Friday: Further Thought ~ Horizontal Atonement: The Cross and the Church
Further Thought:
Study carefully the following preamble to the discussion questions listed below:
What is the specific context in which Paul writes Ephesians 2:11-22 as he describes the sweeping effects of the Cross on human relationships?
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
He is addressing the relationships between Jewish and Gentile believers who together are members of the church. He expresses an obvious concern that they understand and live their shared, reconciled status as fellow members of God’s household (Ephesians 2:19). However, in the context of the letter as a whole, Paul demonstrates a broad, far-reaching purpose. His theme is God’s grand, ultimate plan to unite all things in Christ (Ephesians 1:9-10) and his scope includes “every family in heaven and on earth” (Ephesians 3:15, ESV).
More important, the unity of members within the church — the specific topic he addresses in Ephesians 2:11-22 — itself has a wider purpose that Paul discloses in Ephesians 3:10: “so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God [in creating the church out of both Jews and Gentiles] might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places” (ESV). Through actualizing the unity Christ won on the cross, believers are to signal that God’s ultimate plan to unite all things in Christ is underway. Their reconciled relationships signal God’s plan for a universe unified in Christ. So it is appropriate to look to Ephesians 2:11-22, set in the context of Ephesians as a whole, for biblical principles concerning a topic of importance today, relationships among people groups or races.
Discussion Questions:
|
(18)
My father was a builder and as a kid I saw him build car and tractor sheds, chook houses, and even our house. I learned the names of the various bits of wood that went into the wall. The vertical bits were called "studs" and reached from floor to roof and the horizontal bits were called "noggins". The "noggins" are what gave the building its strength. If you missed out the "noggins" the building would collapse under the weight of the roof.
The new Christian Church had two "studs", the Jews and the Gentile converts. The "noggin" they needed was Jesus, the horizontal bit that gives the structure strength.
The issue of melding the Gentiles and Jews into Christianity was a big issue in the early church. A lot of it centred around the issue of circumcision. The Jews had the notion that they had a stranglehold on salvation and that included being identified as a Jew. If you wanted to become a Christian you needed to become Jewish. The pastoral letter to the Ephesians was essentially a call to unite both groups into one body. It was a call to accept the "noggin" of Jesus into the structure.
Let's be clear about one thing. Unity in Christ does not mean that individuals have to lose their identity. It does however require a fair bit of tolerance and understanding.
We can generate a lot of words about the theology expressed in Ephesians, but we should remember that it is essentially a very practical book about pastoring a church with diverse groups. Loving one another is not an option; it is an essential. It is the horizontal part of our Christianity. It is a "noggin".
My husband who has remodeled several mobile homes here in America and our current home which was built in 1918, he uses studs like you mentioned, and he calls the horizontal 2X4s “blocking.”
Blocking is very helpful in supporting an extra load such as cabinets.
Jesus helps support us! Jesus brings us together! Jesus can carry our extra load!
Question 3 above gave me pause and I would like to offer a response that should shake us to our very core.
Sexual exploitation and violence against women and girls, now seeping across the young boys in the church has gone unchecked for many years. The perversions are taking hold and it comes from what is on television in our homes; what is on the Internet and how many times a known predator is given access to the vulnerable. Unfortunately, when horrible things happen; the crime is reported, but the church covers it up. In fact, depending on who the perpetrator is, and worse yet, who the victim is, nothing at all gets addressed in the manner it should. Sexual violence against wives is very rampant but exists in a silent sub-basement. What will we say when asked how we addressed these absolute violent acts? "We prayed," comes the response.
Single mothers with children are looking for a loving family, and God moves on their hearts, they join the body of Christ, but soon after she leaves.
"But if we are the body
Why aren’t His arms reaching?
Why aren’t His hands healing?
Why aren’t His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren’t His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?" Casting Crowns
May God have mercy on us. May these lessons in the quarterly help to replace our stony misogynistic, sexist, classist, racist hearts with loving, kind, compassionate, fair and God-guided ways. May we remember Jesus' example in our daily lives.
Finally, please allow age-appropriate training sessions to permeate our religious spaces. If we do not address what is actually happening, more people will lose their way, because we do not show care and compassion nor concern.
God bless.
Disclaimer: This is not meant as a generalisation, but as an open opportunity to search ourselves and if there is anything in us.....
Thank you Mary for addressing this issue. You are so correct about this topic. I agree with you totally. Unfortunately, the church is not learned in matters such as these. This is an area where professional help is needed to handle such issues and most of us are common everyday folk that live life. Pastors are trained in pastoring. Dr. Jennifer Jill Schwizer has a degree in this area. Working with people who have gone through such experiences. She is available to anyone who wants to reach out to her. If you know someone hurting this way please get them to her. Thank you for your input on this topic.
Thank you I will take the details of Dr. Jennifer Jill Schwizer and pass on. God bless and Happy Sabbath.
