It is no secret that I have many grievances with the institutional church. I have few reservations in saying that I think it barely breaks even in doing good, versus doing harm to its own and the world who needs to hear the Gospel.

As I read in Romans 15 tonight, Paul talks about his freedom to now come and visit the church in Rome since his doors for service in his own region were coming to a close. So, to better understand the passage, I read from Matthew-Henry’s classic commentary on the text. And one short phrase stood out and left a very bitter taste in my mouth.

It is justly expected from all Christians, that they should promote every good work, especially that blessed work, the conversion of souls. Christian society is a heaven upon earth, an earnest of our gathering together unto Christ at the great day.

Christian society is a ‘heaven upon earth’. In other words, the corporate church is a heaven upon earth.

Well, yes, perhaps in isolated places. Perhaps even in Matthew-Henry’s time this was true. It’s hard to say, really. But for me, in my experience and the experience of many others, this sentiment does not resonate whatsoever. There is little more charity in the institutional church than in the world at large. But, in the church, there is far less acceptance or ‘love’—even patience or forgiveness.

But I do notice that Matthew-Henry deliberately uses the word ‘a’ in order to describe this present ‘heaven’. Of course we cannot attain here what we will truly have with Christ, there.

Nonetheless, the church ought to be something like a heaven on earth, in certain respects. And while the institution will never be perfect, we cannot accept the flaws by that virtue. Much like our own personal pursuits of Christ, we have to continue to tear down the flawed structures and at least attempt to rebuild stronger, more effective ones—regardless of the ‘cost’.

I’ve been thinking over this verse for a couple of days now. I’m not sure why, I’ve probably read it a hundred times. I guess it’s just resting on me with some fresh reflection. James 1:12:

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Although it’s phrased funny, the verse is in perfect sync with the rest of James’ message, and the whole bible for that matter.

James stresses that faith and works are not mutually exclusive elements, of which a Christian may hold one or the other. Rather, they are two ends of the same thing, which every true Christian will exhibit, if in fact they are true.

What’s so weird about this verse is that it would seem to reverse that message. Saying ‘remain steadfast so that you’ll receive the crown of life’. But James continues, explaining that the ‘crown of life’ is something that has been promised to those who love God.

How could the ‘crown of life’ be a reward for fulfilled duty and promised to those with earnest love for God? Simple, I suppose: Steadfastness is not the condition. Love is the condition for which the promise is given, while steadfastness is the symptom of that love.

Hebrews 8:11-12:

they shall not teach, each one his neighbor
   and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’
for they shall all know me,
   from the least of them to the greatest.
For I will be merciful toward their iniquities,
    and I will remember their sins no more."

A wave of optimistic anticipation swept over me as I read this the other day. Even though I’ve read it many times before, it is wonderful when our exterior weakens enough for old truths to take new effect.

It’s very encouraging to keep those promises close.

I came upon this today as I read in Proverbs. I absolutely love the ESV’s wording. Proverbs 23:17-18:

Let not your heart envy sinners,
   but continue in the fear of the LORD all the day.
Surely there is a future,
   and your hope will not be cut off.

Why would we envy sinners unless we feared we didn’t have a much better reward waiting for us? Our future in Christ is absolutely sure and it will not be cut off.

That’s very encouraging.

I was reading in Like today and Jesus was asked an interesting question by one of his listeners.

Luke 13:24

"Lord, will those who are saved be few?”

At first reading, I think this seems like a really reasonable question. But upon closer examination, the questioner’s motives become clearer. Jesus’ responds in the following verses:

"Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ “

The questioner wasn’t asking a hollow question. He was reading the back of the lottery card for his chances of winning. He was wondering whether devotion to Jesus would pay off.

Jesus is clear in his answer. He says that the time is now to believe. The question of whether or not many will be saved or few is irrelevant. The question is whether or not he will enter through the narrow gate while there is still time.

I’ve always had a number of questions about Jesus. Not huge philosophical or historical questions. More like, practical life questions. I think if most think hard enough, we’ve all had these questions.

For example, we understand that Jesus was both God and man. Fully God, yet fully man. And we understand that is a mystery which we may never understand—possibly even in eternity. But it still makes me wonder. Jesus was born to a woman, he was a child. He had a natural birth and went through the same ordinary functions that any other human being would.

We know that as a child he knew who he was. But what about as a toddler learning to walk? Did he know then? Did he know anything then? Or what about puberty? Did Jesus have the same natural inclinations that other human boys experience at that time, or are those experiences a part or by product of a fallen nature that Jesus never experienced?

These are questions that I find fascinating. In them are quietly embedded some of the most intricate understandings of what it means to be human. It’s unfortunate that the answers to those questions simply aren’t answered anywhere in this lifetime.

I started thinking of all this today because of the passage in Luke I read. Jesus is chased out the synagogue to a cliff which the people intend to throw him off of. He gets away of course, but this is what it says:

And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff. But passing through their midst, he went away.

“But passing through their midst, he went away”? Huh? I’m forced to read this as if it said, “Somehow he got away”. We know that he was fully a man, but being fully God also, did he wield some power of the crowd that they just let him walk by? Or did some temporary metaphysical change take place and he literally walked through people?

This is one of those passages—peculiar enough to make me wonder—but offering too little information to ever come to a satisfactory conclusion.

I suppose as with many things that will be the case in this lifetime and maybe in the one to come. But if I ever get the chance, I’ll ask him about it. If I’m able, I’ll report back here and let you all know what he says!

CS Lewis writes:

“If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this.”

Convicting sentiment. Could it be that the church today is so ineffective in our world today precisely because she’s so concerned with getting things right in our world?

Concerned so much with the form and function here that she never stops to think about there? There’s a reason the book of Revelation was given. Interesting how little it’s regarded.