What does your church look like?

We’ve already covered the common misconception that the church, as the Bible speaks of it, has nothing to do with the brick & mortar structures we commonly associate with it. So, if someone were to ask you what your church looked like, how would you respond?
Again, I am the first to admit that I would be tempted to start describing the physical attributes of the place where I worship. “It’s all brick.” Or, “We meet in a school.” Or, “Our church seats 350 people and has blue carpet.”
Don’t get me wrong, speaking of church as a building doesn’t imply sin. We have long referred to church buildings as “church.” We do this because this structure, this building, houses the church… it is a church building. But it is not the church. Many of us have lost the original intent and definition of the word, and to our loss. So, how can we respond to such a question?
We might say (and mean) things like,

“My church is absolutely beautiful! You see, we have a guy that is reaching out to the urban poor, and many have been saved. Most of our people are very humble and godly – they remind me of Christ in their actions, attitudes and words. We pray for each other often. Yes, it’s a beautiful church!”

Or, we might say, “My church looks like an ’89 Civic: old, rusty & desperately needing updating and repair! The people are traditional, bored, not growing, often complaining and in-fighting, and in desperate need of revival.”

Or, we might say, “My church looks like God’s orchard, full of good, spiritual fruit (Gal. 5:22): full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness & self-control. It’s a great community to be in!”

I think if truth be told, many of our churches need spiritual renovation — and I don’t mean a spiritual whitewashing either, but deep, structural renovation that leads to spiritual beauty.

So, how would you describe your church? How has God gifted you to help beautify it?

—DW

Please, don’t go to church anymore

Yes, you read it correctly. I encourage you not to GO to church anymore, but rather, BE the church. If church is a place you go each Sunday, then it’s a place you can leave each Sunday. I hear preachers all the time referring to their church building as the church. And I catch myself doing it from time to time as well. But the Scriptures speak of the church in terms of people, not bricks and mortar.
The word used in the original texts is ekklesia, and it has two primary meanings. One is an assembly of people. So then, we don’t go to be at church, we go to gather with the church. That might be in a building dedicated to spiritual activities, or under a tree, or even in a fast-food restaurant! The emphasis is people, not place.
The second connotation is those belonging to the body of Christ throughout all the ages. All true believer’s are apart of the church. This meaning helps us to understand that if we are incapable of assembling with God’s people for some reason, we do not cease being a part of the church. Yes, we may cease to be a part of the church’s local expression, a particular gathering, but that does not diminish our part in the universal church. That doesn’t mean we can skip out on meeting with God’s people though. God spoke through the writer of Hebrews and said not to stop meeting together (10:25).
Does it really matter how we view the church?
I think so. Over the years many folks have told me that one of their main requirements for finding a church, is how the building itself makes them feel. If the architecture inspires them, they are likely to stay because it invokes in them a sense of spirituality and awe. Or the church building must meet some superficial, traditional criteria that they are culturally used to. While a building that inspires reverence or awe is not a bad thing, it’s very easy to equate that with something that seems spiritual and “what a good church should be.”
To focus on the architectural qualities of a building for a church is at best misguided, and at worst, terribly misleading.
The Bible shows us it’s the people that are gathered that matter — how they love God and each other — how they are growing in and becoming more and more like Christ.
So, my recommendation for each of us is to stop going to church. Rather, be the church. Gather with the church. Enjoy the bricks and mortar that house the church, but do not confuse the two.

—DW

Who's team are you on?

What does Peter the Apostle, and Job's friends have in common?
There were points in their lives where they sorely misrepresented God. In their misguided zeal for helping their friends, they were actually helping out the Adversary.

Job's friends cared for him. Wept for him. Attempted to give, in their estimation, wise counsel. But because they did not understand God's perspective (or His ways), they were a severe detriment to Job. If it were possible, they made matters worse! They added to the pain and sorrow that Satan was heaping on him. Poor ol' Job. With friends like that, who needs... well you know the rest. God allowed this for a while, but then set matters straight. Job's friends found themselves on the wrong team.

Peter listened intently as Jesus explained that He must be crucified and die. And in Peter's characteristic zeal, he rebukes Jesus and tells Him it would never be so! And Jesus' response must have been a bit of a shock for Peter, "Get thee behind me Satan! You are a stumbling block to me. You are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of man!" (my paraphrase Matt. 16:23). Peter loved Jesus, but was filled with "man's thinking." He did not have God's perspective, and in essence, was on Satan's team without even knowing it.

Sometimes our best intentions can be the Adversary's most effective weapons against others.
Let's encourage each other to seek the mind of God, His wisdom (James 1:5) and His understanding (Prov. 3:5-6) in all things. Because if we are not careful, we may be shocked to find out that we are on the wrong team.
Who's team are you on?

—DW