corporate spirituality

The more I read the New Testament the more I see an emphasis on community. Most of the New Testament letters were written not to individuals but to a community of believers - the Ekklesia or "call-out ones". Too often we over personalize what we read and fail to understand that the Christian life is meant to be lived in the messy fish bowl of community.

In my recent reading in Ephesians, Paul's vision of the Body of Christ is evident in nearly every passage. Developing the "mature" body he speaks of however, is no easy task. It requires that former enemies, "Jew" and "gentile" become one in Christ, learn to serve one another, confront each other (in love) when necessary, and walk in the Spirit (just to name a few).

O that the Church of God, the Body of Christ, would become such a spiritual community.