As an introduction, I want to address the idea of what we mean when we talk about God in general and then move through this evenings topic. For those of you who have never been in our group here is a quick video from Rob Bell that illustrates the way we approach things a bit more
What does it mean to you, to have
a multi-generational church?
We talked about how it can have its benefits. But then we brought up the idea that, Christianity and Salvation are Communal and Personal.
This was brought about by Episcopal Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori during an address a few years ago.
The overarching connection in all of these crises has to do with the great Western heresy – that we can be saved as individuals, that any of us alone can be in right relationship with God. It’s caricatured in some quarters by insisting that salvation depends on reciting a specific verbal formula about Jesus. That individualist focus is a form of idolatry, for it puts me and my words in the place that only God can occupy, at the center of existence, as the ground of being.
To clarify, the Episcopal church is a branch of the Anglican Church. The Anglican church is also The Church of England, the one King Henry VIII created to be able to divorce another wife. Its a bit more complicated than that, but its the simplest way to put it. Currently the Episcopal church is having its own schism and even churches are merging back into the Anglican community.
To the point though, even John 3:16-17 eludes to this point:
16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His [e]only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
From <https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%203&version=NASB>
Jesus himself spent time with individuals but His over-arching goal was the world, but through community we can encourage and admonish one another. Here are some scripture references to this point:
John 18:37,
Romans 14:12
Matt 3:16-17
Joshua 7
Joshua 22:20
John 3:16
1st corinthians 12:26
Now, one thing that occurs is that in the Greek, there are more pro-noun usage than English. The following sections actually have pro-nouns that suggest “you all” or “ya’ll” instead of the translated word, “you.” This also implies the the communal nature of salvation.
1 cor 6:19-20 southern
2 cor 2:6 southern
Ephesians 1:13 southern
1st peter 1:9 southern
Anywho, I hope everyone enjoyed it. Please let me know if you have any questions, comments or concerns 🙂
