SHACKING WITH THE CHURCH-
There are millions of people today who live together, enjoy each
other's company but do not share a relationship of mutual trust and
commitment. On the outside they look happy, but on the inside they
are unwilling or unable to make a full commitment.
One of the unique contributions African-Americans ha've-'made to
the English language is a wealth of colloquialisms. One of these
colloquialisms is the term "shacking." It is a phrase that describes
a man and woman that live together as husband and wife, without the
benefit of marriage. The legal systems refers to such arrangements
as common-law or unofficial marriages, we call it "shacking."
In its broadest meaning "shacking" is an expression of fear, or
distrust. It occurs when one or both partners refuse to commit themselves,
even in private, to a life of mutual sharing. Consider what
could easily be described as the "Shacker's Wedding Vow:11 which would
go something like this:
Dearly beloved we are gathered here today because this man and
this woman refuse to join themselves in holy wedlock. Since marriage
is holy and acceptable to God, we are here today to acknowledge that
this man and this woman have decided to live together without a
commitment to each other even if it is unacceptable and unholy to
God.
There are no rings or symbols of a marriage because others who
might see either of them will know they are no longer available.
They pledge to be together as long times escape them and their relationship does not become inconvenient. They don't promise each other anything and they only pledge pledge to be together as long as things work out or until a better looking or more sucessful person come along. With that the shacker may now salute the shackee." The shacking relationship that exist between some couples is one based upon receiving without giving and sharing without trusting.
Just as there are some persons who shack
with their partners there are others whose relationship to Christ and
the church bears a striking relationship to "shacking. " They seek to
get all from him that they can without making a full commitment to
him, and without trusting him totally. While there is a large number
of people who are shacking with each other, there is an even larger
number of people who are "Shacking With The Church."
As Christians, we know that our Lord loves us totally and
completely. Christ love for us is not the question, but our love for Christ is questionable.The Christian relationship with Christ is one of full committment and trust. It is the mnarriage bond between the bride and the bridegroom that we seek to acheive. Any thing less would make us guilty of shacking with the church." So just in case you are not a Tither, but a Dues Payer You're "Shacking With The Church." If you don't, attend Bible Study then you're "Shacking With The Church."
If you don't attend Prayer Meeting, Church School, or'Midweek
Services you are "Shacking With The Church."
This text focuses on Paul as he writes to the church at Corinth
about his desire for them to remain fully committed to the cause of
Christ. Paul expressed his desire that the Corinthian church would
remain faithful to Christ such that it could be presented as a
spotless "Virgin" to the bridegroom, which is Christ, when he
returns . The imagery of the bride and bridegroom is often used in
Scripture to represent the sum total of believers and their
relationship to Christ. Generally the bride is always symbolic of the people of God. In the Old Testament the prophets often u^ed the
imagery of the bride to suggest the repeated adulteries of the people against God who acted as a loving husband. Hosea's marriage to a harlot was a striking example of how an adulterous relationship exist between between a backsliding people and a loving God.
In the New Testament and image of the bride often refers to the
church and its relationship to Christ. The bride, in Revelation also
represented the sum total of all believers: those before Christ, the
church, and the 144,000 Jews and large mass of people that John saw
which were uncountable coming out of the tribulation having washed
their robes in the blood of the lamb. All believers, whether Old
Testament or New Testament are represented by the image of the bride.
In the Old Testament,God was representing by the loving father. In the New Testament Christ is represented by the image of the bridegroom. Both the bride and bridegroom are spoken of as preparing
to meet each other. The bridegroom has gone to prepare a place for
the bride and the bride is waiting patiently for his return.
Paul told the Church at Corinth that he wanted it to remain
faithful to Christ and not simply run after every new doctrine
that came along. He wanted a full commitment from Corinth, setting
the stage for the perfect union between Christ and his spotless
congregation that remained faithful until he returned.
There are many people in the church today whose relationship
to the church is similar to the relationship of "shacking" partners
in that they have no full commitment. Those who marry for example,
pledge to be together in sickness and in health. However, those
who shack don't make that pledge. Shackers usually enjoy each others
company in health but cannot be expected to be around in sickness.
Obviously there are a few exceptions to the rule, but generally
shackers assume the attitude that "I may be around if you get sick,
but don't count on it."
