Friday, June 5, 2009

An Interesting Metaphor for the Church

Evangelist Luis Palau captured the nature of the church in an earthly metaphor. The church, he said, is like manure. Pile it together and it stinks up the neighborhood; spread it out and it enriches the world.
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7 comments:

  1. AnonymousJune 5, 2009 at 10:19 AM

    There must be a better metaphore. I really doubt Jesus sees His bride in that light.

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  2. Josh RossJune 5, 2009 at 10:51 AM

    Every metaphor has strengths and weaknesses. This one is unusual. Though it can be critiqued, I think there is much truth here. The church is made up of messy people and Jesus chose to enter into the mess. He lived among it. Love it. Touched it. And became it. He redeemed it.
    To live incarnationally...which is to allow Christ to live through us...is about entering into the mess of life in order to redeem it.
    I find this to be a redeeming metaphor.

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  3. Keith ClarkJune 5, 2009 at 10:53 AM

    Josh, that reminds me of this quote from Eugene Peterson:

    "When it comes to doing something about what is wrong in the world, Jesus is best known for his fondness for the minute, the invisible, the quiet, the slow -- yeast, salt, seeds, light. And manure.

    "Manure does not rank high in the world's economies. It is refuse. Garbage. We organize efficient and sometimes elaborate systems to collect it, haul it away, get it out of sight and smell. But the observant and wise know that this apparently dead and despised waste is teeming with life -- enzymes, numerous microorganisms. It's the stuff of resurrection."

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  4. Josh RossJune 5, 2009 at 11:01 AM

    Keith,
    That is great. That'll preach!

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  5. Gilbert KerriganJune 6, 2009 at 8:54 AM

    I'm starting a new sermon series tomorrow called Metaphorically Speaking. We will be looking at metaphors that can be brought out of scripture. Tomorrow's sermon is "Church is Music". We are told to live in harmony (musical term) with one another.

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  6. Josh RossJune 6, 2009 at 10:10 AM

    Gilbert,
    You just gave me a new idea for a sermon series. I'm going to call it "Metaphorically Speaking." :)
    Do you have your sermons up on a website? I'd love to hear that one.

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  7. Gilbert KerriganJune 7, 2009 at 4:16 AM

    Yeh, our website is www.elmwood-church.org. It may be toward the end of the week before the sermon gets posted.
    There are going to be four sermons in this series:
    Church is Music ~ "living in harmony"
    Grace is a Container ~ "... this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it" (1 Peter 5:12)
    Life (in the Spirit) is a Dance ~ "let us keep in step with the Spirit" (Gal. 5:25)

    I have a few different ideas for my fourth one, but not sure yet.

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