Thought for the Month - June 2020
"The REAL church" by Barry Adair
(What is the Christian church all about?)
Church. The Christian church. What is church all about? Who is church for? What denomination should our church be? How grand should our church buildings be? What if we are unable to attend church? What does the Bible say about "church"?
These were some of the questions I was mulling over while the Coronavirus pandemic was keeping most churches closed all around the world. And, as always, I thought I'd note down what I had unearthed from my studies.
Going back to the beginning is always a good place to start any study. And if we go back to 'New Testament' days we learn that the true "church" of Jesus Christ isn't a building and it isn't a denomination. The true church of Jesus Christ is the collection of true believers in Jesus Christ. Church is the people and not the bricks and mortar (Heb. 12:23, Matt. 16:18, 1 Cor. 12:27). In fact, there appears to be no actual church buildings mentioned in Scripture as Christians met in rooms of other people's houses, within the Jewish temple grounds or gathered outside. And, of course, the myriad of church denominations we see today (Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Pentecostal, Congregational, Anglican, Brethren etc.) don't appear in Holy Scripture either. So it begs the question, why do we make such a fuss about the 'right' church and the 'right' denomination? More on this later…
From the Bible, the word most of us know as "church" is the Greek word ekklesia. This is where we get the word 'ecclesiastical' from i.e. relating to the Christian Church or its clergy. And its true meaning is as an assembly or a gathering of people. In fact, I am somewhat confused as to why the early English translators of the Bible didn't use the real meaning of the Greek word ekklesia when translating it. And I was also intrigued to read that Christians did not begin to construct church buildings until about A.D. 200.
So then, you may be asking, why the big flashy church buildings we see today and why the huge number of Christian denominations? Why indeed! Tradition has had a big part to play here. And tradition can be pretty unhelpful at times. Usually it's fine, tradition is simply re-doing the things that have been done for generations. But what if the things we are doing aren't actually the things that we should be doing? That is where the problem can lie. And stopping these traditional ways of doing things is like stopping a massive juggernaut on a highway - or an oil tanker in the ocean! I'm thinking more about church buildings here but will say something on church denominations later.
With most of our churches still closed, as I write, due to the on-going Coronavirus pandemic, how has the church been coping? And of course, by "church" I mean the ekklesia - the people. From my limited viewpoint, I have been amazed by how well people have coped. Pastors and reverends and leaders have been keeping in touch with their own congregations remotely. They have been phoning and texting and also sending out their messages on Facebook and YouTube and Zoom and on CD. Some have been recording themselves in the church building, so as to give an authentic Sunday feel about the service. I even watched one from a minister who started his Sunday message in the car as he drove to his church building (minus the congregation!). The editing was great as he interspaced singing and Bible readings recorded from some within his own congregation. And of course, if you belong to Jesus Christ we have the assurance that He will ALWAYS be with us, whether we can attend a church service or not…
"…I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20, Jesus speaking)
Getting back to the huge number of evangelical Christian church denominations, as well as those big flashy churches. Can I say that I'm not a fan of either but I can understand why we have both. As an aside, my Catholic friends remain convinced that they have found the right church since there is only one Catholic church but dozens of Protestant ones! They see the Presbyterian, Free Presbyterian, Reformed Presbyterian, Evangelical Presbyterian, Non-subscribing Presbyterian type of church model as being like a house divided…
"If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand." (Mark 3:25, Jesus speaking)
(And apologies for picking on Presbyterians here, there are many more examples within all of the main denominations!)
I do realise that on fundamental aspects of faith we have to take a stand, the Reformation being a good historical example! (Sorry Catholics, you really aren't in "the right church"!). But we do appear to have forgotten that if we are born-again believers in Christ Jesus then we are all "one" in Christ Jesus.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28)
Differences in opinion on aspects of Scripture have pushed believers apart. And pride has entered some fellowships as some seem to think that they just know best. Some think they know how to worship God in the correct way. Some think they know the best way to preach the Word of God. Some think they know what specific Bible version to use in preaching. Some think they know what you should wear when you come to worship. All church fellowships are flawed because everyone who attends is flawed! As someone once said, if you think you have found the perfect church fellowship, then for goodness sake don't join it, as it will no longer be perfect!
And of course, some think that "God's house" (un-Scriptural!) should be opulent and grand and expensively decorated, even though we are told that God does not live in physical buildings but lives within His blood-bought people!
…if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. (1 John 4: 12-13)
At a time like this present pandemic, let us all reflect on what the true church of God really is. Let us remember how we have been saved from wrath. Let us remember how much we are loved. And let us show the love to others that Christ showed to us. Let us be mindful of those who are truly suffering at this time of Coronavirus sweeping the world. Unlike us in the West, church fellowships in India and Africa are going hungry - if you don't work there, you often don't eat there!
But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? (1 John 3:17)
And when we are able to fellowship in person again, let us remember all our brothers and sisters in the Lord who are physically separated from us but are spiritually connected to us. After all, we will all end up together in heaven someday! And finally, let us remember that love is what the Christian church should really be all about! And if you know nothing of this love, then please click on the link at the end of this Thought.
Love to all!
Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of Heav'n to earth come down;
Fix in us thy humble dwelling;
All thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
Pure unbounded love Thou art;
Visit us with Thy salvation,
Enter every trembling heart.
(Charles Wesley)
(All Bible quotations are from the NASB, unless stated)
Are you SURE that you have your place booked in Heaven? Read this if you're not!