I believe a lot of our problems in our hearts, homes, and churches deal with one big issue: We have neglected the hiding of God’s Word in our hearts along with meditation and application. These verses can help shed light: Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:1-3, Deuteronomy 6:5,6, Matthew 4:4.
If we want to get serious with kicking the devil out of these mentioned places then we need get serious about memorizing God’s Word, meditating on it and living it out.
Here’s a short, free class that has helped me in this area and changed my life:
http://fast.st/cc/dontforgetjesus
Noggins equals to Rafters
I have never heard that usage Ronald. A noggin is a piece of woood between studs or joists. They could be use between rafters too to give strength to the roof. However, I accept that other countries may use the term differently.
In North America the terminology for framing wooden structures is nicely captured in this presentation:
https://www.slideserve.com/parker/construction-and-wood-framing.
The definition of the parts is essential to effectively communicate how the building fits together. As pointed out, if the parts are not fitted properly, the whole of the structure will not be sound. The building analogy is apt for the church.
Blocking as between the studs,
the hyperlink gave me a 404, it must have known that I was on memory overload.
It doesn't matter race, education, financial, or social position. In Christ, everything is leveled. In Christ, everything becomes one. He is the One Who unites all the creation. While the world sells exclusivity, Christ freely gives a gentle and perfect combination.
The verses that have stuck with me this week are:
Who is far off and who is near? A danger in being given a gift of truth is believing that an accurate understanding of Scripture places us in the "near" category and everyone whom we don't think has the truth in the "far off" category. This is what happened to the Jewish nation:
I just noticed that Jesus says that this parabolic Pharisee "stood by himself". There is that "middle wall of partition between us" that Eph. 2:14 talks about. A proud assumption of "We have the truth and you don't".
Jesus came to tear down that wall. We see Jesus revealing His true identity as Messiah first to the Samaritan woman at the well, even though He had just said to her that "salvation is of (arriving via) the Jews" (John 4:22,26). We see Jesus walking over 34 miles from Capernaum to Tyre-Sidon specifically to hear and say "yes" to the Canaanite woman's request for her daughter's healing because of her great faith (Matt. 15:28). We hear Jesus in His first sermon reminding His Jewish listeners that, "there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian (the pagan commander of the Syrian army who had cruelly attacked Israel)." And giving another example, Jesus said that Elijah was sent outside Israel to perform two miracles during a severe drought and famine (Luke 4:25-29). Over and over, Jesus pointed out the Jewish resistance to inclusivity in the faith family, which was always God's plan, and Jesus shows us that God will work elsewhere when the chosen vessels refuse to see the truth about what it means to be "near" to God.
It's about humility. The Roman soldier had this humility. He said, "Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. (He had sent Jewish leaders in his stead.) But say the word, and my servant will be healed." Jesus marveled and replied, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel” (Luke 7:9). We might have assumed a Roman soldier was "outside the faith" and yet he amazed Jesus! In another story (there are so many), Philip is sent away from Jerusalem (the chosen city) into the desert to reveal prophetic truth to the Ethopian official reading Scripture in his chariot and asking for guidance (Acts 8:26-39).
Is Jesus saying to truth-bearing churches today, "Tear down this wall." (Interestingly, when President Reagan said this to President Gorbachev, he had earlier said, "Why is there a wall?") Is God asking us, "Why is there a wall in your hearts and minds?" When we are out in "the world", are we making assumptions about who has faith and who doesn't? Do we try to witness before beginning with a meek spirit, like Jesus asking the woman at the well for water, which He sincerely needed. Could a person with less knowledge of doctrinal truths be nearer to Jesus than someone who has greater understanding of Scripture? What walls does God need to tear down in our hearts?
I find the statement concluding this week's lesson a bit odd: “So it is appropriate to look to Eph.2:11-22, set in the context of Ephesians as a whole, for biblical principles concerning a topic of importance today, relationships among people groups, or races.”
I think that 'unity' starts with the individual as Eph.2:15 points out. The individual has been created in Jesus Christ to become “one new man from two, thus making peace . .” There are still the differing physical aspects, but there is no more spiritual separation between believers when one is in Christ!
Each believer needs to learn this Truth for him/herself to rightly perceive themselves in light of their fellowship with other believers. This is not just important for today, it has been important from the Beginning, as God is uniting all things in His Son.
Can there be a ‘church’ if the individual members do not get along with each other? The true church, the Ekklesia, is inspired by God’s Spirit and established by His Truth. Unity among its members at the local assembly or throughout the world is the evidence that His Spirit is considered by all to be their supreme authority.
God is no respecter of persons; His loving providence is available to all who believe and love Him. How could the by man established churches still harbor the spirit of discrimination? By holding on to the ‘Ways of the world’! Should their members not be able to establish peace between each other, how will they be God’s ‘salt and light’ to the world.
Now is the time for each individual believer to examine him/herself to find the evidence within their own life to determine how they represent themselves as the Temple of God and how they interact with their fellow believer as an equal in value part of the Body of Christ. Unity is paramount in the life of the believer!
