Shacking With The Church

(KJV 1900)

2 Corinthians 11:1–3 KJV 1900

1 Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. 2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

Introduction

Have you ever loved someone and felt they didn't love you? Have you ever felt totally committed to a person but felt the feeling was not mutual? Have you ever shared a relationship with someone but secretly felt that they did not trust you fully? Though it may seem odd, 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 have 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 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"

"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 as sickness, poverty, and bad times escape them and their relationship does not become inconvenient. They don't promise each other anything and they only pledge to be together as long as things work out or until a better looking more successful person comes along. With that the shacker may now salute the shackee." The shacking relationship that exists 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's love for us is not the question, but our love for him is questionable. The Christian's relationship with Christ is one of full commitment and trust. It is the marriage bond be­tween the bride and bridegroom that we seek to achieve. Anything less would make us guilty of "shack­ing with the church."

Exposition

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 used 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 one striking example of how an adulterous relationship exist between a backsliding people and a loving God.

In the New Testament the image of the bride often refers to the church and its relationship to Christ.

In the Old Testament, God was represented 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 to 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.

In Sickness and In Health

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 other's 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 is the same. When the spiritual health of the church is threatened by 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 U-all get it together." When you are well again they will return, but don't expect any help from them in getting rid of the sickness through fasting and prayer. Those who relate to the church in this way are "shacking with the church."

For Better or Worse

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 relationship is to get as much out of the relationship as possible, without commit­ting 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 usually break up because there is nothing for them to gain from the "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 "look 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 workers are needed to clean the bathrooms, mow the lawn 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 off a 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. Though he was beaten, stoned and ostra­cized, 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 hard 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."

Waiting For the Bridegroom

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 word says "They that wait on the Lord, shall renew their strength. They shall mount up on wings as eagles, they shall run and not get weary; they shall walk and not faint." They are waiting on the bridegroom because when he returns he will bring them peace and joy and will set them free.

Jesus, the bridegroom told his bride "I go to prepare a place for you, that where I am ye may be also. In my father's house are many mansion's!"

Come and go with me to my father's house! 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 coming back again, so I'll wait right here ..until he comes!