Issue 1424 – Is This The Church? April 24, 2024
I’m feeling under the weather this morning, so I’m running a back issue from the first decade of the century.
We have forgotten that we are the church. A building is just a building. No building will ever be raptured to be with the Lord. All buildings, even the most marvellous and magnificent cathedrals, will be burnt up eventually.
I’m not against church buildings. I think they are wonderful. However, we often invest way too much time and money in them when it could be better spent on other things. We sometimes worship the building, which is clearly idolatry. Yet, when used properly, maintained modestly, and kept in the right perspective, they are a good thing.
Now, on to mistake number two. In the days of the early church, God made it clear to people that they were given spiritual gifts.
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, Ephesians 4:11-12
In recognizing those gifts and callings, the church allowed certain people to rise up and fill those roles. That makes sense. The problem is that over the years, we have become so entrenched in someone else filling those spots that we have forgotten that we are also to do those things.
The balance of our passage explains why they do those things.
…until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. Ephesians 4:13-16
We expect the pastor to provide “pastoral” care, yet we are called to care for each other. We expect the evangelist to share the gospel, but we forget that the Great Commission is for all of us.
There is nothing wrong with having (and paying) people to fill these roles. However, we must also rediscover that each of us bears some responsibility in these areas and that while some are gifted more notably than others, we all have a role to play in getting those things done.
I could carry on and talk about worship/music teams that are so professional that it is awe-inspiring that, at the same time, they have killed the place of all people making a joyful noise unto the Lord. I could speak of formalized children’s programs that have allowed us to relegate care and teaching of our children to a few. I could go on and on.
Nothing is inherently wrong with church buildings, professional pastors and evangelists, great church music or kid’s programs. Mistakes occur when we think that is all there is.
You and I are the church. We have roles to play and a part to play in each area of ministry. Let’s use the tools God has given us to revolutionize the church.
God is calling His church to renewal, revival, and expansion. All of those things start in our hearts. They don’t come from bigger and better buildings, more articulate pastors, more extensive evangelism campaigns, a better “show” at worship, or more programs. Let’s avoid maintaining the status quo.
The renewal, revival and expansion of God’s kingdom comes one heart at a time, one decision at a time and one act of love at a time. It starts with you and me standing in the gaps and doing what God told us to do.
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. Your value in God’s eyes is so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that his plan for heaven will not be complete without you.
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the English Standard Version (ESV)