There is an increasingly popular sentiment today that 'church', by this I mean the local expressions of such, are, in the main, NOT on point. In some cases folks may well be right. The church and its programs forever run the risk of allowing the 'flesh' of man to dilute God's purpose and create atmospheres of 'club' rather than mission. Yet, on this day, this pastor cannot help but wonder if folks are not ABSOLUTELY, wrong – even risking doctrinal, if not 'heart' error, in the process. So, there! I've said it, aware that many will dismiss my comments as self-serving.
But, now, please... hear me out. We all know that beyond doctrinal instruction, our New Testament is filled with practical instruction focusing, in the main, upon two matters. These matters are obvious, and deal squarely with our heart and the application of our faith in loving and serving one another. Put simply, the New Testament is filled with the recurring admonition to live our faith in community - and to do so in unity. Begging the question, why would we think our doctrine is SO right if we only feel a kind of elitism in regards to others, or church at all? And, if we, in feeling thusly, know we are not applying these two matters of Christian practice so regularly called for in God's Word? MMMMM????
I have been a pastor for many years and the one thing I most pine for is a spiritually, educated return to these two things - community and unity. For sure, ParkwayHills has grown up. We are not nearly so shallow as once we were. Our purpose is clearly plastered on our brochures and the web, and we regularly practice this mission in almost every application of our church programming - much more than once we did. Yet... why is it that we seem, not unlike so many of our ilk, so disconnected? Could it be (dare I suggest?) that this is because we are?
The past several days our daughter has been living with us. She is grown and between leases from one flat in her complex to another, and is with us for the next 2 weeks. Last evening we were all sitting at the kitchen table, taking turns telling the stories of our day. We had to wait, one person longer than usual, and, when prayer time came, we very naturally, well, broadened our scope. What I am saying is this. Our family bonds have grown deeper by us being together, which has included things like listening, compromise, understanding and, yes, time. The assessment? We are a better family today than we were the day before - yet none of us has changed position or views on any one thing. We are the same yet changed by community. And THAT change has made us better. God is so wise, is He not?
Yes, as scripture teaches, "But God has so composed the body (the body of Christ), giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body (fighting, fussing, feuding or elitism), but that the members (the whole church) may have the same care (love in action) for one another.' {All parentheses mine} 1 Corinthians 12:24b-25
Jesus has said that, when he 'returns,' the 'love of many will have grown cold.' Might I be so bold as to suggest that we, the church, take care to make sure that our love - the one great identifier of we as the New Testament expression of Him, not let this happen? I pray not.
Yours for ‘Church,’ church -
Pastor Sam
