'EDIFY' the Body?
[caption id="attachment_415" align="alignleft" width="300" caption=""You keep using that word...I do not think it means what you think it means""]
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Anyone remember the irritating character, "Vizinni" from the movie, The Princess Bride? You know...I'm talking about the one who continually uses the word "inconceivable," such that the drunkard swordsman, Inigo, has to call him out for its potential over-usage. It kind of reminded me of how believers sometimes abuse the phrase "edify the body." We're prone to repeat that phrase, robotically in a sort of "Chrisitanese," and out-of-context kind of way when it benefits our personal agendas. Out of my passion to see this phrase more adequately used among the faithful, I thought it would be good to revisit it, briefly, exposing the word, "edify," tapping its origins and rebuilding a definition from the original texts of the Scripture.
The word, "edify," in the dictionary means to build, particularly a house or building, as in the original Greek word used in Romans 14:19, 1 Corinthians 10:23 and here, in 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NLT) -"So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing." Obviously, in these passages, a structure is not being built, so scholars agree unanimously that this is a type of metaphor, explaining how we "build" one another. Metaphorically, in the Scriptures, it refers to "building" our Spiritual state, or growing, maturing, and accessing the next level in the discipleship process.
My encouragement to you is this: Avoid the often abused and "out of context" usage, where "feeling good" is the epicenter of the definition. Contrary to popular opinion, there has never been a time when anything was actually "built" out of good feelings. Sometimes that's a tough concept for us to grasp, as we all place too much faith in what we believe "good feelings" can do. Truth is, good feelings are simply an environment in which things can be built, and certainly, there is nothing wrong with "feeling good" or "being happy" for that matter! Those feelings, however, just can't do the actual "building" of our soul in this life. It is good to know the difference between the things of the Spirit and just being happy!
Anyone who has worked in construction or other hands-on building occupations will tell you that "building" things actually comes at a price, and that effectively building something (an act which does not have to make up for lost time) does not hang its hat on "how I feel" throughout the process. The act of "edifying" or "building" takes work, sweat, heartache, and often a lot of pain, something which we don't like, and which often scares people. Why? Because we find it inconvenient to endure pain when we don't like the way that pain feels...kind of ironic, no? But growth is pain...just ask any kid who is experiencing what we call "growing pains" in their arms and legs...I'm sure they can tell you about it.
Perhaps the simplest, most important detail is that the building process doesn't afford "fluff." If a small band of workers on a construction crew decided that the building shell would feel "warmer" and more "at home" if the steel under-girders and i-beams and metal studs were painted in a soft aqua tone, most people would think they were out of their mind. Why would you paint the shell to feel more comfortable, when all you're going to do is cover it up? It seems like a complete waste, right? When, in fact, it is, since making the process "feel good" will not get the construction crew any closer to finishing the building, but will cause the process to just take that much longer.
As faithful believers, I would encourage us all to keep our eyes on the finish line, so that when we build each other up, it accomplishes the goal of true discipleship. Be honest and loving and helpful and encouraging and available to one another as you seek His face and strive to grow closer in His Spirit. Sure, there are a lot of things that we can do along the way that are "fun" and "feel good," and surly a perfect God knows that they are not an issue of "wrong" or "right." But, I pray we don't sacrifice TRUE edification for those things. How about you?
[/caption]Anyone remember the irritating character, "Vizinni" from the movie, The Princess Bride? You know...I'm talking about the one who continually uses the word "inconceivable," such that the drunkard swordsman, Inigo, has to call him out for its potential over-usage. It kind of reminded me of how believers sometimes abuse the phrase "edify the body." We're prone to repeat that phrase, robotically in a sort of "Chrisitanese," and out-of-context kind of way when it benefits our personal agendas. Out of my passion to see this phrase more adequately used among the faithful, I thought it would be good to revisit it, briefly, exposing the word, "edify," tapping its origins and rebuilding a definition from the original texts of the Scripture.
The word, "edify," in the dictionary means to build, particularly a house or building, as in the original Greek word used in Romans 14:19, 1 Corinthians 10:23 and here, in 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NLT) -"So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing." Obviously, in these passages, a structure is not being built, so scholars agree unanimously that this is a type of metaphor, explaining how we "build" one another. Metaphorically, in the Scriptures, it refers to "building" our Spiritual state, or growing, maturing, and accessing the next level in the discipleship process.
My encouragement to you is this: Avoid the often abused and "out of context" usage, where "feeling good" is the epicenter of the definition. Contrary to popular opinion, there has never been a time when anything was actually "built" out of good feelings. Sometimes that's a tough concept for us to grasp, as we all place too much faith in what we believe "good feelings" can do. Truth is, good feelings are simply an environment in which things can be built, and certainly, there is nothing wrong with "feeling good" or "being happy" for that matter! Those feelings, however, just can't do the actual "building" of our soul in this life. It is good to know the difference between the things of the Spirit and just being happy!
Anyone who has worked in construction or other hands-on building occupations will tell you that "building" things actually comes at a price, and that effectively building something (an act which does not have to make up for lost time) does not hang its hat on "how I feel" throughout the process. The act of "edifying" or "building" takes work, sweat, heartache, and often a lot of pain, something which we don't like, and which often scares people. Why? Because we find it inconvenient to endure pain when we don't like the way that pain feels...kind of ironic, no? But growth is pain...just ask any kid who is experiencing what we call "growing pains" in their arms and legs...I'm sure they can tell you about it.
Perhaps the simplest, most important detail is that the building process doesn't afford "fluff." If a small band of workers on a construction crew decided that the building shell would feel "warmer" and more "at home" if the steel under-girders and i-beams and metal studs were painted in a soft aqua tone, most people would think they were out of their mind. Why would you paint the shell to feel more comfortable, when all you're going to do is cover it up? It seems like a complete waste, right? When, in fact, it is, since making the process "feel good" will not get the construction crew any closer to finishing the building, but will cause the process to just take that much longer.
As faithful believers, I would encourage us all to keep our eyes on the finish line, so that when we build each other up, it accomplishes the goal of true discipleship. Be honest and loving and helpful and encouraging and available to one another as you seek His face and strive to grow closer in His Spirit. Sure, there are a lot of things that we can do along the way that are "fun" and "feel good," and surly a perfect God knows that they are not an issue of "wrong" or "right." But, I pray we don't sacrifice TRUE edification for those things. How about you?
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