The Church is the building that I go to on a Sunday regularly, mostly. I don’t go when I am not at home because I am not there and I don’t go when there is a clash of priorities like if something more important is on at the same time. You wouldn’t expect me to miss the footy, or something just as important would you?
No it isn’t a quote but I’ll just about bet that everybody has had a similar experience or thought it at some time. After all sometimes we can tend to forget why we go to church and there are so many distractions that tend to take our focus off the reason for going to church. The devil also is only interested in taking the meaning out of being in church, the real reason that is.
‘Worship services’ for some are not an exciting experience. As the Devil says in The Brothers Karamazov; 'Everything would be transformed into a religious service: it would be holy, but a little dull.' Now in fairness not all churches are boring, comfortable, conventional, or uncomfortable this is the enemy’s talent that he can use words such as the above to put us on edge.
So then what is church and why is it important that we be “the Church?” The church is a worldwide faith community, who have a common belief in Jesus the Christ as Saviour. Certainly that faith community meets in one of those “buildings on the corner” and in all likelihood has identification with that building:
The principal function is to be the living body of Christ, hence the source of the word Christian. This function of representing Jesus in our lives is a critical one to the health of the church and of the perceptions of those who are outside the church; this is especially true when it is brought into play that our mandate from Jesus Himself is to make disciples.
"Mind your own business" is not a Christian phrase.
There is another function to being the church which is the internal function of the church. As a community of faith the members are meant to be interrelated, this is illustrated in the Bible where it is recorded that Jesus said that people would know we were His disciples by our love for each other (Jn 13:35).
The writer of Hebrews provides us with another facet to the diamond of our faith which is that we need to be on the lookout for the well being of the others in our faith group
“You must encourage one another each day. And you must keep on while there is still a time that can be called “today.” If you don’t, then sin may fool some of you and make you stubborn." (Hebrews 3:13 CEV)
James, in his letter, tells us, "If you know people who have wandered off from God's truth, don't write them off. Go after them. Get them back." (James 5:19 MSG) This then is another element in the portrayal of a healthy church unit. It has been too easy to allow people to slip through the cracks, or out the back door, but James here holds us responsible to regain the brother who has lapsed.
The church is the body of Christ. It should be working 24/7 around the world and at all times exhibiting the proofs of life and the fruits of the Spirit to an unbelieving world. We as the local members of the church are also representing Jesus at work and during our personal time, or we should be. Sadly my last statement has been not always up to the scrutiny of the world around us Gandhi, for one, was once asked for his reasons for rejecting Christ this was his reply;
“Oh, I don’t reject your Christ. I love your Christ. It’s just that so many of you Christians are so unlike your Christ.”
How can we improve our witness to those around that we come into contact, so that the Master is glorified not shamed?
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