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Morada de Dios... God's dwelling...

3/26/2017

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​“...morada de Dios en el Espíritu.” (Ef 2:22)

El reino de Dios ha sobrevivido y prosperado durante siglos en diversos escenarios socio-políticos. Nunca ha sido refrenado por la visión o agenda de ningún reino terrenal en particular.

Las naciones vienen y se van… algunas vencidas en batalla, otras por el desmoronamiento interno. Sin embargo, después de 2,000 años, el Evangelio aun vive. El testimonio del poder de Dios a través de él aun se ve. El fenómeno novedoso de "iglesia" que introdujo Jesús aun funciona.

Esto lo tengo presente cada vez que me toca compartir mis clases en nuestro Seminario: "La Historia de las Iglesias”: de Jesús a la Reformación Protestante en un semestre (hablo muy rápido en español).

Mi propósito es sencillo:
  • demostrar la presencia del testimonio de Jesucristo y sus iglesias a lo largo de los siglos.
  • definir "iglesia" en su esencia y espíritu originales.
  • aclarar que nunca fuimos ni Católico Romano ni Protestante.

​Lo que me pesa es cómo se nos han ido pegando actitudes y costumbres que se originan en el mundo católico-protestante. Me temo que nuestras iglesias no sean atractivas por culpa propia. Dicen que somos aburridos, cerrados, de mucha organización y poca vida. A veces tienen la razón… a veces no somos lo que Jesús quiso que fuéramos.

La primera iglesia se reunía donde se encontrara... en ocasiones, por ejemplo, sentados en el pasto junto al Mar de Galilea. Ellos eran personas que habían dejado todo por tal de estar ahí. Si cantaban o no, el punto era escuchar las palabras de su pastor, el mismo Señor Jesús. Se levantaban para vivir lo que habían escuchado. Acompañaban a Jesús en su labor de evangelizar.

Lo más maravilloso: "iglesia pura" es algo tan genérico que puede ser incorporado en cualquier cultura, siglo o estrato social. El evangelio es aplicable universalmente. También lo es “iglesia”.

"Señor, en medio de todo lo que adorna tus iglesias hoy en día, vuélvenos a su esencia."

"a dwelling place for God by the Spirit."  Eph 2:22

The kingdom of God has survived and prospered for centuries in diverse and contrasting, sociopolitical settings without being restrained by any physical kingdom's particular vision or agenda.

Nations come and go... some vanquished in battle, others by inner decay. Yet two thousand years later, the Gospel still lives. The testimony of the power of God is still seen. The novel phenomenon of "church" that Jesus introduced still works.

These things are on my mind whenever I give my classes in our Seminary: "The History of the Churches"... from the times of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem to the Protestant Reformation… in one semester (I talk fast in Spanish).

My purpose is threefold:
  • to demonstrate the presence of the testimony of Jesus Christ through the centuries.
  • to define "church" with its original essence and spirit.
  • to clarify that our roots are neither Roman Catholic nor Protestant.

​What weighs on me is how attitudes and customs rooted in the Catholic-Protestant setting have somehow stuck to us. Part of why our churches are not attracting people may be our own fault. Some would say that we are boring, clannish... much organization and little life. Sometimes they are right… sometimes we are not what Jesus wanted us to be.

The first church met wherever they happened to be... on occasion, for example, sitting in the grass by the Sea of Galilee. They were people who had given up everything to be there. Whether they sang or not, the point was to hear the words of their pastor, the Lord Jesus himself. They rose up to live what they had heard. They accompanied Jesus in his evangelistic labors.

The most marvelous part: "pure church" is something so generic that it can be incorporated into any culture, century or social strata. The Gospel is universally applicable. So is “church”.

"Lord, in the midst of all that we have adorned church with today, take us back to its essence."

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    Greg Smith

    Greg grew up in Menomonee Falls, WI. His ministry began in 1976: 5 years in Central America, 36 in Mexico. His passion is church planting and discipleship.
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    Greg enjoys being married to Carol Ahola-Smith. Both have been missionaries (Japan and Mexico); both watched their first spouses precede them in death.
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    Together, they have a heart for writing, mentoring and teaching.  They enjoy long walks and good coffee.

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