Where Is The Church?
Good morning! As I write this we are approaching Christmas time. As the song says… “it’s the most wonderful time of the year…” and I cannot help, but think about how it is not anymore. I could rant and rave about the commercialization of Christmas, the whole battle over what to say “Merry Christmas” oh no you say “Happy Holidays” and of course the whole reason we have “Christmas”. Rather than beat those old drum skins I would rather just ask one simple question; Where is the Church?
I don’t mean any specific denomination, I mean The Church. Perhaps I should explain, the Church is not Methodist, Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Baptist, Presbyterian, or any other denomination that I have not mentioned here. The Church is the body of Christ, it was founded by Jesus and he is the head of the Church, we as Christians form the body, that is The Church. The true Church is not some building, and it is not some denomination. The Church is and was and forever shall be the men and women who have accepted Jesus as their savior, acknowledge the Bible as God’s Holy and perfect Word and have committed themselves to the body of Christ on earth as a living thing called the Church.
I am asking this question not because it is Christmas, but because I am reminded of its absence especially now in our daily lives, in our communities and in our homes and most importantly in our hearts. I know I cannot drive anywhere without seeing some type of church building somewhere, but that is not the Church. The Church is the men and women who are the followers of Christ, those who have accepted him as their savior. Many of whom run the worship service, cook the dinners, sing in the choirs, teach Sunday School, sit in the pews and go to Bible study or youth group meetings are on the Board and so on and so on. They also are the ones that should speak out when they see others doing what is wrong in the eyes of God rather than remain silent. Now I ask again where is the Church?
Jesus, the head of the Church, is clear on his views of the world. Unfortunately, I don’t see the Church taking the same stand, out in the world, that Jesus put forward in Mark 7:20-23, And He said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
Where are my Christian brothers and sisters? Why do none of us speak out? I don’t mean on the world stage, I mean at work, at home, in the store, at the council meeting. How much more evil must be done in our schools, in our stores, in our nations, in our states, in our communities, in our homes, in our families before we stand up and call evil for what it is and say enough?
Look, I know it is a lot to ask, I know that it is scary to be different. I would be a liar if even writing this I was to tell you I am not scared. I am scared, because I know that if you stand for Him then you will stand out and you will suffer for it. People will hate you just like they hate Jesus. I also know that He will not forsake you in your suffering. I know that He is the only one who truly loves us so much that He died for us so that we could be forgiven. I know his love is unconditional. I know this because of John 3:16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish, but have eternal life.”
Remember we are to be salty and to be different. Speak out and proclaim what we know to be true and right and good. Remember to point out what is wrong and call it for the evil it is. The Church is to be silent no longer.
“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless.
Not to speak is to speak.
Not to act is to act.”
― Dietrich Bonhoeffer
May the Lord guide you and protect you and give you the strength to be bold and salty!
Love,
Phillip Allen