Excerpt from 1 Peter 2: 4-10 

“Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house…For it stands in scripture: ‘See, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious.’”

Reflection by Felix Carrion

Superstar athletes are fond of saying “this is my house” when referring to the stadium or arena of their team. Whether or not this phrase was popularized by them, it has now become commonplace.

Although this sentiment has some resonance in our culture, it is pretty tragic when it takes hold in the church. At times pastors fall captive to this idea, and so do church members. Justifications for the claim, “this is my house,” may range from the many years someone has served as leader or member of the church to “my family built this church” to “I am the biggest contributor.” The implied message is “I get to call the shots.”  Seasoned pastors know how difficult it is to move a congregation held captive by the one or the few to a new understanding of shared authority and leadership.

For the first members of the church, Jesus Christ was the “cornerstone” of God’s house. A cornerstone is the first stone set in the construction of an edifice.  It becomes the reference point that determines the direction and position of all the other stones. The author of this epistle reminds the members of the church that they are being built up into a spiritual house dedicated to the life and service of Jesus Christ. You are living stones in God’s house built upon the foundation of Jesus; but you are not the cornerstone.
If we find ourselves succumbing to the illusion that “this is my house,” it is a good thing to begin on the spot whispering and then exclaiming, “This is God’s house.”

Prayer

O God, it is you who builds the spiritual house, in whose care and charge are all the matters that pertain to it. When we do not “keep it real,” bring us back to our spiritual senses, so that we will see all the others who are not just in your house, but who together with me form it. Amen.

About the Author Felix Carrion is Coordinator of The Stillspeaking Ministry, United Church of Christ.

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