A Word About Church.

Straight talk about church...

Part of the responsibility of a Christian is to love and serve the church.

Part of the risk of a Christian is to love and serve the church.

Part of the right of a Christian is to love and serve the church.

Part of the relief of a Christian is to be loved and served by the church.

There are no lone ranger Christians; the only Christians walking alone are the disobedient.

Wounded by people we may be, but commanded by God we remain.

Some believe themselves too mature for the church; such is pride.

Some believe themselves too busy for the church; such is misplaced priority.

Some believe themselves too hurt to return; such is lack of faith.

Some believe the church is full of hypocrites; it is; join them, for such thinking is being one.

Listening to the radio or watching television or getting your "preaching" online is NOT fulfilling God's call for us to meet together, serve together and bring Him glory together.

It is the church, His elect, the Body He calls into being, for whom Jesus died.

Consider Ephesians 2:20-22: "Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit." (ESV)

Also, consider Hebrews 10:24-25: "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (ESV)

And, we cannot do this unless we are together: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God." (Colossians 3:16, ESV)

Sure, we can sing alone, but it sounds better together! It's not that, though... we must both give and receive teaching and admonishment.

I am by no means ignoring the difficulty of walking in community. It's hard.
Still, in spite of that difficulty, the command to walk in community is lessened by zero percent.

We're designed to be together. Shame the devil, beat the odds, let God work in and through us and let's BE the church.

I'm headed to the gathering of the called out ones today. I'll see you there... right?