CONSIDER A SITUATION IN WHICH AN AVALANCHE buried the mouth of a cave you were in. Well, you might find a match useful. Its flame could provide you a few brief seconds to scope things out in the dark. If instead of a match you had a stick of dynamite, you could try prying some rocks away. But if you had both dynamite and a match, you'd have a lot more than a makeshift shovel and a bit of light.
This scenario gives a vivid parallel with church membership, because those of us uniting in church activity become far more than separate forces for good. Together we discover the divine presence that connects us and that constitutes the unstoppable good we share. United in church, we become witnesses to God's infinite, all-power. And not just those in church are benefited. All humanity, which is just longing for this good, is included.
The second chapter of Acts tells the story of Jesus' disciples gathering for the Jewish festival of Pentecost. We're told that "they were all with one accord in one place." And there follows "a sound from heaven." "It filled all the house where they were sitting ... And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:1, 2, 4). Sounds like it must have been a very inspiring experience. Yet, it was far better than just inspiring.
