To live church inside my bubble has its advantages.

Bubbles feel safe. I don’t have to talk with those outside of my sphere. As long as I can agree with those who live inside my little church world, peace abounds. That is one way of being church—to see church no further than my bubble. It is certainly a limited way of living out unity

I don’t want barely to experience salvation—if that is possible. Let me explain.

I suppose some can live within their little church on First and Me Streets, be content,—and yes—see salvation.  Not me.

I don’t want to know Jesus only in the kiddy pool. I am not satisfied in limiting relationship to Christian siblings from my church. Sure, they bless me but why not add to their blessings the grand diversity of God’s worldwide family.  I don’t want to live my life camped outside of the vault of limitless riches and died unaware of the proximity of treasure.

I want to live church outside of a bubble.

Jesus equips me to enjoy rich treasure.

The Apostle Peter contrasts the rich Christian with the blind Christian. I don’t think it’s too much of a stretch to see the passage as contrasting kiddy pool Christians to those exploring the deep water of living by the divine nature.

 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. He has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I want a welcome that grows out of a rich spectacular ride—not as a blind man who missed seeing the journey.

Here is what I think.

Divine power runs deep—real deep. I cannot mine it on my own. I am limited as to how much I can explore. However, I do have a resource in an unlimited supply of sisters and brothers I find in Christ Jesus. The complete body of Christ is rich in divine power. The unlimited supply comes from its head.

As I mine Scripture and share its nuggets with other body parts, I begin to add to my faith goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love.

Each nugget is refined through added perspective from the wide range of resources within the body of Christ. Left on my own living inside my bubble I may believe I found gold.

When I leave the safety of my bubble and mingle among other Christians, it is possible I will discover I am only seeing a stone that exhibits a shiny veneer rather than a piece of solid gold.

Will you join with me? Let’s not get trapped living church in a bubble.

Stay tuned.

Dr. Gary J. Sorrells – Reflecting on Cross Church

Gary@Godrefelction.org