This question was in the sermon notes handout last Sunday. The sermon was titled "The Cross and Christian Discipline (Part 2): What About Church Disputes?" Immediately you think of a split amongst attenders of a specific church building, but the Church is more than that. We, the believers, are the Church. The bride of Jesus (my heart swoons every time). So what happens when we become angry at one another or hurt by one another? As Christ-followers we are called to a different standard. It's a high standard. It's a hard standard. And it isn't what we would call "fair" all the time. I won't go into the whole sermon here, you can listen to the Brook Hills podcast for that.
What I want to reflect on here is that question that jumped off of the paper handout and punched me right between the eyes. Wow.
Do we want a Christ who pardons? Of coarse! Our eternity rests on a Christ who PARDONS! If He didn't pardon, we would be hopeless and destitute. We love that part of Christ. It's the part that works out well for us. But what about the parts of Christ that don't sit so comfortably with us? Do we love those parts? Do we want a Christ who purifies? We sing songs during worship with lyrics that request this purifying, we pray and ask for purification, but do we realize exactly what we're asking for? Most of the time (for me anyways) that's a big, fat NO!
What imagery comes to mind when you think of the word purify? I imagine a big, tall waterfall. Really it's more like a stream-fall, if that word even exists. It's clear waters gently tumble over the edge and fall down into stream below. And I'm standing under that falling water-arms stretched wide, head tilted back receiving the clean water from above. Nice setting, huh? But being made into the image of Christ isn't so serene. Being purified by Christ isn't comfortable. It's down right hard! It isn't natural for a human being to portray characteristics and actions that mirror those of a the perfect Savior.
So what does it mean to be purified by Christ? Silver doesn't come in an original state of 100% silver. There are other minerals in it as well. So to be purified, it is put into very high temperatures so that the other trace elements will separate from the silver and rise to the top so as to be easily removed. This "junk" is called dross. Get where I'm going here? When you find yourself in a situation where it would be so easy to act or react like you want, but you chose instead to mirror Christ, you are being purified. You must be made uncomfortable (high temperatures) so that you have to consciously chose to be like Christ (have your other junk removed from the surface)-because I can pretty much guarantee that it will not be second nature. Tony and I have a little funny that we say to one another when we're showing our rears and acting like humans usually do-"Hunny, your dross is showing." When we see the junk of our human hearts rise to the surface, we have a choice. Do we remove it and become more purified, or do we do the easy thing and give in to our human nature?
Being purified is a hard process to go through. It's also a long process-lasting the rest of your life here on earth. Ask Him for strength. He will give it. Ask Him for patience. He will give it. Ask Him for more of Himself to be present in you. Beware: He will give it. So, let's honestly ask ourselves today: Do we want a Christ who purifies?
"Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:31, 32 ESV)
*I know, it's a real zinger.
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