Church in Exile
I recently heard someone use the categories of empire and exile to describe where we have been as the church in the U.S., and where the church in the U.S. may be headed, joining much of the church around the world. In short, the church in empire leads from the top, from positions of power. The church in empire has obvious influence and often little resistance. The church in exile is in many ways just the opposite. Cultural positions of power are few and far between, resistance is more noticeable and more persistent. The church in exile does influence, but its influence does not come from the top, but rather emanates from the bottom. It infiltrates between the cracks as opposed to coming in through the front door.
The first century church was a church in exile. Rome was the empire, the cultural influencers. It is against this backdrop that Paul does his work: takes his missionary journeys, preaches his sermons, writes his letters. It is against the backdrop of the Roman empire that Paul teaches the church how to be subversive in a Gospel sort of way.
Over the next several weeks we are going to dig into the blueprints that Paul unrolls for the church in exile to do their subversive work. Paul is going to take the truths that he wrote about in the opening 3 chapters of Ephesians and use them as a catapult to launch a lifestyle, that we know historically, will subvert the empire from below. The subversive work Paul outlines in chapters 4-6 in Ephesians does not come with "swords loud clashing or the roll of stirring drums", but rather it comes with lives that are pursuing holiness. It is a plan that cares about sexual purity in a a sex crazed world. It cares about telling the truth, seeking unity in diversity, curbing our anger, serving and submitting to one another, learning to be good friends, spouses, children, employees and bosses. In short, when God makes you his child and fills you with his Spirit (chapters 1-3) everything matters. Nothing is left unchanged.
This week we are going to be reorienting ourselves to Ephesians by looking at chapter 4:1 and following the "therefore" back through chapters 1-3. In preparation, I would encourage you to read through the entire book (a well spent 15-30 minutes). I might also commend last year's opening message on Ephesians as good way to reorient yourself to who these Ephesians are, who Paul is, and what is the central point that he wants to communicate while he languishes in a Roman prison (grace and peace).