A family of gatekeepers
“All those chosen as gatekeepers were two hundred and twelve. They were recorded by their genealogy, in their villages. David and Samuel the seer had appointed them to their trusted office. 23 So they and their children were in charge of the gates of the house of the Lord, the house of the tabernacle, by assignment.” (1 Chronicles 9:23)
In our current lives we have many identities, the hats we wear, such as mom, employee, spouse, teammate, colleague, student, teacher, coach, etc… In the age to come, all these “hats” will be laid down and these three will remain: sons and daughters of God the Father; the bride of Christ, and Priests. Part of our priestly duties in “the here and now” are expressed as being gatekeepers. We are gatekeepers in the church. When I say “church” I do not mean a pretty white building on a hill with a steeple and a cemetery off to the side. I mean the church as the ekklesia (Greek word for church) of Jesus in the earth. What Jesus had in mind when He first used this word in Matthew 16:18 was a redeemed people called to be separate from the ways of the world and to live as priests with their citizenship in His kingdom.
In the Old Testament, gatekeepers were selected from among the Levites. Levites were of the tribe of Levi and had no direct inheritance in the land, but their inheritance was rooted in their sacred calling to minister in the Tabernacle. What that means to you and me is we will never find our security, contentment, or significance in this world, but only in our eternal identities. With this in mind, we understand that gatekeepers are stewards in the Ekklesia (church). Simply put, gatekeepers govern what is welcomed in and what is kept out of the assembly of believers. As gatekeepers, we are to keep growing in our sacred duty of what and who we open the gates for, and shutting the gates on what we do not want in.
Who do we welcome in? First, we welcome in the King of Glory! “Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in.” (Psalm 24:7) As we welcome Him in, it is then we are able to live out our core identity as priests, those who minister to Him. This is why we call ourselves GateCity Church and do 24/7 night and day live worship and prayer. As a holy priesthood of believers, we are continually welcoming the King of Glory in our midst. Secondly, we welcome people, and we don’t always get to pick who, He does! “For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” (Acts 2:39) Get ready “to do” love in a big way because He will be sending the diverse and the dirty.
What are we to shut the gates on and keep out? Sin – I’m not referring to our individual pursuit of a holy life, but how this individual pursuit is dependent on our life together as ekklesia (a spiritual family of gatekeepers). The truth is we really do need each other. Let me share three principles I have learned over the years that will help us TOGETHER shut the gates on sin.
First, remain in the herd! (Hebrews 10:25) We must stay connected to one another in a deep and vulnerable way. If we do not, we will find ourselves like that little gazelle in the Serengeti, all alone away from the herd and subject to the roaring lion who seeks to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)
Secondly, develop the practice of confession and repentance. These two quotes by Henri Nouwen help describe what I am talking about: “Confession and forgiveness are the concrete forms in which we sinful people love one another…. Through confession, the dark powers are taken out of their carnal isolation, brought into the light, and made visible to the community. Through forgiveness, they are disarmed and dispelled and a new integration between body and spirit is made possible.”
Thirdly, incorporate what I call the P.B.T. Principle (Paul; Barnabas; Timothy). At any given moment in our lives, we need Paul(s), those that are pouring into us; Barnabas(s), those that will encourage us that we can be vulnerable with; Timothy(s), those we can pour and invest in. These are not just relationships that are arbitrary, but those we seek out and maintain. When we discipline ourselves to do the above, we will shut the gates to sin in the church!
Let’s continue to grow in the calling to be gatekeepers in our spiritual family!
