Matthew 5:14
The church is many. You cannot light up the whole world with one candle.
Acts 2:42-47
They broke bread together - they were called to be a light together.
There is something wrong with our culture that values our individualism, and often we place very little value on the body of Christ. "Identity" always has to do with the individual. It continues to be a crisis because we're looking at identity from the wrong perspective. The identity of the community should be elevated above the identity of the individual (interesting, because of the game theory thing that says if you consider the importance of the group as a whole instead of your own personal interests, you might end up better off than simply "every man for himself" might make you.) essentially, selflessness. We focus so much on ourselves and we don't take into consideration OTHERS, even if they are in our group.
Do we value personal identity over community relationships?
It's hard for us to imagine valuing the community over ourselves because it's so ingrained in our culture. We have very little corporate identity.
A quarterback's goal is for the TEAM to win, not for himself to win MVP or to get 50 touchdowns or something like that.
2 Samuel 15:18
Our ability to be the bride of Christ is directly tied to our ability to do great things. The more we're together, the more we accomplish.
"Omari is better than the rest of us."
-- Pastor Booker
As amazing as he is, he can accomplish more with the people than he can on his own.
Other cultures realize the importance of the community.
(unrelated, I think there is a major number of problems in the US that sets us apart from other countries. It makes me wonder what role we will play in the end times, and where we appear in Scripture. Unless the US doesn't even exist when the Tribulation begins. Somehow. Hmm.)
Romans 12:1
Therefore I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your body as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. This is your spiritual act of worship.
Go on to read verses two and three.
Romans 12:3
THIS VERSE ENCOMPASSES BOTH WHAT I LEARNED AT BR'S ABOUT HUMILITY AND ALSO IN GREAT TEXTS ABOUT BEING A WATER BOTTLE OH MY GOODNESS
It's literally TELLING us to be humble. To not think of ourselves as higher than we are - it's not telling us to think lowly of ourself or to recognize that we are of less important than the people around us. Not at all. It's saying to think of yourself with SOBER JUDGEMENT. THATS HUMILITY.
And the water bottle thing, it says IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MEASURE OF FAITH GOD HAS GIVEN YOU. He's given us each a certain amount of faith. But He fills us to completion - none of us are lacking His presence in ANYTHING. But some of us may have more faith than others because it's what God has apportioned us - it also doesn't mean our faith can't GROW. But we won't be at the same level as everyone else.
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