The Greek Word is Parakaleo. The English word is Exhort.
Sunday was a day of learning for Borg (at Timberlake Christian Fellowship), and I have to say that Bruce Bickel really made me think more deeply about my relationship with Christ through others in a relational sense. To know what one has been missing is amazing indeed. Now I can understand so much better what my Brother in Christ - Pastor Jeff Harmon (The River) - has been saying all these months about an organic "Authentic" relational church. I didn't quite get it before, but I sure do now. Thank you Jeff !!
Bruce stated today that if he had only one sermon left go give in his life, it would be the one he gave today. It was emotional for him, and his passion was felt by all. The message of today - to "Exhort One Another" - was true indeed in it's relational urgency. I never really thought about this word. Can we be good Christians in isolation, on our own? Or just sitting in a church on Sundays or reading our bibles individually at the breakfast table? Not if we understand the word "Exhort" and how important it is for us as Christians. Not only are we to have an intimate relationship with Jesus, we are to have intimate fellowship with each other. A reciprocal connection within the community where we belong. To offer support and comfort to one another is to truly understand what our Lord wants from us. We are not living in isolation, we have a community and a belonging connection that is so important. We must encourage one another to strive upwards, heavenly to Christ.
To humble ourselves, and love one another so much - as to keep one another under "spiritual protection" as Bruce so eloquently noted. A "Community of People seeking to live in the awesome flow of God's grace" as Pastor Jeff Harmon so passionately pursues in his new ministry in our beloved hometown of Ellensburg, WA. We ask - "What is the true church?" It is the church that Christ always wanted us to have ... a community of people who exhort and love one another. Connected, Belonging, Supporting, Loving, Urging, Encouraging. I hope and pray that by the Grace of God we will be able to learn to do these things together, and that your prayers will help us realize what we can become.
Hebrews 3:12-13 (King James Version)
12Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
13But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
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Jeff,
I am truly blown away at how mature you are in your faith after only a relatively short time as a follower of Jesus. I know you feel as though you don't know very much about the faith, but let me tell you, Friend, your words (and the attitude of humility behind them) speak volumes about your walk with Christ.
I've known you for a very long time now... and quite honestly, I never, ever thought I'd read words from you of gentle exhortation - encouraging people to authentically love God and one another in community. I mean, that is so NOT the Libertarian, pragmatic, dogmatic, extremely right-leaning political machine I have known all my life.
I'm sure you still lean quite heavily to the right, but nevertheless, it's obvious the Borg is softening in his "old age"... and I know the source of this dramatic change.
Either you've lost your mind and "found religion" or you've encountered the living God and He has radically changed your life (and passions). Either way, you're slowly but surely evolving more and more into the man God created you to be. And hey, from my perspective it's awesome watching it all take place!
Keep up the thought-provoking posts. I'm really grateful you and your family are on the journey with us... helping us remember, and helping us think.
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