Skip to main content

Binding and Loosing

I awoke this morning thinking about praying for healing for several people.  Our church's worship on Sunday morning takes time to allow people to ask for prayer...most do not.  Some do.  When someone asks for prayer, I take it seriously.  It's my chief role as a Pastor - to guide our fellowship towards a relational prayer as community before God.
I often imagine coming before the Father with Jesus to ask for things.  It is a good way to imagine since it keeps me from trivializing things.  By "trivializing", I don't mean small things.  There are many small things to ask God for.  But trivial things are usually very self-orienting.  They usually are things that have to do with my own personal comfort and desires.  I don't think it's wrong to ask God for rain, for safety, for success in endeavors...but it is quite a different thing to ask for my team to get a touchdown, or a win.

In reading the Desert Fathers this summer I realize the importance of "community" in prayer.  Jesus' words on this come from Matthew 18:18-20 (NIV) 
18 "I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
19 "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.
20 For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."

Binding and Loosing are elements of prayer.  A community bound together to believe in God's presence - "there I am with them" - is much more likely to engage in prayer together, rather than prayer apart.  

This is important to me as a Pastor.  The collection of believers together does not make for a community.  It could be as simple as realizing that married couples at times do not function as a married couple, but in actuality as merely two individuals who live together as married singles.  In that kind of a relationship - whether in a church, or marriage, or family, or business - egos rule, relationships are secondary to individual desires, wants and choices.  People are merely "together", but their self rules.  They are competing rather than complementing; they are living in the same space, but not joined in the same heart or desire.

It gives  you something to think about when Jesus says "if two of you...agree".  There can't be agreement when there is no desire or respect for community and the lifestyle of "together".

In a "MEGA" way we see that in our country right now.  We're beginning to hear about "blue" states and "red" states; about "battleground" states; and the division of classes and races.  It is not the recipe for a people acting together; but rather the realization that divisiveness fed by selfish interests rule the day.

SO... what can be done?  The church of which I speak of, or the marriages, or businesses, etc...would recognize and nourish real differences.  Instead of seeing them as a detriment they become a strength.  The strength of any community is not in being homogenous...where all the opinions and habits are of one source. That will only continue to further identify "US" over "THEM"...or "THOSE....."  

The ability to be a people who have "binding and loosing" authority will happen in marriage, in business, in church, in anything...when there is a commitment to trust, to work in commitment to each other...to check the egos and strive for Christ's presence more than individual winning.

Peace

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hands Full of Parcels

"A Man whose hands are full of parcels can't receive a gift."   - C. S. Lewis Romans 4:13-16 (ESV) 13  For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14  For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15  For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression. 16  That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all... The last four days have been best described by the word "fatigue".  It's not an uncommon word in our vocabulary.  Listless, tired, sore.  1300 miles of car travel, being sick, not sleeping well, and eating poorly all add up to the word - fatigue.   Someone onc...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Tabernacle

The readings today are Exodus 36, 37, 38 I wanted to post some pictures of what these various parts of the Tabernacle looked like. It's not the easiest read in the world, but if you persevere through it, you can get a picture of all the different pieces that made up the tabernacle. It is a replica of the various parts of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness: First thing in the chapter listed is the outside of the tabernacle which consisted of curtains tied together and put on cross bars through loops. Next at the beginning of 37 is the table and lampstand: Also, the altar of incense: And, the altar for the burnt offering which was in the courtyard: Finally, the courtyard which made it all come together: Hope that helps with what it might have all looked like. Most importantly, this was their "place" of worship they were building. I hope you have a great day of worship. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
1 comment
Read more

The difference between defending and explaining

The news of recent has focused the suffering of Christians in the middle east who have been martyred for their faith in Christ at the hands of Islamic Terrorists. Through the centuries many Christians have lost their lives as a result of their faith. For us, who live in America, there is little chance that we would have this happen here - but it's entirely possibly that terrorism will strike out at Christians sometime.  But, for many Christians in the western world - especially here in the U.S. - being a Christians who believes God's word there is a form of persecution that is defined by words like "ostracized", "passed over", "ridiculed", and more. What do we do in the face of opposition to faith? When the Apostle Peter writes to the early believers who are undergoing great pressure, even persecution for their faith in Jesus, he gives them this charge. 1 Peter 3:8-18 8  Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly lov...
1 comment
Read more