Monday, September 15, 2008

We Need Each Other

I was reading "Why Courage Matters" by John McCain(the book I quoted from in an earlier post)and I came across these words:

"In prison, I was not always a match for my enemies. I was proud and angry. I thought I was tough, clever, and prepared enough to resist. But I found my courage wanting nevertheless. When it failed it was because my primary concern had been my own survival, my own dignity. I relied on my resources to guard them, and my courage ran out much earlier than I expected. Fortunately, I shared my circumstances with hundreds of brave men who insisted on a communal code of conduct--we would all return with honor, each man's suffering our own concern...We relied on each other to strengthen our ability, to encourage us when we felt used up...When we saw our duty and our courage as a common experience, our duty was easier to bear and our courage more at the ready. We completed one another's sense of honor, and it made us stronger."

It is the same way with Christians. We need other Godly people to help us in our Christian walk. We need the body, to encourage us, to help us through hard times and to lovingly correct us when we are sinning. To say that we don't need the body is rejecting a gift from God. We must allow others to help us fight the good fight, or we will probably fail.

-cj

Please let me know your me your thoughts on this:)

9 comments:

ReganBKing said...

Excellent quote. In order to truly grow in the faith we must be in regular fellowship with a body of believers- ecouraging others with scripture and being encouraged with scripture.

Kade said...

Great post man!

-Kole

Caleb Nathaniel said...

Amen. An analogy that has always helped me to visualize how we need each other is Proverbs 27:17 "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another."

~Caleb <><

P.S. Have you ever heard the Sanctus Real song called "We Need Each Other"?

cj said...

Caleb, I don't think I have:)

-cj

Margaret Braun said...

I am reminded by Paul's letter to the Romans, I think it is. He says we are to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. Also, as the body of Christ, if one part suffers, the whole body is affected. We do not operate as a church just as individuals but together with other believers. Those are just a few of my thoughts

Ryan Burton King said...

Great post. Both McCain quotes are quite good. Are you planning to post a few things specifically about the election and the candidates? I think that would be interesting and cause some good discussion.

Erik B. said...

Agreed. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. - Hebrews 10:21

Great post. I think you are wise to be reading that book by McCain. If he becomes president, it will be good to know something about him.

cj said...

Yeah, that book really informed me of a lot about him.

Charlie said...

I completely agree with what you're saying, and it goes along with my blog theme as well. You know, some peop,e believe that it is the duty of the church to convert the whole world, as a way of God's kingdom coming on Earth. But with all the division and different denominations in the church, this will be impossible. Jesus himself said that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. We truly do, as you said, "need each other."