The Communion Of Saints
Adult study
As We Believe, So We Behave
Living the Apostles' Creed
Object:
"I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic church, the communion of Saints...." Those last two are so intertwined that they are often considered together.
Both are wonderful affirmations, but do have negative connotations. Just as we noted in the preceding chapter that the "holy catholic church" often looks very unholy, the "communion of saints" is often not very saintly.
There is an ancient tale of a young rabbi who found a serious problem in his new congregation. During the Friday service, half the congregation stood for the prayers and half remained seated, and each side shouted at the other, insisting that theirs was the true tradition. Nothing the rabbi said or did moved toward solving the impasse. Finally, in desperation, the young rabbi sought out the synagogue's 99-year-old founder. He met the old rabbi in the nursing home and poured out his troubles. "So tell me," he pleaded, "was it the tradition for the congregation to stand during the prayers?"
"No," answered the old rabbi.
"Ah," responded the younger man, "then it was the tradition to sit during the prayers."
"No," answered the old rabbi.
"Well," the young rabbi responded, "what we have is complete chaos! Half the people stand and shout, and the other half sit and scream."
"Ah," said the old man, "that was the tradition."
Sound familiar? I hate to imagine how many congregations that could describe. Years ago, I briefly served a church where the officers were divided into what may as well have been two armed camps -- the deacons versus the elders. For what seemed like generations these two groups had squabbled about anything and everything. Pastors would accept the call to that pulpit, arrive in town, quickly see the problem, then get in between the two groups to try to make peace. Pity the poor pastor. Like the fellow who did not want to take sides in the War between the States and advertised his neutrality by wearing a blue coat and gray pants -- the rebels shot him in the coat and the yankees shot him in the pants! The pastors would get it from both sides and the result in that congregation was, in 140 years of history, they had gone through 35 preachers, 29 of whom lasted three years or less. Sing it children: "And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love, and they'll know we are Christians by our love." Ah, yes, the communion of saints, indeed!
A word here about our terms. Communion -- if asked about it, what would jump to most people's minds first is the Lord's Supper. That is fine, as far as it goes. However, for the purpose of our affirmation we should understand communion, as one commentator suggests, as fellowship-plus. "It is more than the good time that people have when kindred spirits get together. It is rather the comradeship of those who know and enjoy the knowledge that they share the same heritage, the same values, and the same destiny."1
What do we in the church share? Sainthood ... at least in the biblical sense, if not the popular. If you asked most folks what a saint is, you might get definitions like "someone who is particularly good or godly," or perhaps "some special person who has been designated for veneration by the church." Biblically, we in the church are all saints -- the word comes from the same root as our word "holy," which we have learned previously does not mean pious or pure but rather "set apart." Look at the apostle Paul's writings; the salutations on his letters say, "To all God's beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints," or "To the church of God which is at Corinth ... called to be saints...." or "To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi...." Saints every one -- were these folks particularly pious or pure? Of course not -- no more than we are. But the designation stands. We in the church are set apart -- "saints" -- because of our relationship with Jesus Christ, even though there are times when our behavior is not very saintly.
Would you like some help in that regard? Paul has some wonderful suggestions in Romans 12:
Therefore, I urge you, brothers [and sisters], in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God -- this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is -- his good, pleasing and perfect will.
-- Romans 12:1-2
Start by remembering who you are and whose you are. If we saints are God's people, our day-to-day activities -- the office, the factory, the school, the store -- become offerings. God's priorities become our priorities.
Paul continues: "... I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you" (v. 3). Good advice, particularly to church folks who sometimes think they have a corner on "the truth."
Paul goes on to describe our work together and uses that metaphor he enjoys so much describing the church as a body. Just as different parts of the human body have different tasks, the same is true in the church. Paul says take a look at what task you are suited for, then do it.
"Love must be sincere ..." (v. 9) -- agape love, the love that is only interested in the welfare of the beloved, no matter what. "Hate what is evil, cling to what is good ..." -- no compromises with sin.
