See The Church

I was telling my team the other day that I feel like I am writing a series instead of a blog every week. Something that I may one day teach... And as a teacher my desire is to train and equip you in this season, especially as many of you may be experiencing fear, anxiety, isolation, or an identity crisis because of this pandemic. And because of my own experience, I feel the sensitivity in my spirit to address these sometimes controversial issues and topics in order to help turn our hearts back to our First Love...

So we have established that we get our identity from God. We are His children; we are co-heirs with Christ. We are seated (meaning we are positioned NOW) with Jesus in the heavenly realm. We are the Church, the Bride, awaiting our Bridegroom. We are also individually and collectively a part of the Body of Christ, with Him as the Head. And being a part of the Church is more than attending services in a building, or (in these days of social distancing) watching our favorite preachers and pastors take the pulpit on Sunday mornings online. We are part of the Global Church, and our loyalty isn't to a denomination or a ministry, or a building, our loyalty is to the One Who Set Us Free, and whose Kingdom reigns forever. Our loyalty is to Jesus!

Now right here I want to remind you that we need to continue to tap into the sermons, podcasts, send in our tithes, volunteer for outreach and give to the ministry efforts you believe in. We must never forsake congregating, because that is the demonstration of unity and agreement. We must continue to support our pastors and pray for them during this time of uncertainty and every other day in between. We listen to the preaching and teaching of those at the pulpit in order to grow and mature, not to check church off the list. We continue to tithe online or mail in your checks because the Lord requires His people to give to The House of The Lord. That doesn't stop just because the church doesn't give us identity, or because we aren't gathering together in a building. We give and support our local churches because the obligation to give our first fruits comes from Our Father in Heaven, and not from man. So these are eternal promises, and we build kingdom on earth when we obey God.

So now let's shift our focus to an eternal perspective as we begin to tackle the question "What is the church?" Honestly, Jesus spoke very little about "church" or even "The Church". What He did spend quite a bit of time talking about was the Kingdom of Heaven. We was always describing what the Kingdom of Heaven is like so that we could have a perspective that is eternal and not near sighted. God's desire is for us to be kingdom minded, to realize that the Church has access to the Kingdom of Heaven and it's power and authority is not like the authority of the earth. We have been given something greater, even as individuals, but collectively when we are in agreement, as the Church we are force to be reckoned with!

When we think about a congregation we think about people gathering in a building on Sunday morning. People assuming their positions within their four walls, whether that is checking in volunteers, preparing a classroom for Children's Church, standing at the door to be the first smiles a person will see as they enter the doors, or rushing around to usher people into the sanctuary or pick up offering. These people are necessary for a building to function at it's best on a Sunday morning, but the truth is that our jobs within a church building isn't the only purpose we have within the church. Your purpose isn't tied to jobs and assignments only on Sundays, but are part of the greater mandate within the global body. There is a unique way you are made, and because of that uniqueness you are needed every day, every moment you have breath to function as the church body. Those assignments can be as simple as just being you in the presence of others, to the daily tasks of going to work or to the grocery store, or to powerful positions within the body, such as praying, reading the Word, and preaching and teaching the truth to those around you.

You see we are called to gather in order to assemble. What do I mean by that? Let's say that we are going to put together a bicycle for the first time, but instead of going to get a bicycle that is already put together we grab a box that says, ASSEMBLY REQUIRED. We have a box full of parts that we will have to assemble. In that box is a gathering of parts, but they must be assembled to become a functioning bicycle. That is the best way to describe the church. We think gathering is enough, when in fact we must not only come together we must get into our positions within the body in order to be function in the purpose for which we have been made. And in this body there are no insignificant jobs. We all need every part and every person. And when you have heard this preached we think of the duties, jobs, and assignments within a building, but I pray you are realizing the greater mandate. The Church is made to function every day, every moment, preparing itself for the return of our Bridegroom.

You see the real question I have is not "What is the church?" but rather "Where is the church?" During the last year I have been forced to see church in a whole new way. I remember back in the summer I felt the Lord sending me on a crusade to visit churches in my community and many within a 2 hour drive from my city. I remember the Lord telling me that He wanted me to SEE church in a whole new way. After experiencing "church hurt" it was a welcome task to let my heart heal and congregate with other believers and to enter into a Sunday service and not feel like I was not being loyal to my church family. I had not experienced another Sunday service in another building in seven years. I felt like being a part of a church family meant that I had allegiance to my church building, to my pastors, to my position; and even though it was supposed to be like a family, in reality it was more like a popularity contest. And as long as I was on top, I was earning my stripes and my place at the table. And my reality check arrived just in time, and I'm grateful for every tear.

You see The Big C Church belongs to the Lord. It has been established in order to stand on the authority that Christ gave when He spoke to Peter "The Original Rock". He spoke about "the gates of hell" not able to come against it (Matthew 16:18). Why? Because Christ gave The Church dominion over the enemy, over injustice, over evil, over sickness, illness, and disease. The "ekklesia" in the Greek means "the called out ones" or "the assembly of citizens", Together we are the the governing body, the ones called out in order to assemble because together we have been summoned forth to demonstrate the unity and power that has been given to us through Christ Jesus. And yes, we may function within our buildings on Sunday, but it doesn't stop there. Can you see her? Can you see The Church, those alive on the earth today who believe and follow Jesus? Can you see The Bride preparing and positioning herself for the return of her Bride Groom? I am beginning to see THE CHURCH arise and awaken!

"Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ." 1 Corinthians 12:12