Christ's peculiar community
Commentary
This Sunday's texts are a continuation of the previous week's discussions of God's presence in the community of believers. Above all else, the texts are not simply exhortations to love -- and that in several ways -- but are reminders that the source of community is God's love as the wellspring of all activity and faith. The combination of texts gives the listener three different portraits of community in which God's love is operative; the intimate band of disciples to which Jesus addressed his remarks, the newly-established churches the writer of Acts recalls and the scene of God's community reflected in a familial way through the parent-child wording of 1 John. Like reflected light on a prism, each text answers in its own way the question: What loving actions of ours show the love of God? Recently a friend lost his wallet. His identity seemed temporarily erased as he lived for several days without a driver's license, credit cards, social security card or any means of identification. As Christians we act and believe in such a way that, regardless of circumstance, we can be identified. In the words of the folk song, "They will know we are Christians 'by our love.' " The televised detective show Kojak would frequently feature its hero, asking in rough times, and at points of crisis: "Who loves you baby?" The texts for this Sunday give the answer. OUTLINE IBlest be the ties that bindActs 11:19-30 (Lutheran, Episcopal) A. vv. 19-20: Out of the tragic martyrdom of Stephen the community of Jesus was scattered. But in their places of exile they hear again words of life about Jesus Christ. In the midst of sadness and fear, the name of Jesus is preached. B. vv. 21-25: These verses provide ample proof that word gets around, for Barnabas comes to serve as leader and pastor to the growing community. He even enlists Saul to help him out in the burgeoning ministry. This particular community at Antioch uniquely expresses its loving relationship to God by being the first known group to assume the name of God's Son as his followers -- Christians. C. vv. 26-30: Through the words of prophets the community finds a reflection of the chaotic world around them. Beset by famine it is later determined by the disciples that the community stands in need of aid. The love of God expresses itself in the outpouring of support and relief. Not unlike the response of Christians today, word of hurricane, tornado, fire or the destruction of flood, prompts Christians to send resources to those whose names they do not know -- except for one: Christians. OUTLINE IISigns of the presence1 John 4:1-11 (Lutheran, Roman Catholic) A. vv. 1-6: These verses are full of verbs which urge those who belong to God to test the Spirits, to listen, realize their status as those who, in the name of Jesus, have conquered the spirits of darkness. What is the acid test that allows Jesus' followers to do these things? It is the confession that the one called Lord is the one who came in the flesh; in other words the defense established by those loved of God is the reality of the incarnation! It is not the bewildering array of false spirits which create the illusion of a godly community but the presence of the crucified one. B. vv. 7-8: The exhortation to love is based on only one core reality -- God's prior love for humanity. It is the key message, the earliest one most children are first taught: "Jesus loves me, this I know. For the Bible tells me so." No other source of love exists for the Christian in community other than Jesus. Like a family God's beloved children must understand what the priorities of the household are. C. vv. 9-11: These verses seem to sound somewhat like a creed. God's love was revealed. God did this through the enfleshed presence of Jesus. Therefore, we love. It is important for listeners to understand that we don't love simply because Jesus' sacrifice provided a model for that but because the Lord Jesus Christ himself lives in each believer's heart. We experience love and it has a human face. OUTLINE IIIReflections of GodJohn 15:9-17 (All four lectionaries) A. vv. 9-13: Here the radical yardstick of community is presented. Bearing the name of Jesus means loving not only God but others. It is love which goes beyond what many would term normal; it is love which would suffer death for a fellow Christian. B. vv. 14-15: God's love results in relationships which are turned upside down, revised from the usual. The relationship of obedience to Jesus results in friendship, not mere deference to authority. The one acting out of obedience also learns a new dynamic of the reign of God, to obey is to find such obedience is prompted by the loving Spirit not inappropriate fear. C. vv. 16-17: One of the results of the friendship with God is a deepening of the prayer life. If daily living is centered on Jesus Christ, asking becomes not only receiving but a more intense desire to love others in the name of Jesus.
