The seed that stood apart.
I was driving to church when I saw it. There was just one stalk of corn standing alone in a massive field that was full of soybean. As I looked at that isolated corn stalk, I thought to myself, "That's a good picture of what a Christian is."
Throughout the bible we are told that we are to be holy because God is holy. Holy, by it's very definition means to be different, to stand out, to be unique, to be "unlike" the rest. As I looked at that single corn stalk, I thought "Maybe that is why it is tough to live for Christ. No one likes to be different; certainly not that different."
My next thought as I reflected on that huge field of beans with one stalk of corn was, "Unfortunately that really is a good picture of what happens with some Christians". The reality is that corn stalk will never produce corn or live up to it's purpose. And the reason for that is simply that it is isolated from the rest of the corn. Corn requires cross-pollination. And with one stalk in a field of beans, the chances of that stalk bearing "fruit" (or corn) is nil.
Far too often, our version of Twenty-first Century Americanized Christianity is all about "me", standing alone. I don't need the church! I can read the bible on my own. I can pray to God alone. I don't need anyone to tell me about what the bible says. I certainly don't need a group of Christians. After all, they are all hypocrites, right? So what really matters to me, is my faith as interpreted to me by the 'holy-trinity' of me, myself and I. I stand alone. But that Christian will also be like the single stalk of corn standing alone in the field. It will not produce good fruit. Christians need other Christians. How else do you explain all those "one another" passages in the New Testament: love one another, pray for one another, encourage one another, bear one another's burden, etc.
There is a community quality to the Christian faith. True we are to "stand apart" from the world-to uniquely display a likeness to the holiness of the Holy God. But we are to "stand apart" by "standing together". If we are to bear the good fruit God intended, we must do so together.
This week at New Work Fellowship, we begin again a season of small groups. Have you signed up? Have you figured out how you will "stand apart by standing together"? This is essential in the life of a believer. Are you connected?
Please follow this link to our Fall 2012 small group offerings. (HERE). I would like to ask you to do three things with this brochure:
- Pray about where God wants to plant you in His field so that you will stand together and thereby stand out.
- Pray for these groups that God would do a mighty work in each one of them.
- Make a commitment to get connected in a small group. Every believer needs other believers to fulfill the call of God. And then follow your commitment by praying for your group, that you truly would "stand together so you might stand apart."