This one is special: "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves" (v. 10). What a wonderful church it is when that is the rule of behavior -- genuine caring and genuine gratitude.
"Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord" (v. 11). The venerable William Barclay wrote:
There is a certain intensity in the Christian life; there is no room for lethargy in it. The Christian cannot take things in an easy-going way, for the world is always a battleground between good and evil, the time is short, and life is a preparation for eternity. The Christian may burn out, but [the Christian] must not rust out.2
Paul's list continues: "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction ..." (v. 12). We do have hope and we can be patient when things are awful, because way, way down, in the very depths of our being, we know how the story ends, and we know who wins. "Faithful in prayer" (v. 12) -- prayer is the oil that makes the machinery of life work. "Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality" (v. 13). Have open hearts and open hands. God's people are generous people. "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse" (v. 14). The same instruction Jesus gave concerning the way to deal with enemies.
Here is one that is incredibly important. "Rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn" (v. 15). Who of those in our lives mean the most to us? Those who are truly happy at our successes, whose words of congratulation are genuine. Those who, in times of hurt, instead of giving solutions or cures, choose rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The one who can be silent with us in a moment of despair, who can stay with us in an hour of grief, who does not try to force-feed us some cure, who is content to simply be there, that one is truly a friend.
Paul's advice continues: "Live in harmony with one another." That makes sense. Churches that are out of harmony rarely accomplish much. "Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited" (v. 16). An emphasis on perspective again. Get your nose out of the air. And remember, conceit is ugly. "Do not repay anyone evil for evil." Or, more clearly, "Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody" (v. 17). Your behavior must not only be good, it should look good as well, and especially to those on the outside looking in.
One more bit of apostolic advice: "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone" (v. 18). What can we say other than "Amen and amen"? Any congregation that can pattern itself after such a model is one I would be proud to be a part of. "I believe in the communion of saints."
In John Killinger's wonderful little book on the Apostles' Creed, he writes,
I used to wonder why the creed does not say anything about love. Love is so important in the Christian's life. Paul described it in his letter to the Corinthians as the crowning glory of our existence, the single quality that outranks and outlasts all others. Yet the creed is mysteriously silent about it. Then one day I was praying and thinking about the saints in heaven -- especially my mother -- who were praying for me, and I realized, "Love is there! It is in the community of saints! That's what the communion of saints is all about! It's why Jesus, at the last supper, talked about abiding in him and loving one another at the same time. They belong together -- being in him and loving." That's the real meaning of the communion of saints, and most of the time we forget it and neglect to draw our strength from it.3
Too bad.
"I believe in the communion of saints." We continue to insist, as we believe, so we behave. Lila Craig believes. You can tell. A Nashville newspaper carried a tongue-in-cheek story about Lila who at the time of the story had not missed attending church in 1,040 Sundays although she was in her eighties. The editor commented:
It makes one wonder, what's the matter with Mrs. Craig? Doesn't it ever rain or snow in her town on Sunday? Doesn't she ever have unexpected company? How is it that she never goes anywhere on Saturday night so that she's too tired to attend the worship service the next morning? Doesn't she ever "beg off" to attend picnics or family reunions, or have headaches, colds, nervous spells, or tired feelings? Doesn't she ever oversleep or need time to read her Sunday newspaper? Hasn't she ever become angry at the minister or had her feelings hurt by someone and felt justified in staying home to hear a good sermon on the radio or TV? What's the matter with Mrs. Craig anyway?4
I will tell you what the matter is -- she believes in the communion of saints.
There is a wonderful passage near the end of the book of Hebrews that many know fondly as "Faith's Hall of Fame." The writer offers a long list of great men and women of God from the days of pre-history on down. Famous names like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses, plus some others not so famous but equally important, such as Rahab, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, and on and on and on. Why such a list? The author offers them as an encouragement to us in our own faith journey. They are called a "great cloud of witnesses" (Romans 12:1). We cannot say positively if the writer intends to convey that these faithful men and women who have gone before actually see us and cheer us on as we run our own daily race, or whether the word "witness" is simply to be understood as one who has proclaimed God's truth to the world, just as when we speak of a witness on the stand in a court of law. We do not know. If the word does not say specifically that those faithful folk can see us, it does not say that they cannot, either. What a thought! That we run our race in front of all history and heaven.
