 Summary
of the teaching by
Dr. Peter Moore
on the
Corporate Dimensions of our Faith
May 11, 2001
Freedom must be rooted in a common bond that cements us
altogether. Its individualism verses community. The community is the
glue that holds us together. The movie the Dead Poet Society includes
a scene where the teacher tells his students to march in the courtyard.
When they started to march in an orderly manner he said no! march in
any direction you want and each walked in his own way. That movie was
prophetic of the American family.
Gen 4:1-16 is the story of Cain and Able. In verse 9 God
asks Cain where is your brother? I don't know was his answer. Am I my
brother's keeper?
Cain was the older brother and had the right to choose
the profession of his choice; he chose agriculture. Able chose sheep,
to become a herdsman, a shepherd. Now being a shepherd requires constant
attention unlike agriculture that is hard work for a season then allows
one to rest before working hard again. Being a brother's keeper would
have been like a shepherd to sheep and Cain didn't want to do this.
He became competitive with able and he therefore could kill him, no
big deal.
Look at our attitudes today and our family relationships.
Families become places where
- 83% of all calls to police come from
- 25% of where abuse of children under 5 years old occurs
- 60% of the children under five are injured
and it goes on. One of the most dangerous places to be in America is
in a dysfunctional family or worse, in the womb of a woman who doesn't
want you. Much of this is the result of generational patterns.
The first human family was a dangerous place too. There
was temptation (e.g., Satan tempted them with the ability to know good
and evil). There was discord (e.g., they blamed each other for what
they did). There was spiritual disaster (e.g., God barred them from
returning to the tree and the garden of Eden). Then Cain hated Able.
Because of Cain's anger at God and Able he then murdered Able. Sound
like a family you'd like to live in?
Look at the punishment God gave to Cain from Cain's perspective:
- Hidden from the face of God (Cain was put in the position of
a person who was not known by God. Faceless and not having the sense
of self that comes from God).
- Fugitive (being isolated from others and his family. He goes
to a place called Nod and becomes the founder of a city and his descendants
become known for their artistry and out of control sex).
- Wander (never stopping in one place. Much like plankton in
the sea that drift from one place to another always serving as food
for the larger fish that feed upon them).
- Will be killed (Cain felt he was venerable. He was insecure,
feeling like a victim. Sounds like people today who kill others and
then blame it on their family and their community). [Of
course we know that God placed a mark on Cain so that he would not be
killed. This is kind of like God saying to others He was Cain's protector
but not his savior.]
In this view of Cain, we have a picture of many modern day people. Can
you feel this? What kind of a society would it be like to have our children
think and feel this way?
Disobedience leads to separation from God and this is the way of Cain.
But God has another plan that is not like this bad news!
He has His people (the Jews) who were chosen by God, lead by Moses, then
Joshua, the Judges and Kings. From them He created a new community a new
nation and eventually the church. The new testament talks about the members
being part of Christ's body, covenanted and connected, like a vine that
is rooted together to bear fruit.
In the body a family meal was instituted and prayer as well. This is
God's plan for families. The church is not just a choice that we make
to attend on Sundays. In God's view, these are the people He has chosen.
What we view as minor sins actually rip apart the body of Christ. Hating
a brother, gossiping are just two that come to mind.
God wants us to pull together into community in order to accomplish His
mission. Community assumes a number of things. That your church:
- is faithfully teaching the Word of God
- is relying upon the Holy Spirit for guidance and direction
- is open to change, and
- has Christ centered worship.
Then, God wants us to
- be accountable to each other and to Him
- have the proper balance between individuality and total community,
and
- a sense of our mission.
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