Theopolitical

"To be sure, Paul's gospel calls individuals to a right relationship with God, but it call them into a community where right relationships with God and with others – both insiders and outsiders – are taught, learned, and practiced. Those who believe believe Paul's gospels are not first and foremost invited to eternal life when they die (though that is included: Rom 5:21; 6:22-23), but to a new life in this world under the sway of a new lord and savior in the company of like-minded companions (Phil 1:27-2:16). Hence the adjective "theopolitical" to describe the gospel, meaning a narrative about God that creates a public life together, a corporate narrative that is an alternative to the status quo in the Roman Empire, the American empire, or any other body politic." Page 45 Reading Paul by Michael J. Gorman

I know this quote is a bit long, but I felt that I needed to post it all.  I'm reading Reading Paul for my New Testament class on Galatians and Romans, and have found a few "zingers," including this one.

While I've heard it taught in Sunday school and church my whole life that as Christians we're to live our daily lives differently because of Christ, the way Gorman put the concept here gave the concept some clarity. It caused me to think about my personal opinions of church. So many times since high school (even here on this blog once or twice) I have questioned the point of church. Until I came here to Asbury, the last time I felt like I really belonged to a Christian community/church was back in fourth grade. This quote reminded me that my church is to be more than a place that I go for a few hours on Sunday, sing a few good songs,  hear a few good words and connect a bit with a few friends. My church is to be a state of being where I live in this world under the sway of a new lord and savior in the company of like-minded companions.