church

"I have revealed and saved and proclaimed— I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “that I am God.*

Church is the name given to both the building where worship of Jesus the Son of God takes place, and the name given to the people who visit collectively each week.

What is church for? Why do you go to the church that you do? Why don't you go to church? What factors make up your decision? Why go to the local church? Why go to a church with many people? I have been thinking a lot about the people who make up the church community, and how we decide which branch or area of the wider church we attach ourselves to. I have been able to think about this having traveled around Europe and visited a church almost every Sunday, and now back "home", with the opportunity to recommit or commit to a different community. I don't have the answers, but I do want to share part of my journey -what I have learnt thus far- with my readers :) hopefully with this we can make better, more informed, decisions about the questions above and any others we might have about church.

The church community is treasured by God, and was chosen since the start of time to be God's people, under His rule, as His witnesses on earth. The church is based and founded on the truth that Jesus is Christ, the answer to all our questions. The church is ideally a gracious, merciful and welcoming place. Each person who makes up part of the church is there- not for themselves, but- to share their gifts for the common good; for the building up of the church**.

The church exists in Christ. Without Jesus there would be no church, He is the Life and Meaning, and Reason. If Jesus wasn't a real person, didn't die and rise again, wasn't fully human and God incarnate, then there would be no reason to meet together. If Jesus had not given us the task of remembering Him and being His messengers on earth, if He had not modeled what that should look like, then the church would be quite the meaningless community!

Who is this man who seems to dictate how so many people live their lives? Why does the church listen to and follow Jesus? Because God said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”*** and then 'God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.'****

The church is to be collectively holy, set apart from the world. In the world but not of it. Sharing and speaking into the world, but living life pleasing to God in fellowship. God intends the church community to speak into the world, sharing His world view and message, just as in the old testament the priests were God's messengers to His people, so now, the church collectively are the messengers to the whole world.

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."*****

The church is not perfect, and God uses that weakness to show his power. If Christians were any better at being human than anyone else, then they would get all the praise and glory, but since they are just as human and still flawed God is able to show his awesome power and strength, wisdom and love, mercy and forgiveness.

"His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord."******

*Isaiah 43:12
**1 Corinthians 14:12
***Matthew 17:5
**** Ephesians 1:22-23
*****1 Peter 2:9
******Ephesians 3:10-11