And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. Eph 2:20 (NLT)

Part 1 – Cornerstone

In Paul’s day, it was widely understood that the cornerstone was the most important stone in any structure. It supplied a building's integrity, continuity and strength. ‘Cornerstone’ means “at the tip of the angle.” It’s the place where two walls are joined at a right angle, and it's paramount that this first ‘join’ (cornerstone) is laid correctly as everything in the building is built from it. It determines the regulation, pattern and form, making sure the walls meet and the lines are straight; unity. Compromise the cornerstone, and the whole building is compromised.

We talk about God building his church in this way, which is true, he is and he does. Paul tells us in Ephesians that Christ is the cornerstone and we are the stones with which he builds. Christ sets the tone and the angle of the whole structure. Everything about the building is determined by him – its lines, its strength – he is the building's integrity and unity.

It’s easy for us to start replacing the cornerstone (Jesus) with dogma, tradition, events, numbers, culture and more…We try to get the form and structure of our lives and faith from these things, building from them and to them. However, from person to person, these things all look different. When you start using your personal dogma and doctrine, your preferences and experiences, traditions and values as THE CORNERSTONE, it automatically pushes out ‘other’ bricks in the wall that no longer align with your cornerstone. And we all do this. We all project onto it. It’s within the constructs of our humanity and culture to want to define and control. It gives us a sense of clarity and security. It’s a lifelong discipline to relinquish control over to God; to understand that we really cannot control anything except for our own responses and reactions to the life that happens all around us.

So is Jesus indifferent? Does he not care what he builds with? What image does his structure portray if ‘such and such' a brick is included?

He’s not at all indifferent, he just looks at ‘building’ a little different to us.

In Acts 17 Paul says,

“The true God is the Creator of all things. He is the owner and Lord of the heavenly realm and the earthly realm, and he doesn’t live in man-made temples. He supplies life and breath and all things to every living being.”

Our cornerstone is Jesus. He doesn’t build brick upon brick; same size, colour, and make… but it is him within us that connects us all. Unity doesn’t depend on conformity. Erwin McManus says,

“Just because you don't fit in easily, it doesn't mean you don't fit in.”

We are all blood and breath and bone and pain and joy and suffering and hope and grace and faith. We all originated divinely in the heart of God and we are all held together and to each other by the one who is in all things and through all things.

Divine. Transcendent. Miraculous.

It is God that defines and unifies us. And his ultimate building plan and design is resurrection, restoration… redemption.

“And by the blood of his cross, everything in heaven and earth is restored, brought back to himself— back to its original intent, restored to innocence again! Even though you were once distant from him, living in the shadows of your evil thoughts and actions, he reconnected you back to himself. He released his supernatural peace to you through the sacrifice of his own body as the sin payment on your behalf so that you would dwell in his presence. And now there is nothing between you and Father God, for he sees you as holy, flawless, and restored!” Col 1:20-22

To be continued…