Army of Priests

I wonder a lot about the power of names. In particular, I wonder about their effects on groups of people and whether a name creates a better sense of identity and commitment, or if instead they create a sense of exclusion where people can be describes as inside or outside the group.

To explain why I wonder about this let me explain my current situation. My local faith community has no name. This is in a large part due the the fact that we have no formal programs and no formal leaders (we do have leaders but not in the traditional sense). The only way you can define my church is through its participants.

My church is just a big group of people from the surrounding suburbs (some of whom are part of local congregations, some are not). We frequently arrange church-like activities but these things are transitive. Tonight I am catching up with a few guys for some food and a spiritual discussion. We often do this on Mondays, but we don’t always, and in a months time we might not at all. Sometimes we arrange to meet up for prayer. Sometimes we just hang out, and might end up discussing the bible.

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It’s been two nights now since the storms that hit Brisbane. The whole city has been declared a natural disaster area and the army has been bought in to help with the clean up. Tens of thousands of homes are still without power and some residents are being asked to boil their water. Miraculously the death toll remains at 1.

What’s really amazing about this mess is the way the city has pulled together. This morning I was listening to the radio whilst the announcer asked for as many people as possible to help. Some people rang up offering to house whole families in their homes, others were willing to donate trucks full of pies or offer their services as a crane driver. Literally thousands of volunteers are descending upon the worst hit suburbs to offer whatever help they can.

Many neighbours are meeting each other for the first time as the sound of chainsaws fills the suburbs.  When I left for work this morning people were out in the rain continuing to clean up the debris that litters the road. This storm (and the threat of more coming) has given the community a common talking point, and a common goal.

I don’t know why it takes something terrible to create something beautiful, but my faith in humanity has been greatly improved. On Sunday, when were were trying to make our way home, and cars where taking turns to drive on the only remaining lane around one section of flooding, one of my passengers remarked on how beautiful it was that we were all sharing and that perhaps we should pray for disaster more often.

All that being said, I think I am ready for the rain to stop now…

• Love one another (John 13:34, 35).
• Be devoted to one another (Romans 12:10).
• Honour one another above yourselves (Romans 12:10).
• Live in harmony with one another (Romans 12:16).
• Stop passing judgment on one another (Romans 14:13).
• Edify one another (Romans 14:19).
• Instruct (admonish) one another. (Romans 15:14)
• Accept one another (Romans 15:7).
• Have concern for one another (I Corinthians 12:25).
• Carry one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2).
• Forgive one another (Ephesians 4:32).
• Submit to one another (Ephesians 5:21).
• Agree with one another (Philippians 4:2).
• Teach one another (Colossians 3:16).
• Encourage one another (I Thessalonians 4:18).
• Build each other up (I Thessalonians 5:11).
• Live in peace with one another (I Thessalonians 5:13).
• Be kind to each other (I Thessalonians 5:15).
• Encourage one another (Hebrews 3:13).
• Spur one another to good deeds (Hebrews 10:24).
• Confess sins to one another (James 5:16).
• Offer hospitality to one another (I Peter 4:9).
• Serve each other (I Peter 4:10).
• Show humility to one another (I Peter 5:5).
• Have fellowship with one another (I John 1:7).

You are a kingdom of priests (1 Peter 2:9).