By Geoffrey F. Spencer

…They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.

Strangers and Pilgrims, Herald House, 1984, pp. 202–203

In the chapter “A Company of Strangers,” Geoff Spencer offers some suggestions for those seeking true Christian community.

A congregation which sees itself as a company of strangers and pilgrims might:

• make consciousness-raising opportunities available relating to political issues facing the community;
• become familiar with the political process itself, encouraging members to utilize political resources and procedures when appropriate;
• encourage the development of points of conversation between the members of the congregation and the “world;”
• identify the areas of expertise that need to be developed if the church is to speak with authority in its community, and where necessary, provide training in these areas;
• commission members of the congregation to gain training in important areas of competence, and when appropriate underwrite the cost of such training;
• attempt to identity ways in which the prevailing values of the culture come into conflict with the gospel, and to explore appropriate ways of saying no to those values;
• locate places and ways in which the kingdom of God is taking shape in the community, and explore how members of the congregation can be in the forefront of such movements;
• encourage members to cultivate the capacity for affirmative self-criticism, and to exercise modesty about the finality of their solutions for the world;
• determine in what ways, and to what extent, the congregation needs to be a “peculiar people” in its community.

What homeland are we seeking? In ongoing discernment and contemplation of this question, let us embody our vision of peace, on and for the earth.

Prayer Phrase

“Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; persevere in prayer” (Romans 12:12).

Deepening Roots

A tree with superficial roots will wither during drought, or severe storms may uproot it. A tree whose roots go deep is stable and draws from deep waters. Imagine yourself as a tree by a river or stream. Sense your roots extending deep into the earth in search of God’s Spirit. Reflect or pray about what you hope to find as your spirit searches for deeper identity in God.

Today’s Prayer for Peace

Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.