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I'm sure many of you grew up with the hand game where you lace your fingers into your hands and say, "Here's the Church, here's the steeple, open it up; here's all the people!" I know I did. This was brought out by Pastor Matt this morning in reference both to responses from the Sunday School kids in understanding that the Church consists of people, as well as referencing today's Big Question. However, to put a more current spin on it, he repeated the game with un-tucked fingers and the ending spoke to the lack of people. Both presentations of the game speak to today's question...
What is the Church?? How do I fit in?? Another, "two-fer", if you will; but with obvious connection. In order to understand how we fit, we need to first understand what we're fitting into. You wouldn't have a dress or suit made without understanding that specific measurements need to be taken for it to fit properly, nor would you take random measurements without understanding what the goal of the outfit is.
So we answer first things first -- What is the Church?? As so fittingly pointed out in the story above, the Church is people. After all, it takes people to build a building and put a steeple on it should one be desired. I've never personally seen a building just sprout up out the ground; but if anyone has, please let me know!! LOL
We've seen changes of different types in the body of the Church over time. In the Middle Ages, it was the Reformation, as Luther saw something different in The Bible than the Catholics were so adamantly promoting. Later, the Wesley brothers branched into what we now know as the Methodists, and the list goes on... I don't know all the timelines, I just know that man has created a mess of denominations and factions that God never intended. The point of today's message isn't so much about that specifically, as it is about the second presentation of the hand game. Where's all the people?? The biggest change the Church has seen in recent years lies not with factions, but with a decline in numbers across the board. Covid has not so much "broken" the Church as it has revealed it's weaknesses. The "anemia" of our ecclesiology, our people. We will look at the reasons further on.
First, turn with me to 1 Corinthians 12:12-31. We won't read all of it here, but for the "uninitiated", the passage talks about the Church as represented by a Human Body. The point being that no part is less important than another. Paul was helping the Church in Corinth understand the importance of unity in the midst of diversity. And that, my friends, is the core of this message.
Paul brings out that greater honor is given to the "weaker" members, while the "greater" need to humble themselves and recognize that all parts are important. Granted, physically speaking, there are a few items that can be lived without, (tonsils, appendix) but we ultimately live best if we are complete and healthy.
Christianity is best expressed as faithful communion with Jesus that proves God is real and Jesus is King. If your life doesn't look like that, it should. Not saying I'm perfect either, but it's a goal we should all be more focused on. It's God's presence that separates us from any other group on Earth. It's not dependent on color, ethnicity, economy, or location. It's based on belief in the One True God. Period. End of story. No exceptions. We can see God's presence all through the Bible and into our day --
The Holy Spirit hovered over the Earth at Creation
God the Father walked in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve.*
God called on Abraham to become the Founding Father of Israel with the intention of having them share the Gospel with the World.*
God was with Moses during the Exodus in the forms of clouds and fire. We read in Exodus 33:14-17 that God's presence = rest* and that God knows our names.
During the Exile, God removed His presence for a while until it was time for Jesus to arrive, providing freedom for ALL who would believe.
The Holy Spirit came at Pentecost to stay with the Church until Jesus returns. Once again, falling on ALL believers.
God is still with us, not just through the Holy Spirit, but in the Church through us, His people. Again, as the Children's game so aptly illustrates, the Church is people. It's not buildings, or business cards, or even theology. It's people. And it's through us His presence with us is shown to the World. Inherently in the following 3 ways --
Gifts and services -- the earlier verses in 1 Corinthians deal with Spiritual Gifts. God provides these according to His Will and we only honor that if we respect those decisions and allow the gifts to operate freely in the Holy Ghost in humility and for the good of the whole body. (the Whole Church) They are not given as a source of pride or exclusion, but of loving service. Too often, our sense of individualism and independence gets in the way of humble obedience to God. Our Western thinking and Patriotic sense of independence undermine God's will if we allow them to. There is such an emphasis these days on, "you do you, and I'll do me" rather than, "how can I best serve you?". It's sad how far we've fallen from the will of God and what His Word truly has to offer. The fact is, too many believers have come to treat the Church as a commodity. Just another option for us to consume like any other product or service at the store or online. It's exactly this sense of consumerism in the Church that can't stand up to the pressures of this World. Whether it's Covid, Plague, or Politics, the Church simply cannot survive it's members thinking in such self-serving terms. The only way we can survive is shown in the next item on our list...
Allegiance to God in service to others -- Ephesians 5:21 reads as follows - "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." It's honestly that simple. Putting others first in the context of Christ's love is literally all we need to do. It reminds me of a saying I grew up with in my private Baptist school. "The way to spell "joy" is, Jesus, Others, You." That has always stuck with me. So simple, but so accurate. But that is truly the only way for the Church to survive any attack the World may bring on us.
Unity in Diversity -- As stated above, we are all equally important in God's eyes. If someone feels unworthy, they shouldn't let that keep them out of Church. Remember that Jesus came closest to those who either felt unworthy or were seen as unworthy by their peers. Conversely, if someone feels overly prideful, either to the exclusion of themselves from Church because they "don't need to be associated with those hypocrites" or because they are in a position of Church leadership (or just have a judgmental attitude); those people should not be keeping themselves out, nor should they be keeping others out. Don't allow either of these conditions to lead to an "organ removal" or an "amputation". Too much emphasis these days is put on uniformity, but that only leads to more division. God's way of unity in diversity is the only true source of strength. There is a reason that Paul's next words to the Corinthians following today's passage are about love, just as his reasons for commenting on marriage following his warning of submission in love in the Ephesians verse. Everything comes down to love.
Remember that Jesus invited ALL, so we need to do the same. If anyone needs help finding their place in the body, just reach out to a local Church either in person or on their website and there should be a listing of groups, ministries, or even just a way to leave contact info so they can reach back out to you later. -- God Bless!!
Footnotes --
1) I've heard all the discussions, but the truth is, we all stem from one man and one woman on the mitochondrial level. That's good enough for me.
2) Just a word of FYI for those who may need it -- God always knew Israel would mess up. I've heard people who think that Jesus' birth, death, and resurrection were a "last minute" change, but when you look at the bigger picture of the OT, you can clearly see that God intended Jesus as a saving measure all along.
3) There are several verses that speak of God's presence bringing rest. Psalm 23 and Matt. 11:28-30 come to mind immediately.
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