Yonder they are. There is the gallery of the prophets: Samuel, Isaiah, and Jeremiah. Over there, the gallery of the apostles: Peter, James, John, and Paul. There are the reformers: Luther, Calvin, and Knox. Over there is the gallery of the great evangelists: Wesley, Whitefield, and Spurgeon. There are the missionaries: David Brainard, Hudson Taylor, and David Livingstone. And over here, a gallery that perhaps means more to you and me than all the others, the one where sit our own fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, dear friends whose own race is now done, those who gave us a solid foundation for our beliefs and a solid footing for our faith. They are the witnesses who surround us, watching our conflicts and rejoicing in our victories. Above them, and watching with them, the one who died that they and we might live, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. "I believe in the communion of saints."
Years ago, I read of a little boy who was asked if he knew what a saint was. The lad thought for a moment, remembered the stained-glass windows in his church and replied, "The saints are the ones the light shines through." Truer words were never spoken.
"Lord, I want to be in that number."
____________
1. B. Clayton Bell, Moorings in a World Adrift: Answers for Christians Who Dare to Ask Why (San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1990), p. 92.
2. William Barclay, The Daily Study Bible, CD-ROM edition (Liguori, Missouri: Liguori Faithware, 1996). Used by permission of Westminster/John Knox Press.
3. John Killinger, You are What You Believe: The Apostles' Creed for Today (Nashville: Abingdon, 1990), p. 103.
4. Paul Kabo, via Ecunet, "Sermonshop Sermons," #1379.
Questions For Reflection
1. When you think of a "saint" who is it? Why?
2. What are some ways that your church encourages the "communion of the saints"?
3. What do you think of Lila Craig's record of church attendance? Should that kind of commitment be the norm or the exception?
4. If you knew that the saints who have passed on could see you as you run your life's race, what one person would you want watching? Why?
5. In what ways would you want people to say the "light shines through" you?
Both are wonderful affirmations, but do have negative connotations. Just as we noted in the preceding chapter that the "holy catholic church" often looks very unholy, the "communion of saints" is often not very saintly.
There is an ancient tale of a young rabbi who found a serious problem in his new congregation. During the Friday service, half the congregation stood for the prayers and half remained seated, and each side shouted at the other, insisting that theirs was the true tradition. Nothing the rabbi said or did moved toward solving the impasse. Finally, in desperation, the young rabbi sought out the synagogue's 99-year-old founder. He met the old rabbi in the nursing home and poured out his troubles. "So tell me," he pleaded, "was it the tradition for the congregation to stand during the prayers?"
"No," answered the old rabbi.
"Ah," responded the younger man, "then it was the tradition to sit during the prayers."
"No," answered the old rabbi.
"Well," the young rabbi responded, "what we have is complete chaos! Half the people stand and shout, and the other half sit and scream."
"Ah," said the old man, "that was the tradition."
Sound familiar? I hate to imagine how many congregations that could describe. Years ago, I briefly served a church where the officers were divided into what may as well have been two armed camps -- the deacons versus the elders. For what seemed like generations these two groups had squabbled about anything and everything. Pastors would accept the call to that pulpit, arrive in town, quickly see the problem, then get in between the two groups to try to make peace. Pity the poor pastor. Like the fellow who did not want to take sides in the War between the States and advertised his neutrality by wearing a blue coat and gray pants -- the rebels shot him in the coat and the yankees shot him in the pants! The pastors would get it from both sides and the result in that congregation was, in 140 years of history, they had gone through 35 preachers, 29 of whom lasted three years or less. Sing it children: "And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love, and they'll know we are Christians by our love." Ah, yes, the communion of saints, indeed!
