Church as Chosen Lady #6 of 7

Adorn the Doctrine

(Titus 2:10)

Still thinking about that Chosen Lady of Second John. She’s not the Bride of Christ “adorned for her husband” for which “the marriage supper of the Lamb” is prepared in Glory (Rv 19). She’s a different woman—more earthy. She’s a woman with children and an extended family of sisters, nieces and nephews. The Chosen Lady is part of a big, earthy, ruckus “family of faith” (Gal 6:10).

Maybe we best think of the Bride of Christ as an allegory of the universal church of all times and all places anticipating the wedding festival that awaits us in Glory (Rv 19). Maybe our Chosen Lady serves as an allegory for the local church gathered in a particular time and place—like Austin or Chula Vista or Pleasanton.  

Both are adorned. That is, there is something beautiful, elegant and attractive about our Chosen Lady. The Apostle encourages us to conduct ourselves in such a way that the church “adorns the doctrine of God our Savior” (Tit 2:10). Apparently, doctrines needs to be adorned. Of itself, doctrine can be a cold and academic affair. The church, at its best, adorns and beautifies “the doctrine of God our Savior.”

Much is made of crafting a local church mission statement. It’s hard to beat our risen Lord’s mission for us to “make disciples of all nations” (Mt 28:19). That’s good. That’s why church mission statements often feature words like “discipleship” or “discipling”. I get leery when a word like “discipling”, if it is a word, turns into a particular church program, rather than simply following Jesus and being attentive to his teaching.

Besides, whatever the church teaches, it requires “adorning”. Without adorning, our teaching becomes cold and spiritless data. I’ve noticed, that without such adorning, discipling never works. Where the chosen lady takes form, discipleship seems to follow naturally. So, how about this… “To be the chosen lady that adorns the doctrine of God our Savior.”  I like that.