The perfect community does not exist

It is said so beautifully that – should there be a perfect church – it would end as soon as you join it yourself. Sobriety is in order. Non-perfect people cannot form a perfect church. What can we still look out for?

Nowhere in Scripture do we read of a “perfect church.” However, we read of a “unity of the Spirit” among all believers:

“Commit yourselves to keeping the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
Eph 4:3

This unity is perhaps more than the idea of a perfect church could ever be. A given unit appears amazing. Paul describes it quite casually: The unity of the worldwide church is already there! We do not have to create them. All we have to do is preserve them.

With whom should we maintain this unity of spirit? With all Christians. And who is a Christian? They are “all the saints who are also believers in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 1:1). In Romans, Paul calls them “called of Jesus Christ” (Rom 1:6) and “called saints” (Rom 1:7). This includes all those who have responded to the Good News with their lives. Whoever recognizes himself as called by God and touched by the gospel of His grace (Rom 8:15-16) is part of this worldwide church. It is these people who have come to know that they are children of God through God’s Spirit (Rom 8:16). This real church, called by Paul the body of Christ, is not to be confused with any institution, and it has existed across all denominations for 2000 years now.

A gift

As different as our churches and communities are, and as different as the insights, the unity of the Spirit remains clear. This unity, in fact, is not characterized by uniformity. It’s not about thinking the same thing. It is not even a question of whether we know, affirm or reject certain dogmas. Our faith is a gift (Eph 2:8-10). We have all received the same gift. We are “called of Jesus Christ” (Rom 1:6). This is the basis.

The unity of the spirit

No human being is perfect. No community can see everything properly. Rather, Paul points out that – despite different expressions – we can honor God by holding the unity of the Spirit, and perhaps once “enduring” our neighbor. We don’t have to do this because we would agree with the other person’s findings. But we may do it because we respect and appreciate this given unity. For in this we honor Him who has also called us.

The unity is “of the spirit”. It is not a “unity of confession” or “unity of experience.” It is about spirit, about a spiritual view. With this, we are reminded of God’s action. Elsewhere Paul writes: “You did not receive the spirit of slavery, again to fear; but you received the spirit of sonship, in which we cry aloud: Abba, Father! – The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (Rom 8:15-16). We may also recognize this work of God in other believers.

The bond of peace

The “Ribbon of Peace” is a visual language. Peace should be the unifying factor. We should not argue, not feel ourselves superior to others. This is not at all self-evident, so that Paul points out that we should “make an effort” to do this. Even if this unity of the Spirit is given, it needs our daily active consent to deal with our vocation in a correspondingly spiritual way.

Peace is also part of the ninefold fruit of the Spirit, Paul writes to the Galatians: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control” (Gal 5:22).

In Colossians, Paul speaks of love as the “bond of perfection” (Col 3:14). All these texts are about our way of life. How do we want our calling to play out?

The non-perfect church

I like being part of a church or community that is not perfect. Such a community seems to me much more viable than one that revels in doctrines or even religious commonplaces. My experience is that God’s Word speaks very concretely into this world. It is good news, not because the Church says so, but because it is actually good news for us as human beings:

“God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself: He does not impute their offenses to them and has placed in us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are messengers for Christ, as if God were speaking through us. We plead for Christ: be reconciled to God! For He who knew not sin made Him to be sin for us, that we might become God’s righteousness in Him.”
2Cor 5:19-21

This is the essence of the Good News. God works. He does good in Christ and He wants to gift us with it. It is about this message that God is reconciled with you and me and with the whole world (nota bene: Here we are talking about the world, not about the believers!). From Him it is settled, the way is clear. This is stunningly good. Can I accept this for myself now? That is where living faith begins. There I can trust Him and His Word, engage in His love.

A church that is not perfect places God’s activity centrally. Such a community is welcoming, it has a transformative effect on its members, and it is out in society without fear. She doesn’t have to prove herself. It points to Him who is above all – not super pious, but liberatingly sober. A church that is not perfect is Christocentric, it is questioning and learning. Such a church knows the need of the world and the need in our existence. The Gospel shines into the darkness of need and people are grateful.

Inner images

Everyone has their own image of church or being a Christian. Whether the picture is coherent or not is not the question here. We can probably assume that our inner images are as limited as we ourselves are limited. More interesting, therefore, would be the question of how we shape our inner images.

Paul was constantly in contact with different churches in his letters. He worked for a healthy life of faith everywhere. Constant correction was necessary. Apparently, all people had and have inner images. The apostle tried to direct the believers from their own ideas to the essentials (Phil 1:9-10).

It was probably an adjustment of thinking. He saw five tasks as fundamental for the community. They were the following functions: Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, and Shepherds and Teachers (Eph 4:11-12). They all shape thinking, expectation, and thus daily experience. Based on the Good News, believers are led out into the freedom of Christ through the ministry of these people. Inner images receive correction where necessary and alternatives shaped by grace are provided. Thus, a church is born that is not without flaws, but wherein more and more people are liberated in the faith.

Let us think back again to Paul’s statement that we should only keep the unity of the Spirit. This is an attitude of faith. If we follow the statements of the apostle Paul in his letter to the Ephesians, we can see the promotion of a healthy attitude of faith as a concern everywhere. His advice to the community culminates in this statement:

“But if we are true, we should make everything grow in love, into Him who is the head, Christ.”
Eph 4:15

A positive attitude of faith leads toward Christ. A positive attitude of faith not only preserves the unity of the spirit, but also makes everything grow in love. When Paul writes these words, he has been struggling for a better understanding of faith for almost 4 chapters. Here he sketches the picture of a living community that mutually fosters growth, wherein people are focused not only on themselves, but also on Christ in everything.

So the perfect church does not exist, but there is something alive among the believers. They may know themselves connected with all other believers worldwide, regardless of local affiliation. This unity may be preserved through the bond of peace. This is the reality of faith. The characteristics mentioned by Paul testify to spiritual maturity and can serve as a guideline for a community.

Deepening

• Describe the weaknesses of your community/parish/church
• How perfect can people be?
• When you have answered the points above: Write an invitation with reasons why other people should join your community.