God's Design
What is the Church? And what's it supposed to do? The Church experience has changed drastically for many in the last two years. We started live streaming here for 'shut-ins' a few years before the pandemic and had no idea that for months it would be for all of us. And many have made their way back, but many have not for various reasons.
Many in our society physically attend Church services regularly - and many do not. Many have a positive attitude about Church - and many do not. Some would ask, 'Can't you just leave the building behind and just experience God on your own, maybe even out in nature?' While it is completely Biblical to say that the Church is not the building - what things do you need and what things can you take away and still have 'the Church'?
The Church is not something you go to, it's something you are a 'part of'. It's a body of believers - and, if you saw the sign outside, just like 'Soylent Green'...
I. The Church is people
(The younger crowd can 'Google' that reference...) Many refer to this structure as "The Church" - believing this place is somehow sacred ground. Of course this is where the Church meets together, but it in itself is not sacred. There's nothing special about this property apart from its use by the Church for a sacred purpose.
If we look in scripture, specifically to the book of Acts, we see how the Church started. It was originally Jewish people who believed in Jesus - many of whom left the Temple - a building - to start meeting together 'as the Church' in people's homes. Jesus Himself established the Church. We see this in the Apostle Paul's' writings in Romans 16:3-5a (NIV)...
Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. (4) They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. (5) Greet also the church that meets at their house.
Back then they didn't have Church buildings. They met in people's living rooms to read scripture, fellowship, have communion and worship. There were many small congregations who met in various locations, various houses where they would live out their lives as the Church.
Now today, our cities and towns are a bit bigger than theirs were and we have greater geographical mobility - so it makes some sense to have a central location in which to meet. Not many of us have living rooms large enough for all of us to meet together...
But Biblically speaking, a building is a tool for the Church to use to carry out its purpose. The building isn't as important as the people. And the people - we are brothers and sisters in Christ. We are a family, a body of believers, a Church - not by our choice but by our common Father. We are called 'out of the world' to gather and then go back into the world.
And yes, you can accept Jesus all on your own without the Church. But you can't really fully accept Jesus but then reject His Church. And yes, because the Church is people, it will always be flawed and imperfect. But in God's intended design - you can't be fully obedient to your calling in Christ without the Church. According to the Bible - the Church is people, and the Church is where people are supposed to....
A. Grow
You cannot become who you are intended to be in Christ without the Church, completely separate from a body of believers. Part of the purpose of the Church is to equip you, to encourage you, to train you - so that you can grow spiritually. Of course you can and should read your Bible regularly and learn a lot on your own - but not to the neglect of learning together.
Now these past two years, that's been annoyingly difficult. It's hard to do these things together when we're 'supposed to' stay away from large groups and stand six feet apart. It's almost impossible sitting on your couch watching from home. It's really hard to do when we don't meet together in small groups, in classes, in fellowship meals... The writer of Hebrews says this in Hebrews 13:20-21 (NIV)...
May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, (21) equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
God's design is that you are 'equipped' in the Church. The Church is where you train, you learn, you wrestle with spiritual truths AND sometimes you wrestle with other people. There will be disagreements in the body - but in the Church, together we are to learn how to deal with those things in a grace filled environment. If a Church does not have fellowship or training, it's not fully being the Church as designed by God.
And we also see in God's design - Paul, referring to Jesus wrote...
Ephesians 4:11-15 (NIV)
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, (12) to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up (13) until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
(14) Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. (15) Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
We are to grow, we are to encourage one another; we are to sharpen one another as we follow Jesus together. Our understanding of scripture and our maturity in the faith is to happen in the Church - and again, that's not just about in this building. But it also has to be more than just watching - but participating. We're all called to grow! And, as God designed it, the Church also...
B. Provides accountability
Every new year, people make resolutions that they're going to lose weight, to get in shape. A study was done with 824 cardiology patients who were asked to lose weight. Half were given a plan to follow on their own and the other half were partnered with someone else and invited to a 'support group'. Those who had partners in their goal were 2 to 3 times more successful in reducing weight compared to patients without a partner."
If I say I want to more closely follow Jesus, but then I'm not an active part of a Church body - who will encourage or challenge me? "Church on TV" is better than nothing - physically attending once a month is better than nothing - but how can you really expect to grow that way...? But when you are an active part of the Church - we form relationships in the body. We need to have brothers and sisters in our lives that will help keep us accountable to our high calling.
And there is a distinction between keeping someone accountable and 'sticking your nose where it doesn't belong'. But the difference is in the true intent in which it's done. But sometimes it can be a bit painful. For instance, let's look at what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 (NIV)...
I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people (10) not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. (11) But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.
(12) What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? (13) God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you."
