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tisdag 4 juni 2013

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WORD FOR THE WEEK

"The apostolic church knew nothing of denominational division. It was not denominated by theology or celebrity, but only by geography. Geographical boundaries and civil jurisdictions alone determined the church's boundaries. When the apostle wished to address a church he would speak to the whole church of the city – for example, the `church of God in Corinth' (1 Cor 1:2). Evidently, the church, even in these large cosmopolitan cities, was functioning as one unified whole. (See also 2 Cor 1:1; 1 Thes 1:1; 2 Thes 1:1; Rev 2:1, 8, 12, 18; 3:1, 7, 14; Rom 1:7; Eph 1:1; Phil 1:1; Col 1:2).

Anything less was an aberration, provoking apostolic rebuke. Paul had clearly taught, '...all the parts, though many, form (only) one body, so it is with Christ...' (1 Cor 12:12; see also v 20, 27; Rom 12:5; 1 Cor 10:16, 17; Eph 2:14-16; 4:4, 16, 25; 5:30). And so, when the church of God in Corinth violated this unity he wrote,

'I appeal to you, brothers...that there be no divisions among you... One of you says, `I follow Paul'; another, `I follow Cephas'... . Is Christ divided? ... Do you not discern and understand that you (the whole church at Corinth) are God's temple.... If any one destroys it, God will destroy him because God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple'. (1 Cor 3: 10-13; 3:16-17 Amp. & author's paraphrase).

Need we wonder any more at the destruction of the contemporary Western church! The scandal of our denominational divisions has invited the displeasure of God.

Now is the time to return to him – to repent of our pride and false value systems. To dismantle the mindsets and structures that are inimical to the spirit of Christ and the unity of his body. And together we will become a dwelling in which God is pleased to live.

All heaven will then erupt, declaring over our cities and nations –

'Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God'. (Rev 21:3)"

Excerpt from One Church of the City – The Dwelling of God

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