“The church is a social fact as well as an eschatological sign. It draws its citizens into a shared public life with its distinctive language, rituals, calendar, practices, institutions, architecture, art music, in short with its culture …. The church is not an instrument to achieve other ends than fellowship with God. It serves society by being unapologetically itself and by bearing witness to the justice that alone makes human community possible, the justice due God. The greatest gift the church can give society is a glimpse, however fleeting of another city, where angels keep ‘eternal festival’ before the face of God.”
Robert L. Wilken, The Spirit of Early Christian Thought
In our last Sunday School class, we discussed Chapter 3 of the book of Philippians, particularly these verses:
“For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven.” Philippians 3:18-20
The next day, I picked up the book I am currently reading, Answering Speech by Daniel J. Brendsel, only to find it addressing the same Scripture! When this happens, I know God is telling me to pay attention!
The point the author made was this: as Christians, we are citizens of a different country, one with its own cultural identity. The church is our embassy in a strange land, and our common language is prayer. He also stressed the need to pray for the community in which we live, political leaders, and the nations around us. (Most of us do this as part of our corporate worship).
Our class spent a lot of time talking about what it meant to know that one day we will be in heaven, full-fledged citizens of the heavenly kingdom. There will be no more pain, suffering or death. We will praise God continually and bask in his presence. This book made me think about what it means to be a citizen of heaven today. It’s one of the examples of how we Christians live in a time that is both ‘right now’ and also ‘not yet.’ A good thing to ponder–am I doing my part for the Kingdom today?
“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20
For more posts about the church see:
Spiritual Formation as if the Church Mattered by James C. Wilhoit
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