Living Stones

Come to Christ, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God's sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:4-5
The communities of faith receiving this letter from I Peter are people living on the margins of society. They had no legal standing or political power. In verse eleven, Peter calls them aliens and exiles. Another translation identifies them as "transient strangers" and "resident aliens". The point is - the author indicates his understanding that they have been temporarily displaced from their homeland - they were non-citizens and landless. Indeed, they could not participate in the workings of society, they could not own land, or marry outside their class or ethnicity, sometimes they were forced into menial, dirty jobs and even drafted into the military.

Because they were foreigners, the languages they spoke, the clothing they wore, and their religious orientation exposed them to prejudice, abuse, and suspicion by the indigenous population. They were different - didn't belong or blend in. Does that sound even remotely familiar? The recipients of this letter, I think, must have heard words of nurture, assurance and comfort - and - words that were unexpected and amazingly different as well.

This text is an invitation for them, as individuals and a community, to come to Christ - the Living Stone and for them to become living stones - to be God's temple or God's household for those without a home. The writer encourages them to allow themselves to be built into a spiritual house. I Peter declares, that the Christians themselves are a home for the homeless.

The text is for us as well - thousands of years later. Because we have been "transient strangers" and "resident aliens" in our own country, we understand the power and importance of being radically inclusive and hospitable. Important also is to understand I Peter is talking about the community and the individual. Just as we are to align our community with Christ - the Living Stone - so our bodies are intended to be a home or temple for the spirit of God to dwell in.

I find this both comforting and disturbing - knowing the Holy Spirit of God dwells within me fills me with awe and determination to care for my body in ways that make it possible for the purity of God to live within me. Disturbing, though, because my determination is tempted and tried by the delicacies and distractions of the world. Comfort again, however, because even though my determination wavers God's does not which, of course empowers me even more to become a temple of God. I pray these words help and empower you to care appropriately for your temple of God.