The Building Is Joined Together

Author Biography

Helen has been writing, editing, and proofreading for CBN since 1986. She enjoys cooking, the Oxford comma, learning guitar, and practicing the remains of her Hebrew with her husband and two adult children.

Helen R. Smith - Senior Proofreader

The paper landed on my desk with a plop. My heart sank at the cascade of red ink in the margins. Getting an essay back from my English teacher was a highlight of my (very 20th-century) week, but it was also fraught with suspense: Would the teacher appreciate and reward my well-argued points, my carefully chosen metaphors, my thoughtfully crafted sentences? Or would I find comments noting “not sure what you mean here,” “transition unclear,” or, most dreaded of all, “please see me”?

The teacher had no intention of tearing down me or my work. She often praised my abilities, once even reading aloud to the class one of my essays. But her discipline helped build in me an appreciation for written language. The lessons that were sometimes painful to endure helped me set good goals in the teaching of my own children, and in my editorial work with the writing of others. My goal is not to point out flaws for the sake of tearing down someone’s work, but to build it up.

Good authorship begins with well-built sentences, and words are the building blocks. Each block has a job to do and should contribute to the structure. Good “rules” stand the test of time if they are good building principles. A structurally sound sentence is the foundation of understanding for the reader. A poorly constructed one, even if aesthetically pleasing, will struggle to communicate meaningfully. Great authors are great builders.

Like communication, authority is relational; abuse of either tears down relationships. In warning and exhorting the believers in Corinth—who were persisting in unrepentant sin—the Apostle Paul wrote, This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down (2 Corinthians 13:10). His authority was from the Lord for the building up of the members of the body of Christ. Paul’s understanding that his authority was for building up is echoed in his letter to the Ephesians: You are ... built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19-22).

We, flawed people that we are, are invited to become the building blocks of God’s dwelling place, with Jesus Christ as the chief cornerstone and the chief builder. All authority is given to Him. We can fully trust in His intentions to build us up, not tear us down.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your great love toward us, that You desire to make us into the building blocks of Your Church—the dwelling-place of the Holy Spirit. Thank You for being our chief cornerstone, God’s final Word. Help us to always imitate You in our relationships as we build one another up for Your glory. Amen.

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