A word here about our terms. Communion -- if asked about it, what would jump to most people's minds first is the Lord's Supper. That is fine, as far as it goes. However, for the purpose of our affirmation we should understand communion, as one commentator suggests, as fellowship-plus. "It is more than the good time that people have when kindred spirits get together. It is rather the comradeship of those who know and enjoy the knowledge that they share the same heritage, the same values, and the same destiny."1
What do we in the church share? Sainthood ... at least in the biblical sense, if not the popular. If you asked most folks what a saint is, you might get definitions like "someone who is particularly good or godly," or perhaps "some special person who has been designated for veneration by the church." Biblically, we in the church are all saints -- the word comes from the same root as our word "holy," which we have learned previously does not mean pious or pure but rather "set apart." Look at the apostle Paul's writings; the salutations on his letters say, "To all God's beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints," or "To the church of God which is at Corinth ... called to be saints...." or "To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi...." Saints every one -- were these folks particularly pious or pure? Of course not -- no more than we are. But the designation stands. We in the church are set apart -- "saints" -- because of our relationship with Jesus Christ, even though there are times when our behavior is not very saintly.
Would you like some help in that regard? Paul has some wonderful suggestions in Romans 12:
Therefore, I urge you, brothers [and sisters], in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God -- this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is -- his good, pleasing and perfect will.
-- Romans 12:1-2
Start by remembering who you are and whose you are. If we saints are God's people, our day-to-day activities -- the office, the factory, the school, the store -- become offerings. God's priorities become our priorities.
Paul continues: "... I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you" (v. 3). Good advice, particularly to church folks who sometimes think they have a corner on "the truth."
Paul goes on to describe our work together and uses that metaphor he enjoys so much describing the church as a body. Just as different parts of the human body have different tasks, the same is true in the church. Paul says take a look at what task you are suited for, then do it.
"Love must be sincere ..." (v. 9) -- agape love, the love that is only interested in the welfare of the beloved, no matter what. "Hate what is evil, cling to what is good ..." -- no compromises with sin.
This one is special: "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves" (v. 10). What a wonderful church it is when that is the rule of behavior -- genuine caring and genuine gratitude.
"Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord" (v. 11). The venerable William Barclay wrote:
There is a certain intensity in the Christian life; there is no room for lethargy in it. The Christian cannot take things in an easy-going way, for the world is always a battleground between good and evil, the time is short, and life is a preparation for eternity. The Christian may burn out, but [the Christian] must not rust out.2
Paul's list continues: "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction ..." (v. 12). We do have hope and we can be patient when things are awful, because way, way down, in the very depths of our being, we know how the story ends, and we know who wins. "Faithful in prayer" (v. 12) -- prayer is the oil that makes the machinery of life work. "Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality" (v. 13). Have open hearts and open hands. God's people are generous people. "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse" (v. 14). The same instruction Jesus gave concerning the way to deal with enemies.
Here is one that is incredibly important. "Rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn" (v. 15). Who of those in our lives mean the most to us? Those who are truly happy at our successes, whose words of congratulation are genuine. Those who, in times of hurt, instead of giving solutions or cures, choose rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The one who can be silent with us in a moment of despair, who can stay with us in an hour of grief, who does not try to force-feed us some cure, who is content to simply be there, that one is truly a friend.
Paul's advice continues: "Live in harmony with one another." That makes sense. Churches that are out of harmony rarely accomplish much. "Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited" (v. 16). An emphasis on perspective again. Get your nose out of the air. And remember, conceit is ugly. "Do not repay anyone evil for evil." Or, more clearly, "Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody" (v. 17). Your behavior must not only be good, it should look good as well, and especially to those on the outside looking in.
One more bit of apostolic advice: "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone" (v. 18). What can we say other than "Amen and amen"? Any congregation that can pattern itself after such a model is one I would be proud to be a part of. "I believe in the communion of saints."
