Prodigal: Birds of a feather like to flock together.
Me: Very true, but in Christ community we are different too.
Prodigal: Yes, that should be the case.
This is from the book Prophetic Voices in Contemporary Theology by Alvin Porteous
The church as a community of love presupposes a relationship between members which “expresses itself in mutual acceptance in spite of the separations which take place because the church is a sociologically determined group.” This means that the cohesive which holds the church together is not manufactured out of the natural preferences of people which are rooted in social, economic, educational, racial, or temperamental compatibilities. The “glue” which unites people of varying backgrounds and dispositions into a Spiritual Community is the reconciling love of the cross which unconditionally affirms the other person in terms of his essential humanity. The reuniting power of agape, not the chumminess of social affinity, is the basis for a true Spiritual Community.
We can only agape our love for each other with the help of the holy spirit. That means we must pray for each other. I know that person is not mature in Christ. I know they attacked you out of the flesh. I know that you are trying to love. This is what you have to understand, is that they are reacting in the flesh, and we need to respond in the spirit.
Psalms 5:12
For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield.
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
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