Church - What is a church?
“A church is a building in which Christians meet for worship." “A church is a group of Christians who gather for religious purposes.” Others may say, “A church is a club for insiders and hypocrites.”
The Christian church is both visible (local) and invisible (universal). The visible church consists of physical gatherings, usually in church buildings, while the invisible church consists of Christians throughout the ages.
Since every Christian is a member of the universal church because by definition Christians are believers in Christ. Therefore, we are members of His body – the church.
For many months now Jayne and I have been looking for a new church home. Some of you reading this may be surprised, but we just haven't felt at home at any we have been attending regularly or visiting.
I am not sure how many share our views about churches, but ours is that it should be like a family that are there for you thick and thin. We have not had that feeling in many years and through many churches. Yes, most of the members of the churches that we have attended are friendly when you show up for Sunday morning, but little actually follow up after you leave. I find that most surprising.
Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)
24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
I know that we have been searching for that perfect church, which will never exist. I really think that this is the work of Satan trying to keep us from finding a fellowship of believers. We are not one stuck on a certain religion, as we have tried other denominations as well. We just keep going back to the Baptist churches. Maybe that could be the issue...
I am looking for a church that is conservative, believes in Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior, and that the Bible is the Word of God. I also believe that the members should work together as a whole to encourage and help one another. One plus is that the church is close to home. This goes along with the members helping and encouraging one another. You can be more effective if you live close to each other.
Just recently I was sitting at a stop light and noticed a yard sign that was for a church that I had never heard of. I quickly did an internet search of the name, as not to forget. I discovered that this church was a new start up that had been meeting in a business plaza, off the beaten path. As I was reading about the church I became encouraged and asked Jayne if she wanted to visit.
We did attend and were warmly greeted by most everyone there and then after the service we stayed and talked to quite a few more. We felt really welcomed and the preaching was not bad either. The pastor then told us that he and his wife wanted to follow up with us with dinner.
We may have found a new church home, but we will still wait to make that final decision once we gather more facts.
Ephesians 2:19-22 (MSG)
That’s plain enough, isn't it? You’re no longer wandering exiles. This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You’re no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone. God is building a home. He’s using us all—irrespective of how we got here—in what he is building. He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now he’s using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together. We see it taking shape day after day—a holy temple built by God, all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home.
No comments:
Post a Comment