The Church is The People
I will always write from the heart. Part of the hard thing about God’s call is that sometimes, if you are like me, then you think everyone should jump on board. In my maturing with Christ, I realize that not everyone is called to my gutter, the gutter He’s calling me to, but you are called to a gutter, the gutter He’s calling you to. You may not hear Him yet, you may not want to hear Him at all. But as stated previously, Jesus ministers in the gutter; it really can’t be said enough.
But here’s the point of this post. I think the major reason the church (at large, certainly not singling out any denomination) is so off base is that people consider and refer to the church as the building. Call it simple semantics, but that is a huge misnomer in our society, for both believers and nonbelievers. The church is the PEOPLE, the believers and here’s the other HUGE thing, WE are the BRIDE of CHRIST. When you think about that, the ramifications bring us to where we are today, inside safe little (or mega) buildings, preaching the gospel, but to whom? People for the most part that already believe. Now, this is not true, in all places where churches meet. Believers need to be discipled and much discipling happens at these places where the church meets. Bible study is very important; baptism (although this can be done in any body of water); fellowship; helping each other out; praying for each other’s needs. Then, what we have today called “church” would be better thought of as discipling centers. What the people, the true CHURCH is supposed to do is what I talked about in this previous post, Jesus said, “GO! Go everywhere and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and I”ll be with you so really you have nothing to worry about.” (my own paraphrasing)
From The Commons, Flickr
I am involved with two such discipling centers, one physical place that watches my kids while I get to engage in studying God’s word and praying for and getting prayer. It is aptly named Fellowship Bible Church. They are serious about making disciples. One of my favorite aspects about FBC is that their (because FBC is the name of the people there, see, I know, my children find it annoying, but I will correct them every time until they get it) men serve and not just the Lord’s supper: Men serve in the children’s classrooms, from the babies to the high school, from the greeting to the coffee shop. What’s most impressive is the kid’s rooms because typically, men don’t serve there (my experience). The other more impressive thing is that FBC really functions as the church, loving people with the love of Christ. We had a great need a while back and FBC was faithful to help us and pray with us. Do I think FBC should get in the gutter and abandon their buildings? Yes and no. I certainly will ask for them to support me and my husband as we minister in the gutter at Bowlfest. I expect their support; it’s in their nature. I don’t know if they know about Fireproof Ministries and XXXChurch.com, but I intend to let them know about this artery of the body of Christ.
The other I serve at weekly, praying with people online. It’s LifeChurch.tv. They started in a house and quickly grew to many campuses all over the US, partly due to their no holds bar approach to evangelism and partly the speaking pastor, Craig Groeschel’s dynamic preaching, partly the freakin’ awesome music worship and mostly because God is good. Their best “Jesus said Go” campus is the internet campus at live.lifechurch.tv. With over 50 services each week, people from all over the world can worship, give and hear God’s word preached from their home or work or school. This is taking it to the people where they’re at. For me, it’s a supplement and I also find support through an online lifegroup. One of the most genius ideas they’ve done is buy up a bunch of pornographic urls. So someone is trying to access porn and up pops church online! Fantastic. We get some weird chatting going on, especially on the weekends, but we never know who might be impacted. We actually share the XXXChurch.com link when we get chats for sex. Mostly I pray with people who are hurting, feel far from God, have an urgent need for a friend or making a major decision. Almost every week, new people join us and say, “This isn’t what I thought church would be at all.” Now, I’m not as obnoxious as I want to be, saying in chat, “The church is not this place, but us, the people here to pray with you and chat and study God’s word.” Well actually, I think I have said that.
Both of these churches are providing Biblical community and discipleship. But the church, the church is the people called to get into the gutter and spread the good news that is Christ and Him crucified and raised again for the forgiveness of our sins! That God loves you, whoever you are, and that He cares, He really cares that you are hurting, that you are sick and tired, that you are lonely, that you feel trapped, skeptical and angry. That the God who created the universes, the stars, the trees, your heart, wants to be your friend. Jesus conquered death, there’s no more fear! No need to fear death. As the psalmist says so eloquently, “Death, Oh, Death where is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:55
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