“oh, what would happen if we were beautiful” - Tim Timmons
Sunday-afternoon in Guatemala City. The morning we took part in a beautiful church service, abounding in truth and peace. Now, however, the echoes of a woman preaching and screaming at the top of her lungs rise from the hill across the busy highway. My limited Spanish can make out a few things: glory and Holy Spirit and receive, receive, receive. I'm sitting a good kilometre away but my head wants to burst at the hysteria and the screaming. And with that a sadness engulfs my heart.
During the year we are exposed to church in so many faces and forms. And some of them really create an unrest and an unease. As humans we have a way of adding on and veiling that which God wanted to make beautiful. Churches add on laws and regulations, false doctrine is being preached from the pulpits, false prophets roam the streets of the nations. Under the name of Jesus people are being blinded and hurt and led away, hysteria is nullifying the gospel of peace. Somewhere along the line humans have managed to defile the Bride and the Spirit is saddened.
Even in my past experience of church some dirt marks are evident on the wedding dress of the Bride. Law and tradition as opposed to grace and revelation, a mediocrity that seems to have become the standard for churches in South Africa. In Stellenbosch the politics and judgement between churches have often left me with a bitter taste in my mouth; a mutual enforcing of the stubbornness and judgement in my own heart with the judgement and stubbornness of others.
When I opened my eyes, I saw the bride of Christ in the Western world. I saw the church eating crumbs from the Father's table when they are called to eat in the celestial realms of glory. I saw people malnourished and scavenging around instead of feasting on God's incredible heavenly food.
Heidi Baker, Compelled by love
But luckily my year is not limited to this. Somewhere along the line I have also been completely blown away and in awe of what it means to see the bride of Christ revealed in the nations.
To witness something of her beauty in church and family opening up their hearts and homes in love and hospitality.
To understand her purity in the simplicity of children running to their Father, children receiving revelation, children laughing in pure unbridled joy.
To acknowledge her vivaciousness in the glimpses of revelation and glorious wisdom being unveiled.
To see her simplicity in the worship with a single guitar or a man pouring out his heart in prayer.
To appreciate the functioning of her body in the comfort of a shared spirit found in all the countries we have journeyed through.
And as a team the lifestyle of “church” has become so real. We have laughed and cried, and encouraged and discouraged. We've been disappointed, we've had to handle the ebb and flow of sin and repentance and forgiveness, we've had to balance the interest of the church with our own self. We've been frustrated and irritated and hurt and sad. We've wanted to punch someone or ignore someone. But in the end the chords of love and of Christ's love always pulls together. The resurrection of our Head enables the resurrection of our own hearts and spirits and relationships. And in between the struggles and low points, dispersed memories of the year and of team create an image...
I see the bride of Christ in the worship of 11 souls on the roof. In the pouring out of your heart when nothing makes sense. In a brother picking you up after a fall. In silently crying with each other when you are without words. In laughing at and with each other. In the pure joy of sharing in God's beautiful creation. In rejoicing with a sister in her newly found freedom. In the anger at things that create disunity. In the miracle of reconciliation and restoration of relationships. In loving each other even when every fibre of your soul wants to fight and be angry and hurt. In the affirmation of a shared Spirit that is in agreement. In the wonder of getting to know another’s heart. In being taught pure and solid truth. In a hug when it is most needed. In the beauty of seeing how the Spirit sanctifies and changes and softens the heart. In the empathy with another's struggles. In the overwhelming weight of shared hope in that which will be revealed farther along.
She stood in the door of the tomb, covered in a brightness of light not seen since creation. The very purity of God radiated from her like rivers of living fire.
Gene Edwards, The Divine Romance
Ok, this blog was supposed to be about seeing the bride of Christ in the nations and it ended up being about my team. But I guess that is the beauty of it. As we live this lifestyle called God-seeking, we are bound to see the breathtaking beauty of the bride being unveiled and revealed. The glory of God is there for all to be found and even in our frailty of humans making mistakes and doctrines and denominations and laws and regulations and judgements, God is still the God who resurrects. Who is resurrecting His bride and changing each member day by day. Who displays His heart wherever, in the nations, in our hearts, in a team of 11 young people sharing lives for a year. God is still God. And yes, I am sad and discouraged when I see what humans have made of the gospel and of Jesus and of His bride. But I am also filled with a hope that is an anchor to my soul. A hope that compels me to fight for the purity of this bride. To stand up for that which is true and real. A hope that rejoices in the beauty that is there to be found for all who are willing to seek.
For one bright moment, through his eyes, he saw them as... the only two living things. Through his eyes he saw her somewhere out in post-eternity standing before him, perfect and complete, the divine love of God beating passionately in her – and that same love beating in him. The triumphant Lord and his counterpart! A glorious bride without spot or wrinkle, washed in the blood of the Lamb.
Gene Edwards, The Divine Romance
** Disclaimer: To my family, my church, my friends (Distant Worlds): I know that in many ways things are changing and coming to an end, and yes there have been a few shaky moments and struggles and sad moments but when I think about you guys in the context of church I am so so so grateful for that which I have learned through and with you. When I look at the year with God's eyes I realise that there truly are so many unshakeable Kingdom things that He has established in our context of church which will last a lifetime. Wow! We ARE the church. We ARE the bride. Love you! :)