Comments on: Church Language: Don’t Tarnish the Bride

By: sondrakraak

sondrakraak — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 20:24:46 +0000

In reply to Suzanne Cole. Thanks, Suzanne. I'm glad you've not experienced that at CCC-Montreat. It takes a lot of grace to respond when people speak negatively about the Bride, so that we don't accidently do the same. Christ is active in His Church!

By: sondrakraak

sondrakraak — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 20:23:23 +0000

In reply to Nick Krantz. Thanks, Dad. I like your words about encouraging and building each other up. Sometimes people think that the way to encourage is the be provocative and "devil's advocate" like, but that's really not what encouragement looks like in scripture, or what fruit-of-the-Spirit speech should be.

By: Suzanne Cole

Suzanne Cole — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 03:29:50 +0000

Sondra,
This is beautifully written. I have been disheartened when I’ve heard comments made by church members (not at Christ Community Church-Montreat, btw) of those “church members who think they are Christians, but really aren’t”, recalling to mind Christ’s warning to the Pharisees that they would devour one another with their backbiting. I am certain that often times because the Church will do things in such a way that “the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing”, can be mistaken for lack of response to Christ’s call by bystanders. I agree, too, with your father that the best vehicle to the spurring on of love and good deeds occurs through encouragement.
I’m thankful to be a part of the healing hands and going feet at Christ Community Church-Montreat and St. Timothy’s Anglican Church. Remember Pastor Richard’s sermon several weeks ago when we looked at John’s vision recorded in the book of Revelation to the seven churches of Asia Minor? He pointed out the fact that Christ was present, active and moving within the Church during his vision of the last days. Not rocket science but how we can miss the obvious! I’d rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, as the Psalmist declared.
I bet you were a gorgeous bride. We can look forward to yet another, more glorious wedding celebration!

By: Nick Krantz

Nick Krantz — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 15:29:59 +0000

Sondra,

Thank you for a very helpful, balancing insight. It is not surprising when those outside the Church criticize the bride (e.g. I Peter 4:4). And, as you bring out, we have our flaws, still needing our Lord’s cleansing work on His bride (Eph. 5:26-27). But it seems like our role within the church is to encourage each other and spur one another on to love and good deeds (Heb. 3:13 and 10:24). May your call for building one another up in the faith be heard by many.

Dad (also a pastor and part of the Bride of Christ)