Page 21 - THE CHURCH BEFORE THE MOCKING WORLD

That demands washing the feet of those we may not like. That demands washing the feet of those who may have betrayed us; not just those that believe the same things, in the same way as us.
The world is not an unchristian world because of Adam?s sin, the power of the flesh, or the Devil. The world is an unchristian world because the Churches that represent the Christ of the New Testament do not love Christ, because they do not obey Christ?s command to love each other.
There are no ?yes-buts?.... There is only yes and repent.
Then comes the New Covenant. It is hard to write without weeping. It is hard to weep and not be compelled to write. The New Covenant is in many ways the capacity, the medium, the facility, and the means for the New Commandment to be distributed to the world.
If there is one point of focus in the New Covenant, it is that the Body and Blood of the Glorious Son of God unites His people in individual redemption and collective cleansing.
At The Communion Service, The Lord?s Supper, The Eucharist, or The Breaking of Bread I worship. I worship in rejection of my sin as an individual and also as a collective.
Those traditions that spend a day of fasting and reflection every week in preparation to come to the Table of the Lord, do us a great service in their example.
All my transgressions
My sin and my pride
I leave them forever at His wounded side
Our sins are not forgiven at the Table. Rather, we rememberhowour sins are forgiven and it is this truth that isnourishedat the Table.
The Latin term,tabula rasa,is the embodiment of this glorious truth. It meansblank slate.When we come with repentance in our hearts for our lack of love for each other, the Blood of the everlasting Covenant cleanses us from sin. We are given ablank slate,a fresh start, which binds us with those of common spiritual parentage.
When we come to the Table we rejoice in all that this means in the breaking down the ridiculous walls, created by false-hierarchy, and based on thewill to power, that separate us.
When the Martyrs from the various traditions meet beneath the Throne of God, they do not give each other a litmus-test of belief and practice to determine whether or not they are allowed, with a good conscience, to fellowship together in the presence of their Blessed Redeemer.