That is quite a responsibility! This phrase, ‘the honour of Jesus is in the hands of the church’, that was coined by someone of much greater theological capacity than I, captures one of the truths that Paul is trying to make real to the reader of his letter to the Ephesians. The church which is often much maligned has a responsibility to humanity and to the heavenly creatures (powers and principalities) to represent; to bear witness to; to proclaim Christ in such a way that Jesus is honoured rather than dishonoured or just shunted to the sidelines of life.
The church, the body of Christ, has been given by grace the gifts of the Spirit for the purpose of revealing the ‘mystery’ that is Christ. This is God’s plan in and through Jesus and whether we appreciate this or not heaven and earth are watching. Its quite a thing to think that angelic beings are watching us and through their observation are coming to understand what God’s purpose is in Jesus.
It has to make you think about what is important and what is just downright dishonouring in how we live as members of the body. Think about the arguments over carpet, service times, where we sit – the disagreements and offence we have taken on board and kept for years – the criticism and sledging of the church leadership or those having a go – the disunity and disquiet. Jesus hardly receives honour if this is the witness of the body of Christ.
It is a mystery to me why God would entrust the Church – this motley crew – with such a high calling. It is no wonder we need the immeasurable riches of God to pull this off!
Without Christ its impossible – with Christ its more than possible.