Esther Pelletier,Thank you for letting God use you in being so insightful.
Your sentiments on Q3 are heartfelt, Mary L. Prayerful healing must be brought to the offenders, who at some point, were likely victims, and traumatized, as well.
Also, on Q3, above:
Our church's Health team addressed the approach (or lack thereof) to Mental Health issues within our congregations. As the facilitator, I found that the simpliest thoughts were a good place to start:
*Know that there is no more shame in seeking treatment for the brain/mind as there is in seeing a podiatrist for aching feet. Through increased conversation; through education regarding available clinical expertise; through the power of forgiveness and appropriate sharing; and, through the loving empathy of fellow members, God's comforting Scriptural promises may be claimed, to His glory!
"Were it not for grace ...!"
This lesson is a gentle, yet poignant, reminder that all humanity is dead in the muck and mire of sin - Ephesians 2:1. It is the peace provided, through unity in Christ, that shatters the formidable wall of desperate separation -Ephesians 2: 13.
"Were it not for grace ...!"
The Saviour's ability to "disarm principalities and powers," placing us on an even keel at the foot of the cross, must be individually embraced and eternally celebrated!
Draw me nearer, My Blessed Lord.
Noggins, as in the frame work of a house, bridge, strengthen, and hold together the church. Definately, that is what Christ does as we the members become one in Christ.
As we all who make up the framework of the church, we become one in Christ personally and as a congragation, we also need to be partners with Christ, in holding the church together.
Let us strive to be noggins in partnership with Christ bridging, strengthing, and holding together our church, concurrently being, studs, rafters and joists, making up the framework of the church. Christ is also the foundation upon which we build our church together. Ephesians 2:19-22.
Happy Sabbath
[Moderator's note: Edited to change SDA to Seventh-day Adventist. Please use either "Seventh-day Adventist" of "Adventist" when referring to our church.]
I was born in Mexico and raised as a Catholic. I was 21 years of age when I chose to become a Seventh-day Adventist Christian. I have never seen anything in Ephesians 1:9,10 nor in Ephesians 2:11-22 that says anything to me about how I should relate to anyone as per their culture etc. I still do not see that Seventh-day Adventists have come together as "One Body," to spread God's "Good News," of salvation in Jesus at all. We should not have Chinese Seventh-day Adventist Churches or Spanish ones, nor Romanian ones etc. and etc. Our Churches should just be Seventh-day Adventist Churches with leaders of all nationalities to lead the people in them period!
Pete, I could attend a Samoan Seventh-day Adventist Church locally. There is a problem however. I don't understand one word of Samoan. I know that I would be welcomed, and even have someone translate a bit for me, and it would be great for the experience (they also put on a pot-luck that has to be seen and tasted to believe) but for an every-week interactive congregational experience I prefer an English speaking church.
There are many good reasons for ethnic churches and a lot of bad ones. The problem is that we are often not good at determining the reasons ourselves.
Maurice Ashton, I rest my case here with what you just said here. This is the United States of America, right? This country is an English speaking country period, established by British and therefore English speaking people. We should show them respect and just speak English in our Seventh Day Adventist Churches here in this country and not divide ourselves as if we still lived in the Countries that our roots and basic languages of those countries gave to us. Leave that to the people of those countries that still live there.
Pete, I know you only from what you write on Sabbath School Net and normally I would only say what I am going to say to people I know well. But, your comment really needs a response because I think a lot of people would find it offensive. The idea that you expresses that all our churches in the the United States should speak English is patronising and colonial. I have been to the United States in areas where the majority of people are Spanish speaking and have no necessity for speaking English. Making a linguistic barrier to church participation goes against the whole thrust of Christianity. I am totally against the idea of the church being used as ammunition in a racsit war but I understand too, the need for communication in a language that people understand.
Yes we do need to be tolerant and understanding of one another.
Oh, my, Pete! Coming together as "one body" does not mean all speaking the same language!
Let us have English congregations, French congregations, Spanish congregations, Romanian congregations, Samoan congregations, Nigerian congregations, etc. - congregations speaking all the languages of the world, wherever people speaking such languages are found!
Christ deigned to come down to this earth to speak Aramaic and maybe even Hebrew and Greek - none of which are the language of heaven. He came down to speak *our* language so that there would be no language barrier. So let us not put language barriers in the way of people seeking Christ. Let us establish outreaches and congregations that speak to their language and their culture, insofar as it does not conflict with biblical principles.
And, as I have mentioned earlier, that can also mean English-speaking churches composed mainly of Filipinos, or of Black people, or of Hispanic people or whatever cultural group prevails in an area. Of course, these congregations will not have signs on their doors keeping anyone out! There will be others in those congregations too. Our God is the God of *all peoples*! (Gen. 22:18; Ps. 67:2; Ps. 117:1; Isa. 56:7; Matt. 28:19) He relates to us in our language and in our culture.