When we think of 'church', many of us see a church steeple with a cross, ornate architecture, pews, and perhaps even icons and stained glass. Your tradition might lead your mind to a priest wearing a cassock, a reverend in a well-tailored 3-piece suit, or to a pastor in an unassuming t-shirt and jeans.But to get a more accurate picture of the church, take a picture of yourself with your phone! We are the church. But if that's true, why not skip the formal gathering each week at the one location and just grab your friend, head to Starbucks and enjoy a latte together, and mention God. That's church, isn't it?
Today many are trying to redefine the church as simply Christians hanging out, and these same men denounce any organized meetings, painting church as a caricature: large anonymous pep-talks where you sit and listen to someone tell you how to live while you stare at the back of someone's head, and then go to lunch and forget all that was said.
This generation of Christ-followers needs to reclaim the true definition of church. The church is a gathering of believers in Jesus who have been called out of the culture to organize locally around the giftings given by God's Holy Spirit, to submit to spiritual leaders who are in turn submitted to the head pastor, Jesus. We meet together as the church gathered to be equipped for every good work in our faith until we all reach unity and are mature in Christ. We are sent out as the church scattered to be a light and witness for Christ in our culture: in our homes, our workplaces, the beach, the mall, the sports field, the streets.
The church is both too ludicrous and wonderful for men to have dreamed up. Only God would create something that at the same time brings the Father glory and the Son joy, gives the Spirit a people to bless and gift, offers the world a message of hope, and gives to itself a source of both discipline and grace. The church is less an organization and more like an organism. It's alive! Organizations are created and maintained by people. But Jesus said in Matthew 16:18, "I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it". The church was created and established and maintained and built and disciplined and protected by Jesus. And He's coming back for His own...soon.
Pilgrim
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2 comments:
I totally agree. I work at my church, and my coworker and I are able to sit down and discuss the Lord and his message and how to spread it to others. We can come to each other when we are having struggles with our faith or are in need or prayer, but I can't say the same for the entire congregation. She and I are determined to get Jesus' name on every tongue in the church. It weighs heavy on my heart and I feel it is a purpose of mine to help minister to those I can reach in this church: the children. The ones with the open hearts, ready to receive the Word.
Unfortunately, many of the pew sitters are "going through the motions" in many ways and that's not fulfilling the purpose of the church: the fellowship in Jesus Christ's' name. The message does get lost. People volunteer in the church to do "good" but not with the intention of "HIS good." Jesus Christ gave us the most precious gift, and it is the true intention of His church to gather in His name, for His glory, for His praise, and for our fellowship. We tend to focus on the last one too much. We come last. It is all about Him.
Best definition of "church" I've ever read.
Keep up the great writings.
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