God brings us into this world through a family, a community. Sometimes that community knows how to be a community. Unfortunately, as we are well aware, sometimes the family does not know how to be a healthy family. Our place in this world (as the church, and as Westview) is to be a community of love, faith, and acceptance for young men who either don’t have such a community, or who need to learn how to live within community. This means that we need to be a healthy community for several reasons: to model community for our boys and our children, to be the people of God so as to receive his blessings, and to care for each other as individuals and families.
The book of Hosea describes one of the saddest moments in Israel’s history. Israel is at a low point, and Hosea’s wife Gomer bears two children to whom God gives symbolic names (Hosea 1). God calls the daughter “No Mercy” and the son “Not My People”. When Israel ceased to function as a godly community, God removed the blessing of his mercy. No community, no mercy. Mercy was not intended to be parceled out individually to persons but communally to a people.
Individualism has run rampant in much of this world over the last two centuries. Americans see themselves as the rugged individualists that have reshaped this planet. But the very condition of our planet gives us some indications that perhaps this is not working so well. Are we the paternalistic protector or the power-wielding commodities broker? Perhaps we ought to consider our place in a global community. Concerning ourselves with the needs of others, showing restraint in the use of resources and power, giving thought to our future. True peace and blessing come within community.
Referring back to Hosea, Peter describes clearly our own calling to be a people, a holy nation, a community:
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Once you were not a people,
but now you are God's people;
once you had not received mercy,
but now you have received mercy.
- 1 Peter 2:9-10 NRSV
When we restore true community, godly community, God restores his mercy. How does Peter call us to live within such a community? Consider the verses that follow:
Beloved, I urge you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the desires of the flesh that wage war against the soul. Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that, though they malign you as evildoers, they may see your honorable deeds and glorify God when he comes to judge.
For the Lord's sake accept the authority of every human institution, whether of the emperor as supreme, or of governors, as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. For it is God's will that by doing right you should silence the ignorance of the foolish. As servants of God, live as free people, yet do not use your freedom as a pretext for evil. Honor everyone. Love the family of believers. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
- 1 Peter 2: 11-17 NRSV
Let us choose to love everyone (whether in our community or not) and to honor the family of believers. When we do this, we will properly fear God.
Grace and peace,
Ron
