THE "CHURCH

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

 

“I need Him” she said.

“But often I can’t share that with the folks at church because they expect “so much more from me”.  I am the leader. They don’t understand that I have problems. I often need them to be Jesus for me".

 

I am paraphrasing a little, but the gist was she was saying because she was the leader she couldn’t be vulnerable. Because she was the leader she needed to “have it all together” like those other folks at church seem to.

Bottom line she is/was “fearful” of the “church”.

To be frank THAT was wearing her down.

 

She was carrying burdens. 

Lot’s of burdens.

She feared transparency because of the judgment of “the church”.

Her family is in crisis and she perceived she had “no where” to go for help.

 

Sadly many of have experienced that.

And often instead of the church providing a haven of rest it presents a vibe of impenetrability and dis-ingenuousness.

 

Tripp comments that

…”The church is not (should not be) a theological classroom. It is a conversion, confession, repentance, reconciliation, forgiveness and sanctification center, where flawed people place their faith in Christ, gather to know and love him better, and learn to love others as he designed.”

Unfortunately many people are a little like my mom in crisis experiencing a "church" that is more classroom than confessional.  

More building than "building up". 

She needed "the church" to be more than a building.  She needed a body of caring believers regardless of location, address or bricks and mortar to love her.  

She needed “someone or someones” to help her. 

She needed “this church”. 

The one that according to the Bible is the body of Christ

In other words, US.

 

Yes we GATHER in places and buildings to advance our relationship with CHRIST both individually and collectively.  We are supposed to!

 

Hebrews 10:25 (ERV) We must not quit meeting together…

 

But we can’t lose sight of our responsibility as “the church” to encourage, teach, and build one another up in grace and truth.

 

Therefore:

We as “the church” should be “accessible”.

We as “the church” should be "available". 

Hands and feet.

Love and compassion.

Christ has no body but yours,

No hands, no feet on earth but yours,

Yours are the eyes with which he looks

Compassion on this world,

Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,

Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world…Avila

 

Simple.

The “church” needs to intersect others where they are and when they are in need.

No one should ever FEAR or be ashamed of admitting a need for JESUS because of their fear of who and what goes on in that stained glass auditorium. 

That just doesn’t compute.

Remember…

“Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to a garage makes you an automobile.” - Sunday

 

So let’s be “the church” today. Let's be the body of CHRIST.

The BODY of CHRIST that loves, shares, listens, empathizes, encourages, edifies, and GLORIFIES Jesus. 

That "church".

 

“Good works is giving to the helpless, but divine works is showing them their worth to the One who matters.” ― CJ

 

I love you ALL!

Opportunities for Hope (Champions Charge)