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Vision of the Bride adorned with good-deeds |
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Written by Caleb Motupalli
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Tuesday, 15 July 2008 |
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“His Bride has made herself ready; It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints”(Rev 19:7-8).
“Likewise also that women should adorn themselves … with what is proper for women who profess godliness - with good works” (1 Timothy 2:9-10 ESV).
“As a result of the works, faith was perfected” (James 2:22 NASB).  I believe the crisis of trust that we are facing today not only in the Church but also in the corporate world and in government, is God sent. When modern technologies are being used to monitor our daily lives causing a rift in the social contract, God is looking for someone trustworthy. So what is that we must build on that will stand the test of any storm of crisis? Most people understand this foundation to be Christ and be satisfied with the born-again experience. But to be precise, our Lord tells us in Matthew 7:24 that it is the wise-man’s rock of acting on His Words [after believing]!
While in our own individual capacity we have to put the Words of Christ into action, the Church as a whole also needs to put them into action. As Brother J. C. Rao says, we have to exercise corporate faith like those who brought the walls of Jericho down. If agape love and honouring those who love us is our call, are we really caring for the lost world around us? As Brother T. E Koshy puts it, are we “scratching them where it itches?” Alas the church can appear as a mere “clanging cymbal” than one that shows true love because we have relegated the aspect of love to the far corners of our church.
We must first scratch them where it itches, win their hearts, and then sow the Seed of eternal life in them. Providing integrated care for the whole man and his environment is the way to go! The legacy care ministry of the church to reach the lost world around us, namely the Door-to-Door/Open Air Ministry, is apathetic to the physical needs of the people. It does not scratch them where it itches. Moreover, it can no longer be the primary solution to reach out with even the comforting Good News to the lost world today. Technologies of today have actually reshaped our lives and culture like never before. More and more people are jumping onto Infoways through Television, Radio, Print and the Internet, rather than onto ordinary roadways. Our neighbours are no longer merely those who stay next door to us but those whom we see needy all over the media. The concept of the local church is becoming more and more irrelevant with the advent of the globalized local, which became a reality through these media. Just for instance, the people of Sudan have become our neighbours and the prerogative of rendering justice and love to them rests with us. As you can see, the need is overwhelming and we can address it only with synergy that unity brings. Since we are the Salt of the earth, the whole earth is our jurisdiction with an “Invisible Kingdom Now” mandate. I believe the winning of the whole world by the Bride is just awaiting fulfilment. |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 28 April 2009 )
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