For the Love of the Church

Nothing is more ugly for a church than if there are multiple churches under one roof. Oftentimes, when a person has an issue with another person in church, they can quickly seek to find people who will "unite" with them over their hatred, frustration, anger with the other person. When that happens, disunity sets in and if not dealt with, will often crystallize into multiple churches under one roof.

The ultimate church killer is in fact the sin of pride. Regardless of who it is, pride affects the greatest to the least and regardless of who is struggling with it, pride, in any person and in any form can and often-times will kill a church. This final episode will explore the reality of pride and its affect on the church.

You have heard the expression, "that person is a control freak!" However, the reality that hits many churches is that control is a real deal for people. Maybe because of their personality or maybe because of their past or maybe even because of their perceptions one person or one group of people feels a need to take control of the church in a way that God never intended.

What is the church? Is it a building, is it universal, is it local, is it an individual, is it an assembly of people? What constitutes the church and how do we delineate the various aspects of the church?

Compare the view that Satan likes to give of the church which is a place of abuse, a place of greed, a place of hurt to what Christ views it as which is His bride, His workmanship, His creation. Since theologically we know that Christ does all things well and that He is arrayed with splendor and majesty, we have to conclude then, that there is a beautiful aspect of the Bride of Christ

What did we learn from Covid? How does a pragmatic view of gathering affect us? Why does it matter that our children find the priority of attending church? Can't we just hop around and explore a variety of churches? Why does the week in and week out "grind" of church life help us in our walk with Christ? Can't we just livestream the service and call it good? Why does it matter that we make sure that we do not forsake the assembling of ourselves together and why does it matter that we do that all the more as we see the day approaching?

Someday, every tongue tribe and nation will gather around the throne of Christ to praise Him for eternity. So, how do we see the diversity in churches today? How does that play out around the world. What if we live in rural Kansas and the only other people here are white farmers or what if we live in inner-city Detroit and the only people for 10 miles around are Arabs and Blacks, how do we know that there is diversity in the church and how should we embrace that diversity. How does the push for "Christian" LGBTQ that Rachel Held Evans and many others today are pushing for not play into our need for diversity?

Let's own the challenges, heartaches, difficulties and problems in a church. They are there and they are real, yet they ultimately cannot deter us from engaging in the church. The universal church is no replacement for the local church. So how to engage in the mess of the church and not let it affect us? How do we navigate the challenges that Julie Roys thrives on and still love the church?

Compare and contrast the concept that something that is living means that it is growing, changing, adapting, learning, wearing out etc… with the idea that something that is dead is stagnant, unable to think and adjust, is encapsulated in time etc… The Church is to be constantly adjusting to the culture, the generations, the social challenges, yet at the same time not changing the heart of the message of the gospel. Just like a living breathing organism, we do not change our essence, but we do change our engagement with people and situations.