The Household of God

Old Mystic, July 19, 2009
Ephesians 2:11-22

Summary

The church is powerfully portrayed in the letter to the Ephesians as the Household of God. As a congregation, then, we are a concrete and visible expression of God’s eternal purpose of bringing all things together in Christ in the fullness of time. As God’s household, it pleased God to make us the seed of that boundless community of all times where we all come together under Christ beyond all differences.

Sermon

During the ABCUSA Biennial, I had the privilege to attend a workshop by Glynnis LaBarre that addressed the strength and possibilities of the small church—a type of congregation with an attendance of less than 100 to worship and with limitations in human resources and finances. Sounds familiar? The message that Glynnis conveyed, however, was that there is great missional energy to be tapped from these congregations and that there is nothing wrong with being small! Missional churches are congregations that understand the social and cultural changes taking place in this 21st century and go out to do mission and ministry outside their walls meeting the needs in their communities, with less concern about their structure and institutional goals. They are less preoccupied about running and keeping the “machine” in good shape. They want to be “Christ hands and feet” in their town and therefore, regardless of size, I believe they will not only survive but also flourish in a world of dwindling Christian congregations.

Out text today, which lays out the role of the church in being God’s visible and concrete expression throughout the ages of His eternal purpose, of “a plan for the fulness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth,” begins with the metaphor of a household. The writer of the letter to the Ephesians is telling us that such an encompassing endeavor on which depends the destiny of humankind begins with a group of folks of the size of a household—it is God’s doing in Christ and it begins with a small group.

Households or homes in the days when this letter was written were perhaps larger that those of our days. And many were also churches since in those days congregations were house churches. In fact, according to Roger. W. Gehring, it was not until the 4th century, when Roman emperor Constantine began building basilicas, that Christian gatherings became large assemblies. There was power in a dedicated group of people that had a purpose and a mission—and there still is today; the power of the Household of God.

What does this message of the letter to the Ephesians tell us today? First, it doesn’t matter how high our goals, how high our standards, and how ambitious our development plans are, God accomplishes His will in Christ and through Christ. In other words, Jesus Christ is at the center of the church and our lives revolve around him. The text reads: “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near in the blood of Christ.” The household of God is built on relationships; our relationship with Christ, our relationship with the Living God to whom we were reconciled by Jesus, and our relationships among ourselves, the believers, from all backgrounds, cultures, and walks of life.

Jesus Christ in central to our faith; he is God’s incarnation and the ultimate revelation—in flesh and spirit—of God’s love and redeeming purpose for us. At the same time, as pilgrims of this 21st century, we need to avoid claims about Jesus that are narrow and exclusive. We have too often been too occupied trying to determine who are those that deserve to be left out of the “Household of God” and making sure we are in. As we reflect upon the love of Jesus, the beauty of his “divine humanity,” who are we to decide who does not belong to us? I’d rather run the risk of being too inclusive to ruling anyone out! What it is going to help us Christians the most these days, it is not how much we objectively know about Christianity or Jesus Christ; I believe it is more a subjective, personal, relational, and experiential encounter with the Living God who wills to relate to us in Christ. God’s Household is built around Christ and everyone is welcome.

Second, The Household of God, that sacred place of encounter, of growth, and of purpose is also a place for unity. Unity, what an elusive experience! It is easy to be skeptic when it comes to the church and when dealing to some of the insurmountable differences we seem to have; theological, historical, denominational, racial, cultural or even provincial—differences that are understandable though not justifiable by any means in most cases. I have often repeated what I also heard others say, something I believe can help us focus and covenant to come together: we must agree that we have things in common but also that we have disagreements; disagreements that we must not allow them to separate us.

The writer to the Ephesians said, “He is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility.” The household-church in the first century that is being addressed in the text, was a church that brought together Jews and Gentiles in spite of their cultural, religious, and historical differences. It was really difficult for the Jews but the claim was that Jesus “[abolished] in his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself a new humanity in place of the two.” Jesus can mix oil and water to stay together and the water will still be water, and the oil, oil!

Being one and united is not simple; let’s face it. Yet, it is still God’s doing so it must be possible. It requires the attitude and the humility of Jesus—the one who is at the center—and the ability of letting go; letting go power, control, and privilege. We will hear even very well intentioned and loving Christians shoot back, “Who would ever give up power, or control, or privilege? But isn’t precisely the core of the Christian message, the paradox of God’s work, giving up His glory, and power, and dominion, to become human and thus extend us His grace and forgiveness? We can perhaps have only glimpses of the unity in Christ in this age. Yet, it is worth to count it as victory when we can overcome our disagreements and engage in mission together; mission to a world that desperately needs a model of a household that is not perfect but somehow incarnates God’s eternal purpose of bringing all things together under Jesus Christ.

Third, the household-church is a place of peace; another of the greatest challenges of our age and perhaps of all times. Conflict and violence have been and are everywhere. And conflict is so widespread that encompasses the warring clashes of families, neighborhoods, cities, and nations. It seems that for many, violence is the only option available to solve human disagreements. Many wars have being fought and are being fought and I don’t believe not a single one has really solved or is going to solve the problem at stake and the cost in human life has always been too high. In fact, I am convinced that war always has hidden purposes serving interests beyond of what it pretends to solve and most of the time leaves the fighters empty handed. I reluctantly accept that in our fallen humanity, we may have to call it inevitable sometimes. But the language, the beliefs, and the action of the children of the household of God must be directed toward making peace in the world, in our country, and in our households.

“He is our peace… that he might create in himself one new humanity… through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it… So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.” Peace can be equated with our deepest hopes both in this life and in the one to come. It is that sense of wholeness, of fulfillment, and of complete happiness that only God can provide. We can all attest how elusive it is. Yet, we must proclaim it, promote it, and advance it through our work. Christ brings us together as God’s children into a household with no dividing walls where the needs of all are met. And that is quite a task; a task that in our attempt to fulfill it we will be only scratching the surface. Yet God may be telling us today that the small church; the church that still has among its member some “Don Quixotes” who believe in the impossible; and who have dreams and are not willing to relinquish them; the small church may be the way God has to penetrate the world and fulfill His purpose of bringing all things together under Jesus Christ.

Folks, we are a small church. So it is good to be reminded that no matter how limited we feel we are, or how low our resources are, or how difficult the task out there is. We are learning that in this age we will not advance God’s mission by building the organization first and then doing ministry. If we keep on thinking that way, it won’t happen. We are called to build the Household of God—a work of God and human engineering—and this is done by reaching out to people, meeting the needs of folks in the community, and bringing them into that Household, our Household; it is God’s, it is ours, and of anyone; those near and those far off.