A Side by Side Communal Approach

Many people believe in a bottom up approach or a top down approach. I do not believe in either. I believe in a coming in from the sides approach.

Christ came down from heaven and became man in the form of a baby, yet he died on the cross to ascend into heaven, and to offer us freedom and salvation. However the most important section of the cross is not the top of the bottom… it is the sides where Christ is there with open arms… his open arms bring us to the middle … to an embrace, where his heart is. Christ was always embracing others… he didn’t approach his ministry from the bottom up or the top down. He never lorded it over others that he was the Messiah. He led with the Holy Spirit in his heart, by love and loving others. It is about what is in our hearts and how the Holy Spirit is moving through our hearts, actions, words, life, and ministry that is important. It does not matter what title we have or role in leadership we have, whether we lead from the bottom up or the top down, because usually someone is always missed, or misunderstood from this approach. Those in leadership sometimes abuse their power from the top down. While those using a bottom up approach usually still feel inadequate or like they are less than because they are leading from the ”bottom.” It is in coming from the sides where everyone is equal. With arms outstretched in welcome to others, inviting them in, to know the love of Christ and who Christ is, and that each person is cherished by Christ, in his heart, that people begin to really understand what love really is, and how the Holy Spirit moves through life, with us, bringing us to eternal life. It is through Christ’s embrace that we are able to truly embrace others, no matter their position, status, religion, ethnic background, gender political party, country of origin etc. It is through this embrace that no one is left out, considered less than or more than…. And it is through this embrace, close to God’s heart, that peace abounds and that we are a communal people. In this way we become a community of people that is open to all people. Additionally, it is in this way, that we also become a community of worship and a church community/ a community of people in the church.

Christ was and is communal.  Christ showed us he was communal and how to be communal not only through his approach to others but through the meals that he shared with others, no matter who they were. We additionally see a communal  and from the sides approach through the last supper, where all the disciples were invited. No disciples were left out of the last supper, not even the one who would betray him. Christ’s loving embrace was present to all of them, as he opened his arms in offering the bread and wine to all at the table. Christ sat at the same level of his disciples, with his disciples side by side. Christ did not sit above or below his disciples, he sat next to them, side by side with them, as he also walked with them side by side throughout his ministry.

This is again reflected in the Eucharist, where we receive the body and blood of Christ. We see this when the priest says the Eucharistic prayer, where we are all invited to partake in the receiving the Eucharist/Communion. As we receive communion we are being communal and we approach side by side, on the same level with all who are in the church, no matter anyone’s titles or status. We receive Christ’s heart into ours as we partake in the mass, through prayer, worship, liturgy of the word, and through the liturgy of the Eucharist.

By Mega