Today, Christ and His Church. The Church. Not church. I know, we say we “go to church”. But THE Church is not a meeting. The Church is not a building. [This structure] is not The Church. The Church is a family, a spiritual forever family. God is our Father, Jesus is our bestest Big Brother, and we’re all brothers and sisters. A living, growing, messy community, Spirit-indwelt Spirit-gathered Spirit-transformed - blessed to be a blessing [B2BAB]!
[Ever feel alone in a group like this?] Fear of being alone is historically one of our greatest fears - yet loneliness is epidemic in our world today. Our society has become so advanced - we have shrunk the globe to the point where we can talk face-to-face with people on the other side of the world in an instant. We can be by their side in 24hrs. But at what cost? Families and friends now scatter across multiple time zones (or soon will?). The pace of life has accelerated, life is so busy, so many activities and to-dos filling our days, hurrying from one thing to the next until we finally retreat to our homes - and screens -with virtually no margin to interact with our family, much less our neighbor [i.e. landbanking - buying up the lots next to you][no longer es mi casa tu casa]. Even without all the virus-fueled isolation and virulent social intolerance and violent political polarization. The rise of the [Screens] - they’re becoming our new best friends, sucking us in. We increasingly retreat into our smart phones (& tvs) and digital devices (and earbuds) and [VR headsets]. So much social media has us settling into virtual relationships, virtual interaction. Virtual worlds and metaverses, where we virtually connect (and cancel) from a virtual distance. Where we learn to base our sense of self-worth on how many virtual friends we have, how many like what we post. Virtual friends, virtual lives…
Virtual means, almost. Almost - but not quite. And we’re almosting ourselves into social desolation, running after/embracing so many things which seem good and beneficial - but we are lonelier than ever [Japan has a Minister of Loneliness].
1Pet. 5:8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. How does he do that? He cuts his prey out of the herd. Isolation. It is NOT good for man to be alone, TRUTH as old as the Garden. We are created by God in His image, with the capacity - and need - for personal relationship. We’re wired for (human) companionship. Friendship. At the same time, you and I fall short in the things that forge and foster healthy relationships - enduring healing qualities like forgiveness, forbearance, patience, unconditional love. Others-centeredness. That was true even before this virtual revolution and that pandemic.
Enter [the church]: what do you think of when you hear that word? 1Tim. 3:14-15 I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long; but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth. In other words, the Church is the Pillar of the Pillars! Both these words for “church” here are not talking about a building. The first word is oikos - here it’s people who live in a house together, they live together, do life together. God’s oikos: not the building - the people. A family. The second word is ekklesia - this is a group of people who are called out of something into this other something. Out of the world, out of death and darkness, out of loneliness - and into the light. Into community. Into this family, this body. We’re all a part of the body, and we all have a part to play in it. [What’s your part?] Not just 75 minutes of weekly pew. We’re a forever family called together for eternal kingdom impact - and who’s in charge? Jesus. Col. 1:18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. Eph. 4:15-16 Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. You and I each do have a part, and for every one of us, part of our part is a speaking part. [Eph 5:19 Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord.] Made in His image, the God Who did what? The God Who speaks… Yes, YOU have a speaking part. I know, for all the introverts in here, that scares you to death. You’d be just fine to remain invisible, hide in the crowd. You’d rather stay quiet in the group. Unfortunately, that's also the realm of loneliness…!
We need to get out of the pew - and there are at least three ways to do that:
1) Greet (not only) one another - 1Th. 5:26 Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.][Matt. 5:47 “If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?]
2) Gather in a group. Not just for another Bible lesson. Share/do life with other believers. A group small enough to give you the chance to speak [group leaders: our job is NOT to do all the speaking; help others speak up]. The growth of the body depends on each part doing its part. And you have a speaking part. You know things. God is teaching you things. God gives you thoughts/ideas about things - and those will build people up. They will build up the body - and all this building up is part of the blessing. As we grow this community - not more people per se but stronger relationships - as we grow in our love for one another, that helps accomplish the mission. We’re blessed to be a blessing, to our neighbors and all the nations! [All will know we are His disciples if we do what…?] So, we get out of the pew: greet, gather, and...
3) Get to serving. You have a part. We all have a part. A healthy family is one where everyone pitches in, there are chores to be done. Get to serving. If you don’t know what to do, ask the Lord. Or ask someone what needs to be done. If you ask me, how can I serve, I’ll ask you, what do you like to do? What are you good at? Serve the family, AND serve your neighbor. Pray for them, find out what needs they have, and see what you can do to bless them. Blessed to be a blessing.
The LIE says, faith is a personal thing. "Just keep it to yourself." AND "I don’t need any help. I don’t need a community." No, no, no, no. That’s a lie on so many levels. Faith is founded on relationships. Faith is about a Person, informed by the truths about this One Who made the universe. The God of Truth Who is supremely trustworthy. Faith begins with a trust relationship with the God Who made us in His image, wired for relationship. His Words, the truths we believe, are the outworking of Who He is. The greatest commands are what? Not, love yourself. THAT would be keeping it personal. No, it’s love the Lord, AND the second is like it [Matt. 22:39 “The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’]. And we love God and others because He IS love. And yes, we love the truths of God’s Word - but they are secondary. God is primary. Faith is about a Person - and it’s lived out in relationship, IN community. Phil. 1:27 …standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel. Phil. 2:1-3 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves. Phil 2:20-21 For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare. For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus. [It's the old story of how logs burn more brightly together, but put one by itself? The fire goes out]
The Church is not an it - or even a they. It is also not a you [all]. As if it's something/someones that doesn't include me. Church becomes The Church (Christ’s Church) when they/you/me becomes we. When it becomes not just the meeting I attend, but my people. They are we, WE are journeying together, with one another. Doing life with one another. Getting dirty together. Me and you and he and she need to become we. I become one of you. "They" become "us."
May we excel still more and be great at greeting, at gathering/speaking, & at serving. This is what/who God has called us to be. His love in action. Blessed to be a blessing. For His glory.
