The Worthy Walk: Corporate or Individualistic?

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#003399" TEXT="#080000" background="040c8c00erkjxk.jpg"> <div> <B><U>Jon Zens</U></B></div> <div> <B>is an elder and teacher at the Word of Life Church in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin and editor of the journal </B><I><B>Searching Together</B></I><B>.</B></div> <div> <B>  </B></div> <div> <B>This article is from Volume 18:1, 2, 1989 issue of </B><I><B>Searching Together</B></I><B>.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>To subscribe to this fine journal, contact Jon at: Searching Together, P.O. Box 548, St. Croix Falls, WI, 54024</B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="7" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Brush Script MT" ><B>Restoration Ministries</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFF99" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#CC0000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>  |    <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Body Life"><U>H</U></A><A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Body Life"><U>ome</U></A></div> <div>                                                   </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="075f86c0.jpg" border=0 width="504" height="108" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>by Jon Zens</B></div> <div> _________________________________________________________________________________</div> <bR> <div> Jesus Christ died to save sinners. Much has been written about the redemptive work of Jesus, with emphasis on the objective aspects of that work. Little attention, however, has been paid to the subjective aspects of the atonement. There is a sociological dimension flowing out of Christ<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="WP MultinationalA Roman" >*</FONT>s atonement that has been left virtually untouched in the history of theology. In Ephesians 2:14-17, Paul teaches that by the cross Jesus reconciled believing Jews and Gentiles, bringing the two groups into one.</div> <bR> <div> In Ephesians 2 we are taught that Jesus died not only to save sinners, but to take away the barriers between people. He died in order that the dividing wall of hostility could be broken down. He died to bring together people who had enmity prior to their redemption.</div> <bR> <div> In the first century, bringing Jew and Gentile together under one roof was radical. It was upside down compared to what was going on in the culture of the day. The divisions that existed, in my opinion, transcended anything we have experienced in this country in terms of black and white relationships.</div> <bR> <div> Jesus died to take away sin, but he also died to bring people together and make of them one body.</div> <bR> <div> Thus, the unity of this body is inherent in the gospel. Paul emphasizes it with seven “ones” in Ephesians 4:4-6: <B>one</B> Spirit, called in <B>one</B> hope of your calling, <B>one</B> Lord, <B>one</B> faith, <B>one</B> baptism, <B>one</B> God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all. We do not need to create the unity. It is already there. It is our responsibility, however, to bring ourselves in alignment with that unity and see to it that we do nothing to ruin or spoil it.</div> <bR> <div> Paul has the unity of a body of believers in view when he instructs us in Ephesians 4:1-2 to<I> “Live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”</I> The worthy walk begins with a corporate or body perspective. None of the words in verse 2 makes any sense if the believer is not in contact with other Christians. Humbleness, gentleness, patience, and forbearance or long-suffering all must have an object. That object is other believers.</div> <bR> <div> This passage has many implications for the outworking of the gospel in our lives. If you have any desire in your life to be serious about following the Lord Jesus Christ in light of the gospel which has saved you, you are going to have to come to grips with your responsibility to be involved with other peoples<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="WP MultinationalA Roman" >*</FONT> lives and have them involved in yours. It is this kind of mutual relationship which will bring about situations where you will need to practice meekness, long-suffering, or forbearance. This is what the worthy walk is all about.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Commitment</B></div> <bR> <div> The concept of commitment flows directly out of the worthy walk. Verses 2 and 3 imply a long-term, ongoing relationship with other believers. They paint a picture of people involved with one another at a level deeper than shaking hands after a Sunday service. Longsuffering, forbearance and patience are only required in ongoing relationships which cover a time span of some length.</div> <bR> <div> Our culture is generally opposed to the concept of commitment. We see commitment evaporating all around us. Marriage is no longer a lifetime partnership. Man/woman relationships in general are not built for permanence. People build relationships selfishly, looking for whatever they can get out of them. There is little concern for the other person. When the going gets tough, the relationship is abandoned. It is much the same with employers and employees.</div> <bR> <div> This lack of commitment has spilled over into the church. Many Christians in our culture feel that they have no need for church, that they can maintain their individualism. When you look at the worthy walk of Ephesians 4, however, you are talking about being committed to one another.</div> <bR> <div> When you commit yourself to Jesus Christ, you are also committing yourself to other people who are in Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:13 says that one Spirit has baptized us into one body where there is neither Jew nor Gentile, slave nor free. That means that we are automatically in our redemption brought into relationship with other brothers and sisters in Christ. You simply cannot say, “I am a saved person, but I am not in relationship to any other saved person.” Christ died to bring people together.</div> <bR> <div> Commitment obviously has some geographical limitations. In the broad sense I can say I am committed to Christians in Africa or South America or wherever, but that commitment is not very real in the sense that I am not with those people. I cannot touch them or talk with them. The commitment that comes to most visible expression is that commitment to brethren who are geographically proximate to me, those brethren I deal with day to day and week to week.</div> <bR> <div> We must acknowledge that we are in a body by the Holy Spirit. That implies that we are to have privileges and responsibilities with and to our fellow brethren. We have the privilege of being ministered unto by our brethren. We have the responsibility of ministering to other brethren with our gifts and graces.</div> <bR> <div> In the assemblies of Christians described in the New Testament, commitment was built into the very fabric of their gatherings. When they came together, each one had a psalm or a hymn. There was participation of the body in their gatherings. We find no one man show with a congregation of spectators here. People came together to give and receive in order that they might experience growth and maturity.