But in this day and time, we see the complete opposite. It appears the church is peripheral to the world. We, as churchgoers, are marginalized and declining in numbers.
Perhaps we have it all wrong.
A churchgoer attends a gathering in a place called church. If Christ is the church, are we attending (to) Christ?
Ephesians 1:
The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ's body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.When discerning onlookers watch a church, they see some representation of Christ:
Petty quarrels?
Leaders competing for their own way?
Judgment on visitors and each other?It is the plumb line--the standard--to which a church holds itself that determines how well it represents Christ. The church in Ephesus was largely getting it right and Paul commends them:
That's why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the followers of Jesus, I couldn't stop thanking God for you...I ask God...to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him--endless energy, boundless strength!
All this energy issues from Christ.Is the well from which a given church draws strength made up primarily of love? Then doctrine, programs, climate, reputation, and influence in the community fall under this banner, and this Christ that is such a church looks more like the real Christ. It finds itself driven by power that is not its own. There is a coming together and subsequent reach into the outside world, driven by supernatural energy and strength and resources.
When a church is known by its outpouring of love to all the followers of Jesus, and endless energy and boundless strength, then the outside world will take note of an authentic taste of the genuine Christ.
Anything less is an insult to the Cross.
Oh, that we could begin to get it right, so that if Paul were here, he could hear of us--the church in America--as the ones who fulfill his words in Ephesians:
It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for.That is a message the world wants to hear.
Comments are welcome at feedyourstrength@gmail.com.
