CHURCH---A CAN OF WORMS?

 DISCLAIMER-These are my thoughts and ponderings and mine only.  I am NOT in the least offended if you do not agree.  Our perspectives are always clouded by the eyes we look through.  SO---PLEASE do not jump down my throat if you disagree.  WELL-if it makes you feel better -go ahead and pounce.  I would LOVE to hear your opinion.

Even though I have been rolling this around a great deal in my head, I had no intention on writing about this subject--until a reader (and dear friend from my school days) commented on the post about what makes a home.  "This is good, a good start, now compare what a home is to what the church is."   It felt as if I was being prompted to write about my recent ponderings-so without further ado--here goes my futile attempt.

There is nothing like feeling like you have missed the boat when it comes to a place to call your church home.  A half dozen moves in a dozen years has created that void.  A home church is exactly like a home---it comes with the experiences within that body. 

The Word speaks of meeting in the tabernacle.  When you read the OT, you find a history of God's tabernacle.  From a humble beginning in a tent, it eventually evolved into the building of God's Tabernacle-

"As for this temple you are building, if you follow my decrees,

carry out my regulations and keep all my commands

and obey the, I will fulfill through you the promise

I gave to David your Father.

And I will live among the Israelites

and will not abandon my people. Israel"

I Kings 6:12

This building was built to the precise direction and plans of God Almighty by Solomon.  It was a place where God's People could meet, bring sacrifices, and speak of the Things of God.  What was to take place within that structure was God was to meet with His people. BUT our feet of clay, as always, came between God Almighty and his creation- man.  Eventually the Temple was ransacked and completely destroyed by Nebuchadrezzar II.  Consequences of being sinful and not obeying God were sure to follow.

Fast forward a few hundred years, and we have the instructions for The New Testament church.  "God became man in Jesus and the church is his body.  Its characteristics reflect God's nature.  Just as He is holy, so also the church should be holy.  Just as He is one, so also is the church unique and united."  After Jesus, the focus leaves a building and becomes  Jesus our Redeemer.  "In Acts, we see the Apostles beginning to structure the Church under the guidance of the Holy Spirit to deal with the reality that  this body is the living, continuing presence of Christ in the world today."

The closest I have come to really feeling a part of "church" has been in a couple of small groups I was a part of.  We lived life together, took care of the widows and orphans, worked side by side for the least of these, broke bread together.  In short, we lived a common cause of growing closer to Jesus and living according to His example.  It was truly a great blessing to be part of this "church".  

My conclusion is church is not so much a building as it is a group of people with the same goal of serving and growing in a Risen Savior.  The buildings grow larger and larger and the congregations continue to multiply, but is the New Testament church being emulated?  This is where my thoughts have centered lately.  Are we continuing to be the living presence of Christ?  I cannot answer that for you---it is a personal question for each and everyone of us.  Giving an honest examination of our local church and where and how we "fit in" is always a good exercise.  I encourage you to spend some time self examining and determining if you are truly a "Member of the Body."  I will leave you with the rest of the reader's comment which prompted this post,

"So many think the church is the building, not so.  It is the mixture of God's spirit with our spirit in our hearts and the adventures we have sharing His love. "

NOW--what say ye?  Reread Acts and pause when the early church is described.  How do we compare today?