In a similar sense there are those whose relationship with the
church by the onslaughts of Satan, there are many who will leave the
church and find other partners. They enjoy the church's company in
times of health, but when it is spiritually sick they can't be
counted on to stick with the church. If a bad spirit comes along in
the choir, or usher board or among the deacons or some committee they
usually disappear because they are committed only to the point that
the church is in good spiritual health. Like those who shack, they
say they.will come back to the choir or the ushers "when Y'all
get it together." When you are well again they will return,
I
but don't expect any help from them in getting rid of sickness
through fasting and prayer. Those who relate to the church in
this way are "shacking with the church."
Those who shack commit themselves to each other only to the
extent that conditions are both convenient and mutually enjoyable.
A shacker can only expect his or her partner to be present in good
times. There is a possibility that they may be around in bad times,
but even then they should not be expected to stick with the
relationship through the long haul. The very nature of the shacking relationships is to get as much out of the relationship as possible without committment to make an equal return. Therefore when things
turn bad, one shacker will probably disappear or look for another
partner that is not having such bad times. Unemployment, misfortune,
and other problems, usually suggest hard times. They are also times
when shackers deal so they drop their partners and move on.
There are many people who relate to their church in the same
way. When the church seems to prosper and things are going well they
are proud to be associated with the church. They brag "looJt at Us's
church" and they can't stop talking about the church. When there
are anniversaries and celebrations when friends from around the
community will be present they enjoy the applauds and the accolades.
However, when difficulties arise they disappear. When it's time to
support financially, they refuse to do so. When workers are needed
to clean the bathrooms, mow the law or to repair broken furniture
they disappear. When there are problems to be solved and
difficulties to overcome many of them disappear.
Paul told the church at Corinth that he was fully committed to
the cause of Christ. At verse 25 and beyond he listed of£••«. long
list of hardships he endured for the sake of the church. His point
was clear, in good times and bad times he stuck with the church.
His was not a shacking relationship that was only for good times
but it was a permanent commitment that would last through tiard
times until things became better.
Likewise, those who want to be a part of the bride of Christ
should commit themselves for the long haul. In good times and
hard times they should resolve that "nothing shall separate me
from the love of Christ."
While there are some who have assumed a shacking relationship
with Christ, only seeking to get from him what they can get without
giving fully of themselves, there are others who have given the Lord
their all, and are living each day, waiting for the bridegroom.
Those who are waiting for the bridegroom don't get weary and are
not intimidated by the times. They wait because the words say "They
that wait on the Lord, shall renew their strength. They shall mount
up on wings as eagles, they shall run and not faint." They are
waiting on the bridegroom because when he returns he will bring them
joy and happiness and will set them free.
Consider the slave couple that was allowed to marry even though
the master had plans to sell the husband. When the husband found out
he was about to be sold he met with his new wife and told her that
he was going to run away to freedom. She remembered the power in
his words when he said "No matter how long it takes or how far I
have to go, I'm coming back for you. Wait For Me.l With that the
husband dashed into the night running for his freedom. Many years
later after slavery was abolished, his wife refused to remarry or
to take on suitors. She looked out the window of her cabin waiting
for her husband to return. Her hair turned gray. Her eyes became
dim, but she waited. Then one day she saw a fancy buggy coming up
the road.
The man driving it looked like a angel from heaven. He was
wearing a derby hat with a .50 cent cigar in his mouth. Then she
realized it was her husband. She ran to meet him and as they hugged
he told her that he wondered whether she would wait and she said "You
told me to wait, and I been waiting right here until you returned!"
Brothers and Sisters, Jesus, the bridegroom told his bride
"I go to prepare a place for youp, that where I am ye may be also.
In my father's house are many mansion's!" But I hear the song writer
putting it this way in the words of a song that says:
Come and go with me to my father's house1
In my father's house there is Joy!
In my father's house there is Peace!
Come and go with me to my father's house!
I'm so glad that he's coining back again, so I'll wait right
here...until he comes! I hear the Poet as He puts it this way:
I am on the battlefield for my Lord,
I'm on the battlefield for my Lord;
And I promised Him that I,
Would serve Him till I die.
I'm on the battlefield for my Lord
I was alone and idle,
I was a sinner too,
I heard a voice from heaven
Say there is work to do,
I took the Master's hand,
And I joined the Christian band,
I'm on the battlefield for my Lord.
I left my friends and kindred
Bound for the Promised Land,
The grace of God upon me,
The Bible in my hand,
In distant lands I trod,
Crying sinner come to God,
I'm on the battlefield for my Lord.
Now when I met ray Savior,
I met Him with a smile,
He healed my wounded spirit,
And owned me as His child,
Around the throne of grace,
He appoint my soul a place,
I'm on the battlefield for my Lord.
