How can it be said that we believe in the communion of the saints if we cannot truly communicate with one another? This principle applies to all men, but more importantly to the body of believers in Christ. More than just communion in the Lord’s Supper, the communion believers experience is the sanctifying relationship where they reflect Christ to one another, explore the mysteries of God, and so experience His grace together. In order for us to reflect Christ, we must be like clean mirrors, yet we are so often content with seeing a dimmed reflection and giving off dim reflections ourselves*. Let us not be content with that! Let us pursue holiness and purity! What is the main thing that keeps us dim? In my opinion, it is the fact that we do not truly and honestly communicate with each other. Nearly every conversation we have, we wonder things like, “Will I hurt his/her feelings if I say this?”, “Does this make me sound as smart as them?”, “Is there something he/she isn't telling me about this?”, “Does he/she mean something else when they say this?”
I am not saying that we should not worry about the things we say or that we should have no regard for the feelings of others, but what I am saying is that this masquerade we play so often needs to stop. If we truly love one another, then it will show in our words and despite our words. Truly loving our brothers and sisters comes from a heart that is focused on the gospel and their sanctification (as well as our own) and comes through the means of true communication. A marriage--the joining of two people into one flesh--does not and cannot thrive on lies, half truths, or hidden words, and neither can a body of believers. These relationships depend on true communication in order to prosper.
Finally, we see that this is also the will of Christ for His Church. John records for us one of Christ’s prayers (commonly known as the High Priestly Prayer) in the 17th chapter of his gospel. In the middle of this prayer, Christ asks that God keep us in His name so that we may be one, even as He and the Father are one.
*Paul tells that we see now as only through a dim mirror, and we know it will remain this way for our long duration on Earth, but that does not give us the license to stop doing all within our power to see more clearly. As Proverbs 25:2 tells us, it is God’s glory to conceal matters, but is glorious for us to seek them out.
I am not saying that we should not worry about the things we say or that we should have no regard for the feelings of others, but what I am saying is that this masquerade we play so often needs to stop. If we truly love one another, then it will show in our words and despite our words. Truly loving our brothers and sisters comes from a heart that is focused on the gospel and their sanctification (as well as our own) and comes through the means of true communication. A marriage--the joining of two people into one flesh--does not and cannot thrive on lies, half truths, or hidden words, and neither can a body of believers. These relationships depend on true communication in order to prosper.
Finally, we see that this is also the will of Christ for His Church. John records for us one of Christ’s prayers (commonly known as the High Priestly Prayer) in the 17th chapter of his gospel. In the middle of this prayer, Christ asks that God keep us in His name so that we may be one, even as He and the Father are one.
- "Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one." (John 17:11b ESV )
*Paul tells that we see now as only through a dim mirror, and we know it will remain this way for our long duration on Earth, but that does not give us the license to stop doing all within our power to see more clearly. As Proverbs 25:2 tells us, it is God’s glory to conceal matters, but is glorious for us to seek them out.