Philippians 4:1
Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.
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How beautiful the radiant Bride
who waits for her Groom
with His light in her eyes.Twila Paris, How Beautiful
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The way we speak of our brothers and sisters in Christ says a lot about the way we view this thing called the Church.
If we think of fellow church members as volunteers and the leadership as managers, the best we’ll have is “organized religion.”
But the Church is not a business governed by CEO’s and flow charts.
She is a living Body, a Temple, a Bride, a Flock, a Family, a people for God’s own possession.
This is why Paul speaks so fondly of his dear friends in Philippi.
They are not names on a roll; they are beloved brothers, his joy and crown, and dear friends whom he longs for.
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In the course of his letter, He never asks them how many they’re “running” in Sunday School. He does not give them advice on how to grow their church. His single command is, “stand firm in the Lord.”
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How are you exhorting your brothers, your sisters, your spiritual leaders in Christ?
What is your perspective of them?
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Are you speaking to them and of them as if they are business partners,
or as if they are a beloved family, with whom you will behold God’s glory forever?
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Let us refute the notion of “organized religion” by standing firm in the Lord, not in a program.
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