"The Lord is your keeper....The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming forth from this time forth, and even forevermore." (Psalm 121)
As I was reading Psalms 121-125 this morning, I was struck with the great emphasis of the Bible on corporeity. The phrase, "....and even forevermore," reveals this. The, "forevermore," reveals that the Holy Spirit is always speaking of future generations. Moreover, one of today's readings in the Epistles reveals also the corporate nature of the Church, "Now you are the Body of Christ, and members individually." Today, the emphasis is far more on, "....members individually," than on, "....you are the Body of Christ...."
Most Americans do not think corporately. "Rugged individualism" rules. You and I know that the emphasis today is almost solely on, "individually." Large churches, large "ministries" for the most part are large because they appeal to that old "rugged individualism" mentality. "Tell me how I can advance me and mine, how I can prosper, how I can be healed, how I can claim everything in the Bible for just ME." Of course, this would be denied most vehemently in order to preserve the air of spirituality. But the reality overshadows the objections.
The Biblical Principle of corporeity will help all to understand Bible promises, covenant, etc. Individual Jews through the centuries have suffered, experienced poverty, persecution and destruction. But the Jews as a People Group have survived, right to this very moment. Indeed, even after the Holocaust, which seemed to mock promises such as, "The Lord is your Keeper," a great miracle burst upon the global scene, the Modern State of Israel. The great effort to get Jewish children out of the grasp of the German before and during the war reveals how the Jews saw themselves as recipients and benefactors of, "The Lord is your keeper;...The Lord shall preserve you...even forevermore." The Lord Jesus is, and the Lord Jesus has done just that.
This Bible Theology applies also to the modern Church, especially in America. It needs to get out of its perverted "rugged individualism" mode, and greatly increase the emphasis that we are, "the Household of faith." Ephesians 4:25 says, "....for we are members of one another." Later we read, "For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones....I speak concerning Christ and the Church." The Church globally is declining in numbers and financial giving; no matter. Jesus promises the durability of His Church, of us who are, "....members of one another." For us also the promise is ever, "The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore."
Martin King said in a message the night before he died, "I may not get there with you, but...." He was not just looking out for himself. He was looking out for the welfare of his People Group. This has been the theme of the Jews and Church through the ages, "I may not get there with you, but" I will run my "leg" of the race, "looking unto Jesus," doing my part that whatever future generations there may be, I will do my part to help them in their, "The Lord shall preserve you...even forevermore."
Father, in Jesus' Name, forgive me for those times when I am a, "individually," and not a, "member[]." Amen.
*****************
As I was reading Psalms 121-125 this morning, I was struck with the great emphasis of the Bible on corporeity. The phrase, "....and even forevermore," reveals this. The, "forevermore," reveals that the Holy Spirit is always speaking of future generations. Moreover, one of today's readings in the Epistles reveals also the corporate nature of the Church, "Now you are the Body of Christ, and members individually." Today, the emphasis is far more on, "....members individually," than on, "....you are the Body of Christ...."
Most Americans do not think corporately. "Rugged individualism" rules. You and I know that the emphasis today is almost solely on, "individually." Large churches, large "ministries" for the most part are large because they appeal to that old "rugged individualism" mentality. "Tell me how I can advance me and mine, how I can prosper, how I can be healed, how I can claim everything in the Bible for just ME." Of course, this would be denied most vehemently in order to preserve the air of spirituality. But the reality overshadows the objections.
The Biblical Principle of corporeity will help all to understand Bible promises, covenant, etc. Individual Jews through the centuries have suffered, experienced poverty, persecution and destruction. But the Jews as a People Group have survived, right to this very moment. Indeed, even after the Holocaust, which seemed to mock promises such as, "The Lord is your Keeper," a great miracle burst upon the global scene, the Modern State of Israel. The great effort to get Jewish children out of the grasp of the German before and during the war reveals how the Jews saw themselves as recipients and benefactors of, "The Lord is your keeper;...The Lord shall preserve you...even forevermore." The Lord Jesus is, and the Lord Jesus has done just that.
This Bible Theology applies also to the modern Church, especially in America. It needs to get out of its perverted "rugged individualism" mode, and greatly increase the emphasis that we are, "the Household of faith." Ephesians 4:25 says, "....for we are members of one another." Later we read, "For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones....I speak concerning Christ and the Church." The Church globally is declining in numbers and financial giving; no matter. Jesus promises the durability of His Church, of us who are, "....members of one another." For us also the promise is ever, "The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore."
Martin King said in a message the night before he died, "I may not get there with you, but...." He was not just looking out for himself. He was looking out for the welfare of his People Group. This has been the theme of the Jews and Church through the ages, "I may not get there with you, but" I will run my "leg" of the race, "looking unto Jesus," doing my part that whatever future generations there may be, I will do my part to help them in their, "The Lord shall preserve you...even forevermore."
Father, in Jesus' Name, forgive me for those times when I am a, "individually," and not a, "member[]." Amen.
*****************
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
