Tag Archives: church

Unity, Not Uniformity

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A while back I wrote about the diversity in the church in the first century. I was reading Acts 21 yesterday and was struck again by this story. There’s an idea out there that the early church was fairly Jewish in nature, but that it outgrew that characteristic.

Passages like Acts 21 show that idea to be untrue. Here we are years after Pentecost, years after the “Jerusalem council” of Acts 15, yet James describes the Jerusalem church by saying, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law.” (Acts 21:20) Then he says to Paul: “Then everybody will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law.” (Acts 21:24)

James not only thinks that many in Jerusalem are living according to the Law, but he feels that Paul is doing so as well. And Paul never corrects him. Instead, Paul agrees to participate in a Jewish vow to show his dedication to the Law.

In the past, I asked one brother on this blog what freedom Paul was talking about in Galatians 5:1 [“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)] That brother said it was Judaism. That makes no sense, given that the Galatians weren’t Jews before they became Christians. And this incident in Acts 21 happened years after the letter to the Galatians was written.

There’s no doubt about it. The early church was much more tolerant of diversity than the modern church often is. It’s an area we need to grow in.

Why I Love The Church

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[A couple of months ago, Chris Gallagher asked me to write an article for his blog. He was doing a special series on “Why I Love The Church,” inviting different writers to express their thoughts on that subject. I wasn’t in the rotation, but if there were a hole in the schedule, he’d put my article in. So this article was written to be part of a series, trying to look at the topic in a different way than the others. Here’s what I wrote.]

I love the church in her ideal state:

  • The unblemished, purified Bride of Christ, waiting to meet her Bridegroom
  • The new Jerusalem, descending from heaven as God’s dwelling in the midst of His people
  • The body of Christ, growing up into the very image of the One who bought her with His blood
  • The earthly manifestation of the Kingdom of God

I love the church in her flawed reality:

  • The congregation whose off-key singing makes a strong argument for instrumental music
  • The brothers who check off the five acts of worship on their scoresheet each week
  • The new Christian who discovers that word he’s always used isn’t as appropriate as he thought it was
  • The free spirits who launch into anything and everything without considering the ramifications

I love the church at her very best:

  • People opening their homes to strangers because they share the same Savior
  • Christians giving sacrificially so that others may learn about Jesus
  • Widows and teenagers and bank presidents dressing up as biblical characters to entertain and teach at Vacation Bible School
  • Believers gathering to praise and worship God even though that very thing could land them in jail

I love the church at her absolute worst:

  • Members fighting over personal issues, masking them behind alleged doctrinal differences
  • Christians falling into the very same sins that plague the people around them
  • Leaders giving into the human temptations of power and position, lording their authority over those around them
  • Longtime churchgoers who continue to feed on spiritual baby food, whining and crying when they don’t get their way

I love the church in the world today:

  • The family of God, loving one another as children of the same Father
  • Strangers and aliens, pilgriming together to the Promised Land on the other side of Jordan
  • Royal priests, heavenly ambassadors, holding out the Word of God to an unbelieving humanity
  • Faithful witnesses, enduring ridicule and shame for the sake of the Name

I love the church in all her manifestations, in all her glory and all her failings, because all of those things represent who I am as a Christian. I am a sinner, and I am forgiven. I am flawed, and I am perfection waiting to happen. I am human, and I am supernatural, a holy temple of God.

I am the church. My place in the Kingdom of God is an inseparable part of who I am. When I criticize her, I am really criticizing me, for her flaws are merely a reflection of the human condition of which she is made. When I praise her, I am praising my God, for her goodness is only a reflection of His.

I love the church. As it has been. As it is. As it someday will be.

Field Guide to Church Fauna: The Uplifting Builder

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The Uplifting Builder (edificat totali) is unfortunately an all too rare species in the ecclesiastical phylum. The Builder has amazing eyesight, able to find the good in almost any situation. In addition, their talent for communication is outstanding, finding edifying words for almost every situation.

Environmental changes have placed these noble creatures on the endangered list. As the surrounding society becomes more strident, so do church interactions. Great care must be taken to preserve the breeding grounds of the Builders so that their numbers may be preserved.

Builders can feed off one another; mutual edification is the healthiest for the church. There will always be plenty of other species available to expose flaws and critique ideas; the Uplifting Builders must be supported as they work to accentuate the positive and provide the spiritual boost that all members of the church need.

Field Guide to Church Fauna: Kneeling Backgrounder

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The Kneeling Backgrounder (prayingus warriae) is, at first glance, an unimpressive species. A master of camouflage, it blends into the background in almost any situation. Yet it possesses a powerful attack, the power of prayer. When in a kneeling position, the Backgrounder is capable of great feats.

The importance of the Backgrounder to the ecosystem of the church cannot be overstated. Though they don’t stand out among the other species, the absence of these creatures in any congregation will lead to environmental chaos.

In the proper environment, the Kneeling Backgrounder can grow in numbers and dominate their church setting. This is a healthy development which should be encouraged and cultivated. Though Backgrounders may seem unimportant their presence and activity is vital to the healthy functioning of the church ecosystem.

Field Guide to Church Fauna: Flits

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The Flit (bounceinicus bounceouticus) is a reclusive creature, so hard to spot that some even doubt their existence. Possessing impeccable timing, these shy animals are able to arrive at the precise moment a worship service is beginning and disappear as soon as it is over (if not slightly before). Many regular observers of church services remain unaware of the existence of the Flit.

Capture of the Flit is almost impossible, even using food as bait. Force and coercion often prove equally ineffective, even the use of potent sprays like HeeBrooz 10-25. Masters of the excuse and the explanation, Flits can avoid all obligations and commitments. They refuse to be pinned down, fight against being fenced in.

Though relatively inoffensive, domestication of the Flit should be a goal of every congregation. As with many of the animals listed in this guide, love and comprehension are the principal tools in dealing effectively with these solitary creatures.