is open and ready for any authentic vision coming from any member. Leaders encourage the seeding of insight among all.
4) It is expectant.
This is to say hopeful about its life and future. Shoemaker remarks about this spiritual communion: "[It is] always seeking to offer to God open and believing hearts and minds through which He can work out His will, either in the sometimes startling miracles He gives or in steady purpose through long stretches where there is no special "opening.'" Indeed, a communion can go through stretches of struggle, for example, financially or by maintenance or decline in membership. Yet, the attitude keeps returning to hopeful, if it diverges into depression or despair.
A case in point could be like the church I serve. The communion has become part-time, when it was full-time. Yet, it can be hopeful and expectant to be a strong part-time communion with vital ministry to its community and itself. Yet, if it loses its hopeful attitude, its spirit of expectancy, it will not remain even a strong part-time church. So, presently, I have assumed a central role of affirming its potential to be strong in its unity and hopeful for its future, claiming, too, that it can be a strong part-time church and such does not mean it is less valuable than a strong full-time one.
Shoemaker concludes, saying, "It may fairly be said that unless one enmeshes himself in this 'redemptive fellowship' of the church, he lessens his chances of steady growth and effectiveness, in his Christian life and experience."
I was raised to be in church often. We worked seven days a week, for we lived on a farm. But, we went to the sanctuary twice on Sunday, once in the morning, once in the evening. This included a morning Bible Study and evening Training Class and two Worship Services. Likewise, we went each night of revival services, and this entailed, usually, a full week of meetings.
This is to say, I was shaped to trust that constant engagement in the worshipping communion was essential to my being a disciple of Jesus Christ. This faithfulness to the communion signified to me that I needed my brothers and sisters in faith and they needed me, as well.
The church, as a gathering communion, is to be a redemptive fellowship. This "redemptive" means an interpersonal space where we each find healing and growth, with the Christ at the Center.
Surely, often "church" is not redemptive. Yet, to the extent that even one person - you or me - decides to be redemptive himself or herself, she or he becomes a means of the freeing and healing Presence of Love to the whole fellowship. You can be that person.
Lastly, to be redemptive means the communion offers persons the Presence of Christ, not the presence of the church. Or, we could say, the church sees itself as being Church only as an expression of the Presence of Jesus Christ. He defines the church, not vice versa.
The story is told of a little girl in Sunday School who was asked what she had learned from the story of Jesus changing water into wine at the wedding celebration in Cana. She said: "It is always a good idea to have Jesus around." Yes, and it is always good to be around Jesus, for with Christ being the center of any fellowship, that communion will be strong and redemptive, regardless of its make-up, size, or location.
Blessings!
Brian K. Wilcox
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*Charitable contributions would be appreciated to assist Brian in continuing his ministry. For contributions, contact Brian at barukhattah@embarqmail.com . Brian is in need of more funding to purchase a desk-top computer, after his was hit by lightening and is inoperable.
*Brian's book of spiritual love poetry, An Ache for Union: Oneness with God through Love, can be ordered through major booksellers or the Cokesbury on-line store, cokesbury.com .
*Brian K. Wilcox, a United Methodist Pastor, lives in Southwest Florida. He is a vowed member of Greenbough House of Prayer, a contemplative Christian community in South Georgia. He lives a contemplative life and seeks to inspire others to enjoy a more intimate relationship with Christ. Brian advocates for a spiritually-focused, experiential Christianity and renewal of the Church through addressing the deeper spiritual needs and longings of persons.
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