</div> <bR> <div> <B>The Gifting of the Church</B></div> <bR> <div> Another area of Christ<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="WP MultinationalA Roman" >*</FONT>s redemptive work which has been largely neglected in the history of theology is found in Ephesians 4:7ff. Paul indicates that all have been gifted by Christ. A uniform teaching of the New Testament is that all of God<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="WP MultinationalA Roman" >*</FONT>s people are gifted, not just a hierarchy or elite group of clergy. <I>“To each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.”</I></div> <bR> <div> The focus in this passage is really Jesus Christ and his work. When Jesus was raised from the dead, he led captivity captive and he gave gifts to men. He poured out gifts upon the church. This is why the functioning of the body is not a peripheral issue. It is at the core of the work of our Savior. He died, and in his death and resurrection he gave gifts to the church.</div> <bR> <div> In verse 11 we learn that it is Jesus who has given to the church apostles, evangelists, pastors and teachers. He has given them to the church for very specific reasons — that the body of Christ may be built up, united in the faith, prepared for good works, and attain maturity.</div> <bR> <div> The church is to be prepared and equipped for works of service. They are to be perfected, equipped, mended. The word used here is the same one used in the case of Peter mending his net. We get a very clear image here. There is something very real, a net with a hole in it. To make it functional it must be mended. When it is mended it can do what it is intended to do, which is catch fish. Likewise, gifts are given to mend the saints so that they will be functional and do works of ministry.</div> <bR> <div> I question whether teaching methods traditionally used in most churches are accomplishing these goals. If teachers in assemblies are teaching as they should be, then as time goes on people should be branching out into many works of service as they are equipped. If people are sitting under ministries for years and years and remaining passive bumps on a log, there is something very wrong. If you are a pastor/teacher, I urge you to evaluate your ministry in light of this.</div> <bR> <div> It is essential that all parts of the body are functioning. The burden of growth and edification is on all members. Our physical bodies are only healthy when every part is functioning well and doing its job. How can we expect the church to be healthy if only a few of its parts are functioning?</div> <bR> <div> The worthy walk means that we must be committed to other believers. If we are serious about this worthy walk, we are going to have to scrutinize our money, our time, our talents, everything that we are. If we are sloppy in our commitment to others, then our walk with Christ is sloppy. </div> <bR> <div> <B>Communication in the Body</B></div> <bR> <div> Believers must be in relationships with other believers, and a crucial matter within those body relationships is communication. We have clear teaching on this matter. We are to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). Each one must speak truthfully with his neighbor (Ephesians 4:25.)</div> <bR> <div> It is easy to focus only on one side of this matter. People tend either to focus on the truth without cultivating tender, loving relationships, or else they dwell on relationships without searching for or applying truth. The New Testament does not allow either extreme. We must speak the truth and speak it in the context of loving relationships. An atmosphere in which people demonstrate that they love each other, accept each other and care for each other is a dynamic atmosphere in which people will thrive.</div> <bR> <div> In his book, <I>Encouragement, </I>Larry Crabb says, “Change takes place when truth is presented in relationship. Perhaps a relationship of deep regard and empathetic concern is the context for change, creating an atmosphere in which the truth of God can be heard non-defensively and thus penetrate more deeply. To be healthy, a church must present truth in the context of encouraging relationships.”</div> <bR> <div> We must be willing to listen to others. If we love our brother, we will be concerned with what he has to say. We must be willing to be changed by what is said if it is the truth.</div> <bR> <div> We must begin to take very seriously our responsibilities within the body of Christ. We must start paying attention to passages such as Matthew 5:23. This one remark about being reconciled to your brother before offering your gift would terminate most church services today. Reconciliation is a responsibility not to be taken lightly. Matthew 6:15 says that the Father forgives us when we forgive others. Peter says that husbands and wives must be careful lest their prayers be hindered. In 1 Peter 2:1 we are to lay aside sins in order to receive the Word which will give growth. None of the sins listed — malice, deceit, envy, slander — make sense except in the context of relationships with other people.</div> <bR> <div> These things are the basic fabric of church life. They are what the worthy walk is all about. They are what Christ<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="WP MultinationalA Roman" >*</FONT>s death and glorious resurrection is all about. It is time to evaluate ourselves and our churches in order that we may bring ourselves more in line with the will of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.</div> <bR> <div> Our confession takes the death, burial and resurrection of Christ very seriously. However, it is my opinion that traditional theology has been very lop-sided. It has rightly emphasized the objective, historical, outside-of-us aspect of the atonement. As a result, people generally associate the cross almost exclusively with a sacrifice for sin. </div> <bR> <div> But how many people would include in their confessions the equally important affirmations that Christ died to bring, as Francis Schaeffer called it, “sociological healing,” and that His victorious resurrection insured the universal giftedness of the body of Christ? To be honest with Scripture, we must reckon with all of these dimensions which the New Testament roots in the cross-work of Jesus Christ.</div> <bR> <div> In view of the sacrifice of Christ that makes us one, are we willing to make whatever sacrifice is necessary to preserve Gospel unity and to build up the body for which he died? Let us resolve by God<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="WP MultinationalA Roman" >*</FONT>s grace to fulfill our Lord<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="WP MultinationalA Roman" >*</FONT>s command to love one another. By his death and resurrection he has made us one body. Let us strive to keep that unity and to build each other up unto mature people, ready for every good work.</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>