“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, they should be restored gently by you whom the Spirit indwells.  But watch yourself – you may also be tempted!  Carry each others’ burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ.”  (Galatians 6.1-2)

The church family needs both the truth that comes from members unafraid to confront when necessary, and the deep compassion of those willing to come close enough to share burdens.  Allow God to show you where we are lacking as a church in either of these areas, and how we can do better.  Allow God to show you how you should act on Sunday!

In 2006 a church member saw a prayer picture of a craftsman making a jigsaw.  It was God building our church.   He was making the pieces so that they could be fitted together.  Just as vines are shaped and pruned, he is shaping us into what we are to be.
1/26/2010 06:17:26 am

Thoughts prompted by the jigsaw image: The jigsaw has to be the picture that God is wanting to create. Sometimes I see my children determined to make a couple of bits fit together but they have to be taken apart and put in the right place if the overall picture is going to emerge. (I don't have the interpretation for that!!)

Galatians 6vs1-2: I believe as a church that we do act on compassion to share one another's burdens. There is a lot of evidence of this. We can always improve and get better, but there is already a strength there.
However I think we are relatively weak at confronting one another with the truth. I think this is partly a cultural fear of offending people and a mistaken belief that correcting one another is judgemental and unloving. Paul's letters are full of teaching about rebuking, admonishing and correcting one another. We need to do so with humility, love and gentleness - Andy has modelled this beautifully (even in this blog!) but it's not the sole responsibility of the vicar. We are all responsible for one another's spiritual well-being; to leave a brother or sister floundering or stumbling off down a wrong path would be unloving. It comes back to the need to make disciples. We learn from one another, and need to respect and be submissive to one another. When one part of the Body is in difficulty or danger we all feel it and seek to support/protect/heal it.

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andy
1/26/2010 09:17:35 pm

Thank you, Fiona. And thank you for this whole set of reflections, I really hope everyone will read them and draw them on in prayer.

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