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take turns teaching themselves. Referring our friends to the human and other
resources of our church not only gives reassurance as to the credibility of our
beliefs, but also enriches the way we serve their spiritual needs through the
variety and reinforcement the Lord provides through others.
Another benefit in joining a church for others’ sake is that our motives
are purer when we put ourselves out for others. Being part of an organization
dedicated to worship is, like worship itself, something we should do more for
the Lord’s sake than our own. (See Arcana Coelestia 9450, 10411, 10683; New
Jerusalem and its Heavenly Doctrine 167)
Making the effort to attend church regularly so that there is one more
voice to add to the singing, or one more person to greet a visitor or friend,
illustrates how worship for others’ sake serves the Lord. The marvelous thing
is that when we worship for the Lord’s sake or join the Church for His sake and
the neighbor’s, the blessings which accrue to us will be immeasurably better
because they are not suffocated by self-regard.
There are, of course, no perfect human organizations. They are all
composed of imperfect people who, like ourselves, make mistakes, fall short
of their goals, aspire to ideals beyond thei r limitations, etc. In looking for a
church to join so that we can better serve the Lord by working in concert
with others, we should look for a church with core beliefs, principles and goals
which align with our own or inspire us to better ones. These core beliefs and
goals are the ones we have seen to be from the Word, for only that which is
from the Lord will lead us to the Lord.
The thing that makes the General Church stand out as a church
organization is its acknowledgment that the theological Writings of Emanuel
Swedenborg are “the Word” – a revelation that is from the Lord, reveals the
Lord, and reveals the truths that will lead us to conjunction with Him and
eternal life in His kingdom.
It has been said that this revelation is our “constitution.” It has drawn us
together, and is what will draw us back together when we stumble or stray. There
is great innocence and love for the Lord in the question, “What do the Writings
say?”, for in pursuing the answer, we willingly subordinate ourselves to a will
and wisdom above our own, a will and wisdom we acknowledge to be DivineHuman – the Lord’s.
Does the Lord want you to join the organization known as the General
Church of the New Jerusalem?* The answer that will mean the most to you
is the one you hear from the Lord. His kingdom is a kingdom of uses, so the
question of joining will relate not only to how useful joining is for yourself, but
how useful you can be for the spiritual and eternal life of your family, friends,
co-workers, acquaintances and strangers.
It will relate not only to how the Church can equip and support you, but
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