Effectiveness

(This is written at a time when a large number of Americans have received at least one dose of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine.)

Is the COVID vaccine effective? We are told yes. But we’re also told to continue wearing our face coverings. I know several people who are very bothered by this contradiction.

I’m wondering why people aren’t more bothered by another contradiction. Was Christ’s death on the Cross effective? Does the Gospel change anything? Apart from Jesus’ sacrifice, we were destined for an eternity of guilt, shame, and fear. This is death—an endlessly broken relationship with God, who is Life. But, in Christ, that relationship was reconciled and we have been restored to innocence, honor, and spiritual power. This is Life. Abundant Life.

So, why do we still talk about saved people (maybe ourselves) as ‘worms’ and ‘depraved’? Why get a vaccination if it makes no practical difference? And why give our heart allegiance to Jesus if we’re still stuck in our guilt, shame, and fear?

Yes, we still carry around the brokenness written into our cells. But why not see ourselves as God sees us? Isn’t it better to trust that Christ’s death and resurrection really did make all things new? And then learn how to live in this newness?

At the same time, we can affirm the necessity and availability of God’s grace in all of this. It’s all by his grace.

Twice

Woe to you, experts in the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel the sea and the land to make one convert, and then when he is converted, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.

— Matt. 23:15

These people are filthy stains on your love feasts when they eat with you without fear, shepherding themselves. They are clouds without rain, being driven along by the winds. They are autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots.

— Jude 1:12

Table-Centered

“We are proclaiming what we have seen and heard also to you, so that you may have fellowship with us. Our fellowship is with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ. ”

— 1 John 1:3

We are proclaiming what we have seen and heard also to you, so that you may have fellowship with us. Our fellowship is with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ.

Gospel-centered. Bible-centered. Christ-centered. Cross-centered. These are familiar descriptions used by churches to communicate a core emphasis.

In the spirit of the verse above, I am proposing table-centered.

What an amazing invitation we are given here—to be in koinonia fellowship with other saints, together with the Father and the Son. Metaphorically, we share a table. (And why not literally too?)

One English word I use for koinonia is ‘companionship’. The etymology of ‘companion’ is ‘with bread’. It’s the idea of sharing a meal. And this, of course, reminds us of the Eucharist—Communion, the Lord’s Supper, the Passover Feast—where saints together take the Christ into our deepest parts. The word ‘Eucharist’ means ‘thanksgiving’. There’s gratitude and joy at this table.

It’s at the table that we exchange life with one another and we exchange life with the Father and the Son. We grow in intimacy. We worship. We discover who we really are and how to live. We practice hospitality. We share our struggles and burdens. We make plans for showing love to the world. And we make space for more people of every kind.

I rather like the idea of being a table-centered church.