Church teaches me grace

Ok. This is terrible how much I have neglected my blog. I apologise blog. And readers if I still have any. And I'm worried that I'll get thrown off Bish's 2 starred list. So. Here's a thought.

More grace with the Relays last week. There's lots of it in1 Corinthians 12-14. Great stuff with lots of insight from all wings of the church!

In 1 Corinthians 12, the church actually IS the body of Christ. That's not just a picture - but Paul actually says "so it is with Christ" when he is referring to the church!

And how does the church show spiritually and really what Jesus is like? Its by the strong helping the weak (or rather, those who seem weak, which is a whole different issue). The strong and the weak working together, feeling each other's pain and struggle. Just like Jesus, who, in the Gospel, as the great strong man stoops to help and love the weak, taking our sins and sorrows and making them his very own, The church doesn't just talk grace, but it shows grace. It doesn't just say "Jesus", it is Jesus, and when those who seem to be strong painfully and sacrificially love those who seem to be weak, it shows it.

Back in the day, I used to get rightly narked with people saying we should "be Jesus" to people. I still do usually to be honest, as it usually means "being Jesus" in all the ways people liked Jesus and not "being Jesus" in all the ways that led to him being rejected and crucified.

BUT, ther's something in it. Together, not individually, as the strong give all that they have to honour and show special care for the weak in the church family, we do show Jesus. We ARE the body of Christ.

You know the fact that I am a right pain in the neck, and weak and stupid in more ways than I can count is actually good for my church. Gives them an opportunity to model what Jesus is like. They are also, I must say, very good at returning the favour!