tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19944141.post113488570959354663..comments2023-07-14T06:48:39.956-07:00Comments on The Can Opener Boy Translations: What is the Church?Can Opener Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06074132164038079006noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19944141.post-1137133395991047992006-01-12T22:23:00.000-08:002006-01-12T22:23:00.000-08:00Wayne said: "I look around the "church" and I don'...Wayne said: <I>"I look around the "church" and I don't see very many doctors or nurses, but I see lots of sick people. So to suppose the church is really, or only, the doctors and nurses casts a very radically different picture of who is the church than is traditionally adopted."</I><BR/><BR/>I really really appreciate that Wayne!<BR/><BR/>I knew there was something not quite complete about my analogies. Your comment helped me see what was missing.<BR/><BR/>It was the perspective -- it was not full spectrum.<BR/><BR/>To take my words at face value, it would imply the church is only the "done" people -- but nothing could be further from the truth!<BR/><BR/>There is only one Great Physician; only one Teacher; one Commander; one Father.<BR/><BR/>We are His patients who are learning to heal even as our healing is still in process.<BR/><BR/>We are His students who are still learning (learning to teach being only one of many things we are still learning!)<BR/><BR/>We are His POWs in the process of being rescued, reaching to the ones who don't yet know Our Deliverer is here.<BR/><BR/>We are His family; His children.<BR/><BR/>That feels better -- more complete...<BR/><BR/>...but also still in process!<BR/><BR/>~ KeithCan Opener Boyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06074132164038079006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19944141.post-1137132467749975582006-01-12T22:07:00.000-08:002006-01-12T22:07:00.000-08:00I read Keith's "What is the Church?" some time ago...I read Keith's "What is the Church?" some time ago and have been kicking some ideas around since then. My reaction was that the church is not "doctors and nurses", but rather doctors, nurses, and patients. It is not just "teachers", but teachers and learners. It is not just "soldiers", but soldiers and deserters. But how different is this from what Keith had in mind?<BR/><BR/>I thought about it and decided that the key points -- "it is not a place. it is a people" -- were right on. But the question of a people's identity continues to haunt me. A hospital is not a place, per se. It is a configuration of doctors, nurses and patients (and other support staff that are critically important). No building is necessary and a hospital building may or may not actually be a hospital. But the church as analogically a hospital consisting of doctors, nurses and patients (and other critical support staff) makes sense to me. And of course, sometimes the doctors get sick and become patients, etc.<BR/><BR/>Why do I think this picture makes sense? Partly, I look around the "church" and I don't see very many doctors or nurses, but I see lots of sick people. So to suppose the church is really, or only, the doctors and nurses casts a very radically different picture of who is the church than is traditionally adopted. Granted, perhaps such a radical shift is needed to return to Christ's description of who are His brothers and sisters. That may be another thread.<BR/><BR/>But partly, it also makes sense to me because there are sick people who seek help in a hospital, and there are others who do not. Those seeking help could be analogous to those included in the church. If I'm a doctor and I encounter a sick person, I'll try to help whether I'm in the hospital or on my way home. <BR/><BR/>I realize what I'm saying seems to lead toward a universal view of the church. I know I need to think more about this. For now, I take rest in trusting Jesus to separate the sheep and the goats in His good time. My responsibility is to be my part of His body, seeking to do that which is before me.<BR/><BR/>And on that note, I better get back to preparing for class. Blessings, ....<BR/>--Wayne IbaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com