According to scripture, if you have someone in the Church who calls himself a Christian, and who refuses to repent, refuses to reject whatever sin with which they are involved - Paul says to not associate with them. Just like the cardiologist patients I referenced probably didn't always like hearing, 'you really need to get more exercise' in order to reach their goal - what scripture says here is probably not very popular either.
But in order for us to regain what is a Biblical role of the Church in our lives when we submit to Jesus - we need to understand accountability's larger purpose. It's never to be done out of spite or anger or with judgmental feelings, but with a great deal of humility and grace and love for the purpose of restoring a brother or sister.
The Church is people - and one purpose of bringing us together is to help us learn to love one another. Learning to love someone can't be done in isolation. But imagine if people saw the love of Jesus really being lived out among us here - they couldn't help but be drawn to God's Church. And yet another thing that is essential to understand - and I point this out frequently - the Church represents...
II. God's authority
Sadly, we've all witnessed or experienced men abusing their power, their authority - and when that happens in the Church it can be devastating to people's lives. When I talk about God's authority, it's not about controlling people - but about acknowledging God's complete authority as The Creator. It's about boldly acknowledging an absolute truth - even if most people reject it. This is not about 'what does Ron believe' but about what does God's Word say - period. And again, here's a foundational verse we need to hear over and over...
Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (19) Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Many people today reject the idea of absolute truth. "Sure, that might be true for you - but it's not my truth..." "Well, you can believe that Jesus is the Son of God, but that's not my truth..." Truth is truth whether you accept it or not. There are absolutes in this life. And one of them is that God is in charge! Jesus says He has 'all authority'. And He says that He is the only way to Heaven! According to Jesus Himself - not everyone's beliefs are equal; all religions are not equal.
Now I know that's about the worst, intolerant thing you can say in today's society. But this is not about judging anyone but about speaking truth. And speaking truth is not about arguing or hatred but truth is truth! It's not mean to inform someone when they are wrong. The Church should represent God's authority, not any particular man's thoughts or doctrines or beliefs. And God's authority is not based on...
A. Consensus
I've heard people opine about how America's 'outdated' religious views are now finally evolving. - The problem is, God's religious views have not evolved. Man may say we need to modernize our teachings to accommodate the majority's current morality, current views of sexuality, current beliefs of academia or even current political views on various 'social issues'.
But the Church is not here to bend to current values! God established His Church for the very purpose of standing in the face of the world's values. And the Church has done so since its very beginning! God's Church was established in a culture that embraced all sorts of immoral sexual behavior and all manner of depravity. We're not facing anything that the Church hasn't faced before. But they were able to stand together.
We live in a fallen world, corrupted by sin - even our minds need to be renewed to even think about accepting God's truth.
Romans 12:1-3 (NIV)
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. (2) Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.
(3) For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
Taking a bold stand for God's truth is about standing firm on God's Word together in order to lead people to salvation in Jesus! In everything - Christians must wholeheartedly embrace God's authority, without reservation. But if we continue to be separated - if we just seek the convenient path rather than doing the hard thing of gathering together to equip and encourage one another - you might mistakenly believe that God's design for His Church is all about...
B. Your happiness
God's main purpose for His Church is not to make you comfortable or happy. And I can demonstrate that to you; right now. Let's suppose God really just wants to make you happy. How's He been doing these past two years..? Have you been really happy, each and every day? And if not - either God's not doing a very good job - or more likely, His main purpose isn't to make you happy.
It's not that God doesn't care about your personal happiness or your personal preferences - but He's not most concerned with making you happy, healthy or even comfortable - but making you holy. And many times that requires that He challenges us, as a body - together in His Church.
- Do I want my kids to be happy? Sure I do! However, years ago my son Benji had a plan for me to capture a wild bear for him as a pet. You think that would have worked out well? Would that have really made him happy? No! - God's main concern isn't that you're happy but that you're faithful! - Even when you don't feel like it; even if you don't want to. He wants you to obey even when it doesn't make sense or even if it makes you 'unhappy'.
2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV)
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
God's purpose is to make us more like Jesus! And that requires us to change! And that 'change' involves you being an active part of His Church!
So What?
God's Church is so much bigger than you or me. And what we believe about the Church affects our relationship with the Church. And our relationship with the Church greatly affects our relationship with God. The Bride of Christ is to stand firm in a dark world; to show people God's way, to share the Good News of the Gospel message!
But God's Church can't effectively do that when we're not together. We need to get back to faithful attendance, and classes, and fellowship and studies - not just to get back to 'normal'... But to get back to being the Church! We need each other and God's Kingdom needs us to be about His business! We need to answer the call 'out of the world' so that we can become who God desires us to be, in order to make a difference in the world!
I'm encouraging each of us to make a recommitment to God's Church - to recommit to gathering as soon as we can - so that we can again be more fully about God's work, for His glory!