“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up” (Ephesians 4:11-12) NIV.

C.S Lewis’ book Mere Christianity which means Christianity plain and simple (or “simples” as our meerkat friends would say) is considered to be a classic of Christian apologetics and was originally adapted from a series of BBC radio talks broadcast during the war years.     

The current BBC documentary series Meerkat Manor follows a small group of meerkats as they struggle for survival in the hostile and uniquely challenging environment of the Kalahari Desert in Southern Africa. 

All the members of the Meerkat group appear to adopt very clearly defined roles and duties and rely on cooperation and teamwork to ensure their survival against the many obstacles and threats that they face on a daily basis.  Meerkats may not be as fast moving, powerfully built or well armed as many of their predators, yet they continue to survive and prosper simply because they work together more effectively than almost any other species.

Are there lessons we can learn from the Meerkats about the importance of working together in a close community?  

Growing in grace and functioning as part of a Christian community should be aspects of our Christian experience that are closely interconnected.  Christian communities should be seen as family units in which members are able to express themselves in participation, loving relationships, shared experiences, and through the contribution of spiritual gifts.

Given their small size and delicate frame, a solitary meerkat would appear to be an easy prey.  So what is it that makes the meerkats so successful?  The answer is simple (or “simples”) - they cooperate and look out for each other.  

Individual members of the group learn to specialize in one of a number of very specific tasks, such as guard duty, babysitting the young, distributing and sharing food and, although each member dutifully fulfils his or her specific role, they are relieved of their duties by other group members during mealtimes.  As many of these duties can be extremely exhausting and demanding, the willingness of other members to share in the labour is a sign of just how caring, protective and cohesive the community is.

The caring and cooperative behaviour of the Meerkats carries important lessons for us and for our local church communities.   When we come to faith in Christ, we not only enter into a relationship with him, but with every other believer.  “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” (Philippians 2:3-4) NIV. 
It’s that simples.

Richard Dempsey

“They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.  He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.” (Acts 15:39-41) NIV

Disagreement lies at the heart of much of this world’s trouble and yet the church of God, comprising members with vastly differing opinions and viewpoints, proudly and rightly boasts of ‘diversity in unity’.  A unity forged among communities of faith by the Holy Spirit (Acts 11:19-20).  

It is unfortunate that most readers of the above passage focus solely on the disagreement as it arose and not on the overall solidarity and unity of purpose that followed.

It should be noted that the sharp disagreement which arose between Paul and Barnabas was not over any doctrinal matter. Their difference of opinion revolved around conflicting viewpoints as to how best the immediate work of mission could be served.  To their credit, neither Paul nor Barnabas allowed their personal opinions, however strongly expressed, to distract them from their respective roles as missionary leaders and servants of the gospel and of the local church.

The young church at Antioch had grown out of social and cultural diversity where, for the first time, Jews and non Jews rejoiced together over the good news concerning Jesus.  Antioch soon became a vibrant missionary centre as a direct result of this oneness of faith and love, forged out of a diverse mix of social and cultural Christian expression. 

The gospel message was found to be strong enough to bind together such an unlikely assembly.  There remained differences, but to paraphrase a popular hymn, ‘their differences became one’.  They were united with a zeal for the gospel which had power to carry the message of the cross over many continents.

Even when a sharp disagreement arose between its two leading missionaries, this loving and spirit led community were quick to commend a solution (Acts 15:36-41 Barnabas and Mark retained their original commission) which resulted in a strengthening and an expansion of the missionary arm of the church, to the blessing and benefit of all (2 Timothy 2:11; Colossians. 4:10-11; I Corinthians 9:6).

In spite of strong differences of opinion, there remained a sense of mutual respect and an ongoing spirit of cooperation and selfless service (I Corinthians 9:6).  Paul and Barnabas were acutely aware that the church is a community that works together as one, a communion of faith where individual differences are forged in a way that serves to strengthen and provide new opportunities, new approaches and new incentives to develop in the common work of the gospel.  It is in this sense that our differences become one.    

We need to pray that, through the power of the Holy Spirit, our differences, however sharply expressed at times, may continue to ‘become one’ as we strive together for more effective service and outreach in our collective and local communities of faith.

Richard Dempsey

“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not” (Romans 7:18) AV

Turning the searchlight, that I so often use to scan the vast outer darkness of a corrupt and perverse world, inwards upon myself; to probe the murky corners of my own corrupt and deceitful heart, I find, as did the apostle, that in me, that is, in my flesh “dwells no good thing” (Rom 7:18).  All of the evil that I see in the world around me, I find has its roots here.  This, the human heart, is its natural home, its permanent abiding place (Jeremiah 17:9). 

This indwelling sinful nature is a law unto itself and I am bound to it as I am bound to this fleshly, mortal frame.  As the apostle declared: “I am carnal, sold under sin” (v. 14).  With my mind, I may strive to serve a far higher and nobler law, but I remain in chains and, for me, that is, for my flesh, there is no escape.  What hope then?

Thank God then for the understanding that this ‘body of death’ has already been taken away to the cross and nailed there, so that although: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

We may be persuaded, by fine sounding arguments, that we can “become better people” (perhaps even better Christians) if only, and with the help of God’s spirit, we diligently adhere to all the commandments and precepts of the law; but the apostle tells us that this is a complete reversal of the Gospel of Grace and is really no gospel at all (Galatians 1:6-7).

Continued focus on the law, which has no jurisdiction beyond the cross, yet which once served to throw a spotlight on the abject wretchedness of my former life in the flesh, now serves only to cast me back upon myself.  For the gospel, as T.F. Torrance has stated, is always “Not I, but Christ.”

In Jesus, I have a new identity. I may stand before you as a sinner; at one with every sinner in the universe.  I may rightly see myself as such.  But I stand before God as a new man in Christ, ransomed and redeemed, sinless and spotless, and the life I now live in the flesh, I live in the light of this glorious and wonderfully liberating truth.

Richard Dempsey