08 - Aug - 2008
Date: 08 August, 2008 | Posted By: Jonathan Blundell | Category:
Reflection
After Sunday’s message, as I think more and more about my tribe (or my church family) other thoughts continue to cross my mind.
I had a great “e-mail” exchange this week via Myspace where we discussed other words that might work even better than “tribal.” For some, the idea of a tribe seems to exclusive. Historically, most tribes kept to themselves and didn’t look out for those who weren’t born into the tribe. I agree. The metaphor tends to break down there.
We talked about other words or metaphors that might better describe the relationships and ideas that the church should be built around. Other words that we mentioned were “community,” “family,” and even simply “church.” Sadly for some of us, some of these words carry their own baggage or negativity. Perhaps there will be (new) other terms that will best describe our church family in the future.
Regardless of which word we finally “settle on” I keep asking myself this same question, “So what does this tribe, this community, this oneness look like?” As I mentioned yesterday, “I’m not entirely sure – especially in modern America.”
But I do know this ::
Jesus told his disciples, “By this all men will know you are my disciple – if you love one another.” – John 13:34 & 35.
Seems that Christian brotherhood and sisterhood and community and unity were very big on Jesus’ plan/plate.
In the Hebrew Scriptures we read about the “tribes of Israel.” The 12 tribes whom God called upon to be different in their culture. To be set apart. To be unique.
He calls them to accept the foreigner into their homes.
He calls them to ignore the idol worship of their neighbors.
He calls them to put their trust in Yahweh rather than in a king, or a Pharaoh or a President.
He calls them to honor the Sabbath – a day you set aside all your business of the 24/7 consumerism and focus on God – the creator of it all.
And so the Hebrews get very accustomed to this calling of being “separate” from the world (not that anyone’s ever really figured that out).
And then Jesus shows up on the earth and starts telling everyone that he was forming a new tribe.
A tribe where the Hebrews would join together with the Gentiles. No wonder they got upset and had him killed. That in and of itself could be considered blasphemy.
It would be like the Texas A&M Alumni Association telling folks that from now on graduates of the University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma will now all be considered a part of the Texas A&M family! 
This new tribe that Christ was creating would be a tribe for all who were baptized into Christ and have clothed themselves with Christ.
Where there is neither Jew nor Gentile, Republican or Democrat, conservative or liberal, American or Iraqi, neither slave nor free, neither male nor female, for we are all one in Christ Jesus.
It’s a radical idea and I believe it calls for radical changes in our thinking and behavior.
Because when the tribe succeeds – we all succeed!
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