We ARE the church!

Today as is with most days, my thoughts and prayers are of the church. I guess it’s important to share who the church is to me. The church of God is the body of Christ. The church is a peculiar group of people that have been called out from the world and of those whom have answered that call. We are that people that were not a people before the Lord Jesus cleansed us and washed us with His own blood and set us apart. The church is not the building where people gather or the place where there are articles or designs that signify God. The building does not host the presence of God or possess any meaningful significance or relevance in the things of God. The building is just a vehicle to be used just as a cup is used to hold a drink. The church of God is wherever we are. Perhaps if we began to walk in this truth (that we are the church) we would be more mindful of our actions and words throughout our daily endeavors instead of only when within the four walls of the building that is considered by many to be “the church”. 

Now Paul said “in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you”, and he said in part he believes it." I too believe it and have lived it as it continues to this day. Just as the bible says, some say they are of Paul and some say they are of Peter. Today some say I am of the Church of God in Christ, some say I am Pentecostal, some say Non-Denominational, some say Calvary Chapel, and some even use the name of their pastor as they define who they are of. All these congregations, titles and groups separate us and cause divisions within the church not unity in Christ.  Yet, are we not all of Christ Jesus? Which of these groups shed their blood for us? Which of these titles or organizations gave us access to God our Father in heaven and the forgiveness of sins?

We say that we all call upon the same God yet we fail to walk in His command, “Be ye perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect.” The perfection Jesus is demanding is our maturity. Of course I say this to our shame, we are still acting as children playing in the courtyard calling to our companions, and saying, we played the flute for you, and you did not dance, we mourned to you and you did not lament. John the Baptist came neither eating nor drinking and they say he has a demon, Jesus came eating and drinking and was called a wine bidder and a glutton, a friend to tax collectors and sinners! What does this mean? It means for some nothing is enough; nothing causes some to repent and recognize the error of their ways. Oh, that this would not be the heart within us, a heart which refuses to acknowledge its wrongness and repent! And if this heart be in you I pray that you quickly turn from this wickedness.  

Many leaders spend a great deal of time talking about the devil and his devices. I am not one of those preachers. I know that the wicked one would have no power over us if not given to him by our Father in heaven. Remember when Jesus told us to pray, “Lead us not into temptation?” I also know (because it is written) that if we continue to devour and bite one another we will be consumed by one another and the devil has nothing to do with it. Remember Jesus said that the ruler of this world was coming, but had nothing in Him. We too must have no place within us individually or collectively for the ruler of this world. Again, remember that His Word says, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another (the church). Be angry, and do not sin, do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit of God; let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and evil speaking be put away from you. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another even as God in Christ forgave you? Remember that His Word says that a kingdom divided against itself can not stand.

The Lord said, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing……

Today, while it is called today, let us together lament over the condition of the church, which ye are. And let each of us purpose within our own hearts before God that we will be His church at all times, in all circumstances and in all places.  Then we will cry out together, “Come Lord Jesus”!