In John Killinger's wonderful little book on the Apostles' Creed, he writes,
I used to wonder why the creed does not say anything about love. Love is so important in the Christian's life. Paul described it in his letter to the Corinthians as the crowning glory of our existence, the single quality that outranks and outlasts all others. Yet the creed is mysteriously silent about it. Then one day I was praying and thinking about the saints in heaven -- especially my mother -- who were praying for me, and I realized, "Love is there! It is in the community of saints! That's what the communion of saints is all about! It's why Jesus, at the last supper, talked about abiding in him and loving one another at the same time. They belong together -- being in him and loving." That's the real meaning of the communion of saints, and most of the time we forget it and neglect to draw our strength from it.3
Too bad.
"I believe in the communion of saints." We continue to insist, as we believe, so we behave. Lila Craig believes. You can tell. A Nashville newspaper carried a tongue-in-cheek story about Lila who at the time of the story had not missed attending church in 1,040 Sundays although she was in her eighties. The editor commented:
It makes one wonder, what's the matter with Mrs. Craig? Doesn't it ever rain or snow in her town on Sunday? Doesn't she ever have unexpected company? How is it that she never goes anywhere on Saturday night so that she's too tired to attend the worship service the next morning? Doesn't she ever "beg off" to attend picnics or family reunions, or have headaches, colds, nervous spells, or tired feelings? Doesn't she ever oversleep or need time to read her Sunday newspaper? Hasn't she ever become angry at the minister or had her feelings hurt by someone and felt justified in staying home to hear a good sermon on the radio or TV? What's the matter with Mrs. Craig anyway?4
I will tell you what the matter is -- she believes in the communion of saints.
There is a wonderful passage near the end of the book of Hebrews that many know fondly as "Faith's Hall of Fame." The writer offers a long list of great men and women of God from the days of pre-history on down. Famous names like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses, plus some others not so famous but equally important, such as Rahab, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, and on and on and on. Why such a list? The author offers them as an encouragement to us in our own faith journey. They are called a "great cloud of witnesses" (Romans 12:1). We cannot say positively if the writer intends to convey that these faithful men and women who have gone before actually see us and cheer us on as we run our own daily race, or whether the word "witness" is simply to be understood as one who has proclaimed God's truth to the world, just as when we speak of a witness on the stand in a court of law. We do not know. If the word does not say specifically that those faithful folk can see us, it does not say that they cannot, either. What a thought! That we run our race in front of all history and heaven.
Yonder they are. There is the gallery of the prophets: Samuel, Isaiah, and Jeremiah. Over there, the gallery of the apostles: Peter, James, John, and Paul. There are the reformers: Luther, Calvin, and Knox. Over there is the gallery of the great evangelists: Wesley, Whitefield, and Spurgeon. There are the missionaries: David Brainard, Hudson Taylor, and David Livingstone. And over here, a gallery that perhaps means more to you and me than all the others, the one where sit our own fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, dear friends whose own race is now done, those who gave us a solid foundation for our beliefs and a solid footing for our faith. They are the witnesses who surround us, watching our conflicts and rejoicing in our victories. Above them, and watching with them, the one who died that they and we might live, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. "I believe in the communion of saints."
Years ago, I read of a little boy who was asked if he knew what a saint was. The lad thought for a moment, remembered the stained-glass windows in his church and replied, "The saints are the ones the light shines through." Truer words were never spoken.
"Lord, I want to be in that number."
____________
1. B. Clayton Bell, Moorings in a World Adrift: Answers for Christians Who Dare to Ask Why (San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1990), p. 92.
2. William Barclay, The Daily Study Bible, CD-ROM edition (Liguori, Missouri: Liguori Faithware, 1996). Used by permission of Westminster/John Knox Press.
3. John Killinger, You are What You Believe: The Apostles' Creed for Today (Nashville: Abingdon, 1990), p. 103.
4. Paul Kabo, via Ecunet, "Sermonshop Sermons," #1379.
Questions For Reflection
1. When you think of a "saint" who is it? Why?
2. What are some ways that your church encourages the "communion of the saints"?
3. What do you think of Lila Craig's record of church attendance? Should that kind of commitment be the norm or the exception?
4. If you knew that the saints who have passed on could see you as you run your life's race, what one person would you want watching? Why?
5. In what ways would you want people to say the "light shines through" you?
