Beloved Bride

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Frank Viola receives a lot of flak; a good deal of it may be deserved, but I think he is onto something. Yes, returning to more "Biblical" church practices and fellowship is necessary, but Viola sometimes says things that sound ... just a little too aggressive. In his recent blog tour of interviews, he at one point chose to not use the word "church" because it carried too much baggage.

Ken Sweers, a very wise brother, has allowed me to post his response here. This is something we all need to remember, the sovereignty and unconditional love of God.

“Husbands love your wives as Christ loves the church.”

Which church? Wait … the word church has too much baggage, so let’s not use that term. Wait … the word wife has too much baggage as well, so let’s redefine marriage altogether.

Why not simply go back to the basics? If the bride is confused, or defiled, or emaciated, or unfaithful, or whatever, the Groom will deal with her. She is still the bride. Marriage vows represent an unconditional commitment to an imperfect person. That’s how Jesus loves His church. The church did not disappear when Constantine empowered her with the state, although she did become defiled and adulteress-like. As in the prophetical analogy of Hosea, God did not let loose of her. He did not forsake her and become a recluse hermit unless or until she cleaned herself up and came crawling back to Him. Unlike Hosea, God was and always is in control, always working all things to good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. There are not two churches – the traditional-institutional and the emerging. There is but one church, and although I believe she is indeed in a transitional state, I do not believe Jesus loves one ’stage’ of the transitional church over the other.

I see this as a very ambivalent time for the church – much like the emotional state of Israel at the end of Ezra 3: the traditional-institutional church weeps and mourns as she remembers her former glory while the emerging church gives great shouts of praise as the new foundations are becoming visible. As there was only one Israel in Ezra’s day of renewal, so there is only one church today. Let us be careful to honor our heritage and take with us the lessons learned as we progress forward in God’s purposes for, in, and through His church..."

As nothing happens that is not either Divinely instigated or permitted, I think it prudent that Viola and those lead towards (yet another) Church reform (and that includes me) need to remember that the whole history of the Church, in all its pomp and splendor, as well as warring and arrogant abjectedness, still falls under the Lord's all powerful hand. What He has purposed us for is beyond measure, but our road there will not always be a peaceful and scenic one. Did God allow the Constantinian era in order to quickly spread the Message, permitting basilica and priest centered practices as a "bridge" to the pagan nations that couldn't image a god in any other way? Once the people were in and enlightened, matured and freed, the Bride emerges, once again in a state of beauty? Bunyan's Christian goes through much till he is brought from the river on the other side and welcomed. But He was welcomed from the very beginning.

I don't know. I don't know much. But one thing I do know is that God knows. And He has His purpose and it will not fail. His Will does not return unaccomplished.