Cords and Chains

The Bible has a lot to say about cords, chains and binding and loosing.  We might think of cords and chains as ways of tying things/people up.  But in Scripture, these two things are treated very differently.

Chains are usually spoken of in terms of holding and confining someone.  The demon-possessed man in Mark 5 was bound with chains, though it didn't work.  Peter was bound with chains in Acts 12.  Paul and Silas were bound with chains in Acts 16.  Chains were used to confine and imprison.

Cords are different.  In Ecclesiastes 4:12 we find that cords bind things together in a unity of strength.  "Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.  And a threefold cord is not quickly broken."

Chains confine us.  Cords hold us in a unity that is hard to break.  So, how is this relevant in the Church?

During recovery month, I want us all to pray and practice binding and loosing.  In Matthew 16:19 Jesus tells Peter (and the Church) "I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."  Jesus describes a church with powers beyond our sight ... powers that transcend from the seen realm to the unseen realm.  Read carefully what this says ... through Christ's gift and authority, we have the power to bind and loose.

Here are a few observations about these passages and about chains and cords.

1. We, the Church, can bind things.  I think (this is purely my take) we bind things mostly with cords.  Why?  Because we, God, Jesus aren't into confining and conscription as a method of operation.  I think Ecclesiastes 4 uses cords because cords hold things and people with gentleness.  A threefold cord is hard to break, but if we work hard enough we can break it.  And a threefold cord can be untied.  You are not confined!  You have free will to follow or not.  You have our love and our support, but if you try hard enough you can either break or untie cords.  But remember ... God put those cords in place.  So let's bind up the wounded, unite with our fellow workers and allow God to "bind us together with cords that cannot be broken."

2. We, the Church, can be agents of release, freedom and loosing people from bondage.  Let's pray, practice and persevere so that chains are broken, bonds are loosed and people can live in the freedom God has graciously given.  The Tasha Cobb song says, "There is power, in the name of Jesus ... to break every chain, break every chain, break every chain."  Let's become chain breakers that loose people from the bondage of culture, possessions, control, drugs, alcohol and pride (yes, pride is an addictive behavior).

Let us bind each other up in the love of Christ and the nurture of the Church, on earth as it is in heaven.  Let us loose each other from all those things that chain our souls, our potential and our witness so we are able to do what Paul said in Ephesians 5:8 ... "For you were once in darkness.  But now you have light from the Lord.  So live as people of light!"  Worship passionately ... love extravagantly ... witness boldly! Jesus said, when we appropriate His gift of the "keys to the kingdom of heaven" the very gates of hell will not prevail against us (the Church)." AMEN