Paul, at the end of Second Corinthians, closes with:
Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice, set things right, be encouraged, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. NET Bible, 2 Corinthians 13:11
Several observations:
This is addressed to a church, to a family of believers (brothers and sisters in the NET, brethern in the NASB, brothers in the NIV). While there is certainly an individual componant to this, it is first and formost to a group of believers - actions to be done together. Should we also apply this, or think of this, in terms of how we interact on the web, on blogs where there is a “community” of believers?
Second, as Bob Deffinbaugh observes, these are commands - they are not options within the family - he expects these to be lived out by the Corinthians
Third, Bob also identifies that there is a promise to those who follow the commands - if you do these things, the God of love and peace will be with you.
Bob doesnt go further though by asking the question - will God be with those who do not follow his commands?
A sobering question - if we do not do these things while we are in the company of believers, will God be with us?
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May 17, 2008 at 6:51 am
lisa robinson
Interesting question. We live in such an individualistic culture that we’ll read passages as speaking to us individually when they were being addressed to us as the body of Christ. So I think there is a tendency to undermine significance of the body of Christ. Consider Paul’s exhortation in Ephesians 4:1 for us to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, I believe this is reference to us as the body of Christ (3:8-10). Because what follows from vs. 2 on is all about our unity. So the manner in which we have been called is how we operate as a body.
The scripture that popped in my head when I first read your post was James 3:16, which says “where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.” When we are not operating as we should in the body, the foundation is selfishness, I believe, and disrupts the body. And this verse says in this is every evil thing. Can God co-exist with evil? So I am inclined to say no to the question, which is REALLY sobering.
May 17, 2008 at 8:47 am
dac
The issue of “community” within blogging has been an issue to me - exactly what our are options for “living” together on the internet?
Basically, when is it right to apply timeless truths to modern situations - basically contextualizing those truths.