Have Some Christians Stolen the Church from Christ?
I recently engaged in a discussion with my brother, who is also a pastor. He regularly meets with a group of men to discuss important questions of faith. Tonight one question/issue they are going to discuss is "Why the Church is important to God." This question resonated deeply with me because it phrases the question from the perspective of God rather than us.
Many times I hear people refer to church as something they possess rather than something that possesses them. I can be guilty of this myself when I say "Well 'my' church..." I understand we may simply be communicating our connection to a local church, but I wonder if subtlely we are not suggesting that the church exists for us. This is poignantly communicated when people discuss what they like or dislike about "their" church. For example, people say they like the music at "their" church, or they dislike the Student Ministries at "their" church. I wonder if by referring to the church as "My" or "Ours" we are not setting ourselves up for a consumeristic approach to church, where the church exists to serve us rather than the church being comprised of us and existing to serve others through us.
However, when we see the Church, both local and universal, as belonging solely to Christ, will that mitigate against the "My" perspective we use? Would this new perspective transform our own so we see ourselves as being stewards rather than consumers of church? What is God's perspective on the church and our interjection of our personal pronouns in reference to something he possesses?
Have you ever had something that was not yours but you referred to as yours, only to have the rightful owner witness your perspective? While in college I chaperoned a mission trip with the youth group my brother pastored. I was using my brother's new football to play catch with some impoverished children and decided to give them the football as a gift. Enthusiastic about my philanthropic and Christ-like act of kindness I told my brother. My brother did not care that I gave the children the football, but I remember his rhetorical question he asked me, "You gave them 'your' football, or did you give them 'my' football?
Sometimes, I wonder if Jesus asks us a similar question when we refer to the church as "ours." When we say things like "My" church, does Jesus ask us rhetorically, "Your church?" Perhaps we need to hear Jesus ask this of us, for when we take credit for something that is not ours, it's because we have taken something that is not ours and use it as if it is ours.
I almost never write, because I am not very good at it, however felt i would toss out a few thoughts. I am one who says " I, My and our church. Its used to show a relationship to where I go to worship, learn and fellowship.All things belong to God, including the church I go to and all I have, including my life. when I use " I, My, our" it tells one that there is a personal connection with place I worship Christ my Lord known as Crosspoint. Is it wrong or misleading when I say " Christ died for Me" when He died for all. Is it wrong to say " Christ is my lord and savior" We must not ever forget this is Christ's Chuch, and I think we must not just be stewards but Servants.
ReplyDeleteI understand your point and should make everyone think. The other thought I had is on this consumer thing. The church should full fill the needs of those who come.Do we not all use the church for learning, fellowship and worship and many other things that benefit our life in Christ. The real question is maybe, am I taking more then I am giving. I feel blessed that God has provided me with a church home that meets my needs of learning and worship and fellowship.So maybe the beem in my eye is am I am not giving back to Christ and His church more then I am getting. May God help me be faithful in giving of my time, money and heart for HIS church and HIS glory.