Building on the Right Foundation

So, how do you create an environment where God is glorified and people are not ground into pulp? Well, a better question might be, “How can you claim that you are honoring God if you are abusing people?” And for those who think that I’m belaboring an inconsequential point, let’s take a look at what Jesus taught as the Greatest Commandment:

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 22:37-39

Notice He said that the second greatest commandment is “like” the first. This is not “similarity,” but rather “sameness.” He hits you with the command to love people in the same breath that He tells you to love God. And if that doesn’t lend enough weight to the issue, He follows it up with this outrageous statement:

“All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (v.40)

Folks, “all the Law and the Prophets” basically means “all of Scripture” to His audience. What Jesus is saying is that you cannot pursue ANYTHING of God if you do it outside of the context of loving God and people.

So, now, back to the question of how you make sure that you don’t build an abomination rather than a church where “the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 3:10)? Well, for nearly 2,000 years, the people of God have followed a simple instruction from the Lord which has seared this command into their inner-being. It’s not building modern temples, not collecting offerings to administer programs, not establishing dictatorial positions of power. It’s more pure than that. It’s reflective of the essence of the church. It’s simple, yet amazingly profound. It’s the Lord’s Supper, the Communion of the Bread and Cup.

How often does your church share in Communion? It has been my experience in this area that most who are outside Mainline denominations do it rarely if at all. If we’re honest, we believe that a tortured Savior dying on a tree is something reserved for the eyes of those who need to “accept” Him. And I’m not sure that I would argue against that, only offer to reframe it. Because, even those who have been following Him for decades need to learn to “accept” Him more profoundly.

It’s in the cross – not shiny and clean and vacant, but rough-sawn, soiled, and occupied – where all that is foundational to our existence comes into focus. In the cross, our “minor offenses” are revealed for their significance. In the cross, we come as close as we dare to the holy righteousness of a God who is an all-consuming fire, a God who is pouring out His wrath as the just penalty for dishonor.

And it’s in the cross that we see the perfect picture of love poured out for the sake of others. We see arms stretched out wide, as a sin offering but also as a sign of openness to receive the worst of sinners. Because, the man on the cross is no mere man, but God Himself.

And in the Communion of the Bread and the Cup, we remember the cross, and the image is seared into our inner-being and our collective identity, so that it might become impossible to treat any person dishonorably.

So, break and eat the bread. And drink the fruit of the vine. And do it in a worthy manner, lest you eat and drink judgment upon yourself (1 Corinthians 11:28-32).