CHRISTIAN LITERATURE
& LIVING

Was blind, but now I see.

2 : 11 October 2003

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WHAT IS THE CHURCH?
AND WHAT IS MY CHURCH?

Pastor John Meacham


WHAT IS THE CHURCH?

The church is not a business. The church is the living body and blood of Jesus Christ.

Paul tells us we are one body and one Spirit joined together by our faith in Jesus Christ and our knowledge of the Son of God. Paul says that Christ did this to prepare all of God's people for the work of Christian service, in order to build up the Body of Christ (Ephesians 4:1-16).

If this is the case, then why do so many church leaders insist on projecting the church to it's members and to the world as a business and not a divine body. For the Body of Christ is humble and gentle, patient and tolerant, loving, faithful to God and united by the Holy Spirit. While a business is self seeking, aggressive, fearful, always in a hurry, unforgiving, faithful only to the almighty dollar, and united by our quest for materialism.

WHAT IS THE CHURCH?

The church is not a prostitute. The church is the Bride of Jesus Christ.

In the Revelation, John tells us that he heard what sounded like a crowd, like the sound of a roaring waterfall, like load peals of thunder. He heard them say,
Praise God! For the Lord, our Almighty God is King! Let us rejoice and be glad; let us praise His greatness! For the time has come for the wedding of the Lamb, and His bride has prepared herself for it. She has been given clean shining linen to wear. (Revelation 19: 6-8)

The linen is the good deeds of God's people.

If this is the case, then why do so many church pastors insist on selling the church as some kind of means to health, wealth and happiness. The church is a wife, not a pleasure palace. A wife of sacrifice, commitment and service; she is not darkened by the sin of who's next or what is in it for me, nor is she consumed by material gain, for her shining linen and good deeds have transformed her humanity to Holiness.

WHAT IS THE CHURCH?

The church is not a Theme Park full of thrill seekers. The church is a congregation of the sisters and brothers of Jesus Christ.

Jesus said that for those who believe in Him, He gives the right to become God's children (John 14:12) and He tells us that in His divine family "Whoever does what God wants is my brother and my sister". (Mark 3:35)

If this is the case, then why do so many church pastors and church leaders insist on constantly appealing to our desire to enjoy our earthly lives to the fullest. The church's mission is to call individuals to believe in Jesus, follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to God. The church is not here to encourage us to believe in ourselves, our families or even our country. So why do we keep telling people that God can make you right with the world and that if you put your mind to it you can get anything you want. Because Paul plainly tells us to let God transform our mind and Jesus even commands us to be right with God, right with our neighbors and right with ourselves and in this righteousness we will find love and not material gain.

THE CHURCH IS WHERE WE WORSHIP GOD AND LEARN HIS WILL FOR OUR LIVES

The church is here to help us conform our lives to God's will and not to seek God like some genie in a bottle who grants all our wishes and dreams. Jesus made this clear to me when He embodied me and sang at Amity Presbyterian Church. The song was "Eternal God, Whose Power Upholds" by Henry Hallam Tweedy. I share this today, because I feel that the words of this song are a message from Jesus Christ to the church.

Jesus reminds us that God is eternal and that the church is His voice in the world spreading the good news of salvation.

Jesus reminds us that God gives His children love eternal and that He expects the church to live in love and kindness.

Jesus reminds us that God brings light and truth to the world and that the church must illuminate the pathway home to heaven.

Jesus reminds us that God creates His children beautiful and holy and that the church is responsible for teaching them the ways of a heavenly life.

Jesus reminds us that God offers righteousness and grace to everyone who believes and that the church must show her congregations how to live like their brother, Christ the King.

For all of us who are church members, the question then is "What is my church?".

Is my church a way to seek health, wealth and happiness for its members?

Or is my church serving God's Kingdom, as Jesus Christ come down to earth to glorify the Father and save His children?


JUST WAR, UNJUST WAR, AND JUSTICE DURING WAR | JESUS AND UNBELIEF - John 2-12 | TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS | THE NATURAL LAW IS WHAT WE NATURALLY KNOW - A Conversation with Professor J. Budziszewski. | ELIJAH AND ELISHA - GOD'S PROPHETS | WHAT IS THE CHURCH? AND WHAT IS MY CHURCH? | THE LAW IN GENESIS | HOME PAGE | CONTACT EDITOR


John Meacham
Pastor
Plainview Presbyterian Church
Angier, North Carolina
E-mail: john@dazzlinglight.org