How am I different as a person of faith?
My late father, the God-less man of conscience,claimed belief in what he borrowed words to term, “the fundamental isolation of the human spirit.” Pop had many friends, did much good work, but I think had no real sense that he lived connected to others. He certainly loved a few people and liked many, many more, but I don’t think he ever experienced what I think of as faith’s great gift of inclusion—a feeling of community, a feeling that whatever it is we’re all in, we’re all in it together. (more of Martha’s thoughts) . . .
We, who follow Christ’s teaching know by experience the brotherhood of all believers, functioning within the framework of the local gatherings as members each in particular under the guidance and direction of Him as the only Head. Each being gifted by the Holy Spirit to aid in the self edification through mutual love, caring about others more than ourselves, at least trying too. Absolutely amazing activity when all members working to strengthen the others for their daily personal struggles in this society endeavoring to be godly.