The river, the tree, the church (Essentials Blue)
“For: The Institute of Contemporary And Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen’s University, Essentials Blue Online Worship Theology Course with Dan Wilt.
What is the church? Many believe it’s where they go to get “fed” (spiritually, that is), still others believe it’s a place to get fed (litterally, that is. I mean, hey, free coffee). According to the Bible, the church, the house of God, is the place where He Himself resides. Because of His son, and through the holy spirit, God resides in his people. In us: you and me, and that guy. The church, in the biblical sense is God’s people. In the words of N.T. Write, “The church is like a river… But at the same time the church is like a tree.” (Simply Christian, pgs. 199-200). He explains that the river is fed by countless smaller rivers, streams, mountain glaciers, and other such sources of water. In the same way, the church is fed by countless cultures, languages, backgrounds, and lifestyles. The tree starts as a single seed, end grows into a full-bodied truck, which inturn expands it’s branches in all directions. In the same way the church started from a single seed, Jesus, and grew into a full-bodied foundation in Acts, and over the years has expanded it’s branches in all directions.
I think this imagery Write uses is a crucial point for christians today, espessially young christians today, to remember. We need to continue to be fed by all of God’s people, we can learn so much from other cultural worship, and prayer. I have an African friend, who speaks english, but his native tongue is french, and he prays in french. I mean he prays in french. I have no idea what he is saying (despite my 3 years of french in highschool), but at the same time it reaches me, and it teaches me.
It’s also just as important to remember to keep expanding the branches, never forget your roots, and your foundation, but always be continuously reaching outward, in every direction. Reach up, to God. Reach down, to the less fortunate. Reach left, right, forward, and back, to your fellow christians running this race with you. They’ll need your help, and you’ll need theirs.
