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Bible Studies

REFLECTIONS AND PRAYERS ON THE "REAL CHURCH"

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Each follower of Christ is a member of God's family of faith. We are called into Christ's body— the church. It is here that each believer is loved, fed, protected and equipped for faithful living and witness. Amid all the styles and experiments in modern church life, we must regularly listen and learn from the early church in the New Testament. For me that process includes reading, reflecting, and application of the stories of, and letters to, the first century congregations. In recent years this practice has caused me to try and express my understanding of church in brief reflections based on Scripture, coupled with prayers. This helps me to function as a vital member of my congregation, and the larger family or God around the world. Here are five of these "lessons" from my own personal journey in church life.

1. A Real "Church" Is:

• People—  not a place, religious events or a building.
• A family on a faith journey—  not an institution.
• A signpost of God's Kingdom—  hence often counter-cultural.
• A welcoming community—  not an exclusive club.
• Dynamic—  resisting the status quo, refusing to cling to nostalgia.
• Diverse, heterogeneous and multi-cultural—  not homogeneous.
• Often persecuted—  seldom popular.
• Confessional—  not proud or secretive.
• Forgiving and honest about sin and failure—  not judgmental.
• Humble and collaborative—  not competitive.
• A 24/7/365 community of believers and seekers.
• Inhabited by God's Holy Spirit.
• Egalitarian, honoring diverse gifts, skills and roles.
• Nurtured by teaching, caring and fellowship.
• In a rhythm of gathering for worship, and scattering for service,
• Female & male, young & old, rich & poor.
• Ever learning and developing, never finished.
• a safe place to be oneself and develop in God's image and likeness.
• always “at-risk" of failure within, and persecution from without.
• Messy, honest, real.

“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— Jews or Greeks, slaves or free— and we were made to drink of one Spirit.... you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.... Pursue love and strive for the spiritual gifts....”  (Paul to the Corinthian believers in 1 Co. 12:12-13, 27, 14:1)

Lord, help me to reject anything less than this perspective in my congregation, so that you and each of your children are welcome, served, enriched and equipped.

2. What Is "Church"?
Christ's church is much more than a building, professional staff, or programs and events. Christ's church is a dynamic community of people, with two rhythms:

1. First, believers are Gathered for growth, nurture and worship.
   We are a "synagogue", or gathered people.  (Matthew 18:20, John 18:2); We are "ecclesia", or called together. (1 Thess 1:1, 1 Cor 1:2, 11:16).
2. Second, believers Scattered or dispersed into the world.
   We are "diaspora", or thrown out. (1 Peter 1:1, James 1:1); We are "apostolos" or sent ones. (Matt 28:18-20, John 17:15-18,21Acts 1:8)

So, a healthy church means:

• Scattered we are at risk; Gathered we are at rest.
• Scattered we work; Gathered we worship.
• Scattered we face outward; Gathered we focus inward.
• Scattered is evangelism and justice; Gathered is edification and restoration.
• Scattered we deliver reconciliation; Gathered we celebrate reconciliation.
• Scattered we are salt in the world; Gathered we give healing to one another.

So— don't go to church. Be the church 24/7/365!

....."the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria had peace and was built up. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers....[After Aeneas and Dorcas were healed]... this became known to throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord." (Dr. Luke in Acts 9:31-42)

Lord, how does my congregation measure up regarding these criteria?

In what ways might growth or improvement be pursued?

What role should I explore in this effort?

3. Ministry For All:
Who is a "minister?"

Pastors are. 

• They practice the ministry of identity.
• Their work is among believers, as an internist in Christ's body.
• They are called to help learn me about my potential in Christ.
• I need this ministry to prevent amnesia— That disease of the mind that causes me forget who I am as a Christian.

But I am a minister too!

• I practice the ministry of vitality.
• My work is in the world, like a farmer, soldier and ambassador.
• I am called to be salt, light and leaven in a sick and broken world Monday thru Saturday.
• My ministry protects the world from anemia— that disease of the blood that slowly robs the system of its health.

All Christians are in the ministry!

... "But you shall be called priests of the Lord, you shall be named ministers of God." (Isaiah 61:6)

"The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ." (Paul in Eph. 4:11-13)

Lord, help us restore ministry as the privilege, responsibility and calling of every believer in every context every day.

Help us reconnect pastors and people in their complimentary roles. (with thanks to Professor Gabriel Fackre)

4. Warnings to Churches
As a fellowship of recovering sinners, congregations are warned by God about:

• Lord, what kind of warning would you give me and our fellowship?
• Are we unwelcoming, or judgmental?
• Does persecution weaken our resolve to oppose evil?
• Have we compromised kingdom truths?
• Are we adopting the culture's value system of pleasure and gratification?
• Do we crave approval and find ways to avoid difficulty, thereby losing our vitality?
• Does opposition invite compromise and the erosion of our convictions?
• Have comfort and ease become our goal? Lord, show me how I fall short of your standards for faithful living and witness.

Convict me so I may repent and return to your ways. Forgive me and restore me to health and loyalty to your kingdom on earth.

• remember who is God (thankfully not me!);
• slow down and rest from my work;
• be, not do; worship, not produce;
• be silent and at peace;
• eflect on God's work in history, culture and creation; meditate, pray and intercede for others;
• receive love and forgiveness;
• feed my body, soul and spirit;
• review values, commitments and beliefs; give thanks for all things;
• join others to learn, pray, sing and commune.

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December 27-31, 2009