Extract from Epilogue

Extract from Epilogue

I have attempted to lay out some precious truths for your encouragement together with the challenge of a call to change.

I have endeavoured to make my meanings clear in areas where historical word usage in different settings has attached meanings to biblical words and concepts never intended in the original manuscripts.

If the chef cooks a good meal but arranges it on the plate in a way that does not suit your preference, or includes a vegetable you do not like, does that mean that whole meal deserves to be rejected? If the style of this book in some way does not please you, I pray that you will look beyond that to the substance of its central message.

Please do not let secondary themes, with which you may at this time have a difference of opinion, discredit in your mind the main themes. Could you just move any distasteful vegetable aside onto the edge of your plate for the moment?

I have written frankly but do not mean to be judgmental or to offend.

Like me this book is very imperfect but I have tried to express myself carefully. My prayer is that all who read it will be able to look past its imperfections and any lack of grace and gain a deepening appreciation of “the mystery” and of “the body of Christ” on earth and the practical implications for church life.

During the time of writing I have not had other likeminded people in my immediate area to practise these truths with on a regular basis but have been very thankful to connect with precious members of “the body of Christ” in various settings – including through attending institutional churches. This fellowship with members of Christ has been most valuable.

However, I have found a great lack of corporate understanding of the themes of this book and it is against this background I have felt called to write with the prayer that it will be used of the Lord as a catalyst for others to receive fresh revelation from the Word and in the hope that together we may enter into a more authentic, more Christ honouring, New Testament based experience.

But as I now draw to a close and lay down my ‘pen’, I am aware that my life on this earth is also drawing to a close, and my closing prayer for you dear reader is that this book will bless you with an expanded understanding of ‘Christ and the church’.