Hebrew 10.19-25

I came across this poem the other day…“Laugh, and the world laughs with you; Weep, and you weep alone. For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth, But has trouble enough of its own. Sing, and the hills will answer; Sigh, it is lost on the air. The echoes bound to a joyful sound, But shrink from voicing care. Rejoice, and men will seek you; Grieve, and they turn and go. They want full measure of all your pleasure, But they do not need your woe. Be glad, and your friends are many; Be sad, and you lose them all. There are none to decline your nectared wine, But alone you must drink life’s gall. Feast, and your halls are crowded; Fast, and the world goes by. Succeed and give, and it helps you live, But no man can help you die. There is room in the halls of pleasure For a long and lordly train, But one by one we must all file on Through the narrow aisles of pain.” The poem is called Solitude. Striking because it paints and all-to-real and painful picture of what motivates the fallen world we live in to gather together…we may think it’s because they care about us or that they support our “cause”, but it’s really all about “me” (when it benefits “me”, when it makes “me” feel good, when it’s fun…when it serves “me”).

Quite different from what Solomon says in Ecclesiastes 4.9-12, “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. 10For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. 11Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? 12And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.” There is a synergy that exists when we pursue Jesus together…when we gather together. Synergy simply means that the total is greater than the sum of the parts. 1+1=3. It’s the way God’s designed it. We run faster, jump higher, reach more folks…we do better together.

But one of the greatest dangers to that synergy is divisiveness. We live in a divided world. Race is just one aspect. But the world around us divides over money or jobs or schools or college football…it divides over any and all kinds of things. So we should not be surprised when the world is divisive…why would we expect unbelievers to act any differently than…well, unbelievers. But when believers act like unbelievers, when believers become divisive…it’s extremely troubling. How does Paul say it in Galatians 3.28? “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you/(we) are all one in Christ Jesus.” It’s not that diversity disappears…God created a very diverse world. A beautiful world. No, it’s that diversity should lead to unity (think of a tapestry)…a very unique kind of unity because it is not based on any of the things the world bases sameness or “unity” on. It’s a unity that is only possible through Jesus. He unites us. Reminds me of a story I read…

EMPEROR VALERIAN ordered the death of Christian leaders in Rome (258AD). An old story tells that the deacon Lawrence was one Christian brought before the Roman prefect (magistrate) in charge of carrying out the order. The prefect knew that, as a deacon, Lawrence had charge of church money. He promised Lawrence his freedom if he would hand over the church’s wealth. 

Lawrence agreed to bring the church’s treasures to the prefect. “But it will take me a few days,” he said. “The church is very rich.” 

Actually, Lawrence had distributed the Church’s possessions to the poor. On the third day he appeared before the prefect. “Come out and see the wondrous riches of God,” he urged. 

When the prefect emerged he saw not wagons full of gold, but a gathering of Rome’s lame, its blind, and its beggars. He demanded to know the meaning of the assemblage.  Lawrence replied that these poor people would some day have glorious bodies and live forever in Heaven. They were jars of clay in which were hidden the treasure of the Holy Spirit…

The church has always been the place of the also-rans, the not-good-enoughs, the down trodden and oppressed, the less-thans…those the world has overlooked. Sinners like you and me. Folks from every walk of life united by their need for a Savior and their love for Jesus.

Reminds me of the scene in God’s throne room in Revelation 7 where folks from every tribe and people and tongue and nation are gathered around the throne worshiping God together forever. The church should be a foretaste of that today…and when it’s not, shame on us.

Let me challenge you with two last words…first, make the weekend services at your local church a priority. It’s the time that we gather as a body to worship God together, both digitally and physically, to be encouraged and to be challenged, to be recharged and equipped. But come expecting God to do something. Come expecting to worship…to give rather than just receive. Come looking for the opportunity to serve those around you whether it’s at home (digitally) or on campus…maybe a kind word, a warm fist bump (handshake/hug), a prayer…but come.

Second, if you are not yet a part of a community group, now’s a great time to join one. Community groups are one of the best ways to experience intentional community. Check with your local church for details.

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our UN/Stuck: A Season for Discipleship series. Download the podcast at: Central Christian Church Main Service, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or Twitter: @ccclancaster