How whole?
In our house we're big fans of the "Which character are you...?" kind of quiz. It's ridiculous but so much fun, answering hypothetical questions that need you to choose from four answers that are rarely what your real choice would be, then hey-presto the results show you're Gandalf/Aslan/Ron Wesley/Captain America (not my answers by the way!) Then there are the slightly more serious "Which group are you?" enneagram type of tests where you can learn your strengths and weaknesses.
It might seem like this series of blogs has been like that. A "Which part of the body are you?" Perhaps the deeps would be the heart and internal organs. They have great strength and importance but need protection. Those who endure would be feet and legs. They walk the long path, whether it's a journey forced upon them, or one they choose to pick up in order to help and strengthen a brother in need. Those who show the height of God's love are the eyes and ears, seeing and hearing what happens in the heavens. Those who show the width of God's love are the hands and arms of Christ reaching out to those marginalised and in need. But for this to be a functional body, we need...well, a body. And what a fabulous body she is. She's been in each of the stories I've shared. The body is the part most people recognise. She serves, welcomes, encourages, remembers birthdays, holds the deeps when they need a safe place, prays for the longs, anchors the highs and looks after the lost brought in by the wides.
The body is busy working in children's work, fundraising committees, the soup kitchen, cleaning toilets and washing dishes. The body prepares a time and a place to sit in God's presence, to pray, worship and break bread together. It's the centre of the community, teaching, comforting and nurturing.
But the whole body of Christ is far more complex than five body parts. Each one of us shows a different aspect and characteristic of His love. There isn't ever going to be another me, and neither will there be another you. We aren't designed to fit neatly in man-made boxes or match a personality test. And for the Church to fulfil its purpose every person must be free to be who they were created to be.
While preparation for marriage is now filled mostly with wedding day organising (dress shopping, flowers, seating plans) it hasn't always been like that. It used to be something that girls were "prepared" for from childhood. Young girls have been trussed up in corsets to give them tiny waists, had their feet bound to restrict growth and are sadly still enduring the horrific practice of female genital mutilation. All to make them more culturally appealing in the hope of a better wedding prospect. These practices are performed by (or under supervision of) mothers. Mum's who love their daughters. Who care and want the best for them. Who are willing to put their daughters through pain and distress in order to conform to what "acceptable" looks like. We all want our children to be accepted not rejected but being accepted as someone you're not is never really acceptance at all. Sometimes it's only by stepping away and looking from a different perspective, we can see the harm being caused.
There have been parts of the body of Christ, His Bride, the Church, that have been bound too long in a bid to make her more culturally appealing, to not cause offensive at being different. But this isn't what the Groom has asked for. He laid down his life so she could be free, not to fit this world but to be transformed in order to represent the Kingdom of Heaven. I wonder whether the Jesus we read about in the Bible would be "allowed" to be fully Himself in our Churches or would we try to muzzle and tame the Lion?
I for one have spent too many years caught in the internal debate with myself. Seeing in the Bible what following Jesus requires of us, knowing who I have been called to be, yet still desperately trying to squish myself into the ill-fitting one-size fits all mould of culture conformity.
Galations 5:1 Christ has set us free to live a free life. So, take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.
I have heard God make the command to the spiritual pharaohs of this time, comparison, cultural conformity and fear of man's judgment to let His people go. As we stand in this current wilderness, I feel the tussle between stepping out into the unknown, unseen, promised land and the pull to retreat to the safety of the old and familiar, the same as the Israelites, having been rescued from slavery, wanted to run back to their bondage in Egypt rather than walk in faith with "I Am". God will see His people set free. Let's be brave enough to say "Yes and Amen" and make it happen in our generation.
If this has spoken to you at all I'd like to encourage to spend time with God talking about it. Ask Him to show places that you have been bound and let Him help you remove them.
If you don't know where to start perhaps this prayer will help. Adapt it to make it more personal.
Father God, thank you that I am fearfully and wonderfully made, in Your image, by You, for You. I ask that you show me any ways that I have partnered with fear of man's judgment, cultural conformity or comparison. (you may want to do each one individually)
I repent and ask for your forgiveness.
Is there anyone who you would like me to forgive for binding me spiritually?
I forgive....for.....
Are there any lies I've believed because of this? (listen to what the Holy Spirit tells you)
What is the truth Holy Spirit?
Make a note of any truth you hear and ponder on it. Weigh up what you hear with Jesus' life in the Gospel. Does it line up with His teaching? (Jesus said the if You know Him, you know the Father. Nothing that comes from God will contradict Jesus's words or actions) Ask more questions and repeat the prayer as things are revealed to you. Speak to someone mature in their faith to share what you have heard and help you walk in your new freedom with wisdom.
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ Amen
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