A Community of Grapes

“To dwell above with saints we love, oh that will be glory, but to dwell below with saints we know, well, that’s another story.”   I think this couplet speaks accurately to the struggle many churches experience at times, as they attempt to be a community of believers.  Our sinful tendency is to maintain our autonomy, demand our own way, and even reach out to take from, or pressure other Christians to get what we want.  Thus by our behavior and isolation, we avoid the experience of community.  In her book, Up with Worship, Anne Ortlund very clearly shows us the choices we have.  She says, “Christians can be grouped into two categories - marbles and grapes.  Marbles are 'single units that don't affect each other except in collision.'  Grapes, on the other hand, mingle; each one is a 'part of the fragrance' of the church body.”

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