saving souls? discipleship?

I was not brought up in, nor live in a religious culture of saving souls. The Church of the Brethren is a simple living, earthy, common sense discipleship sort of denomination. I think back over my life, and see so many hands involved in my faith development.........some very wise of mind persons, and some very wise of living persons. Deep in my core, my discipleship has bloomed and affects the outer parts of my being. There is nothing shallow there. That is not to say that I am not shallow. I can be as shallow as the next person.

As I read and meditate upon Matthew 25:30ff (the parable that Jesus tells that puts himself as the main character, sitting high on a throne separating sheep from goats, the doers from the ignorant) I am more and more drawn to the theological understanding that the confusion of those for whom Christ lavishes praise is based on the fact that they didn't know they were serving Christ, didn't know they were meeting some need, didn't know that they were accomplishing anything.

This 'not knowing' is key to the parable. When was the last time that someone you cared about was ill, was in financial trouble, had a relational crisis? Your response would be to support, see them through it, provide a few meals, maybe pay a couple of bills.........with no thought as to your own reward. Then months or years later that person sits with you and says "I just wanted to let you know that I wouldn't have been able to get through that bad patch without you. Thank you." We are often stunned by such commentary......we don't know what they are talking about. We simple did what was part of the relationship to do.

And that is the other key.

Christ calls us into relationships.......not to simply support and care for our friends, but to engage with all of God's children who are brought into our lives, in deep relationship. Those in the parable who are cast out are the ones who didn't get the connection between themselves and Christ, themselves and their neighbor, themselves and God's wide creation. They didn't get beyond their own nose.

Truly, it is in the relationships and the connection that we find God, Christ, one another. In that finding, we save our souls. Here and now. Yes, sure in the eternal to come as well. But right now we can live a life of abundance and connectedness. Ah, how glorious.

amsgr