When I Think About Church

In his letter to the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul writes: So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God. In Christ, the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord;  in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.

This is an interesting metaphor for the church. Paul says that in some mystical way – this community of gathered believers are being built together into a living, breathing temple – where God present and at work. In other places, Paul says that the church is like a body… we all are like the different parts of the body with different gifts. 1 Peter says we are like living stones, again, being built into a living temple. Jesus says we’re like a family.

All of this makes me wonder what comes to mind when you think about the church.

When I think about church, I remember a moment as a young adult, after being away from the church for years, being touched by the stories of a young missionary. He had been caring for people with AIDS in a shanty in Africa. And I thought: Who does that?

When I think about church I think about working side by side with a Mexican Family in Piedras Negras, Mexico. We were building homes through a ministry called Builders for Christ. Every afternoon, a group of people from a local Pentecostal church brought us food and bottled water and prayed over us.

When I think about church, I think about people in my church giving one of our elders members rides to the doctor’s office. I think about how time and again they have rallied around those in our congregation battling cancer. Prayers, meals, phone calls, listening ears…

I’ll never forget after Hurricane Irma, one Sunday morning, someone pressed a wad of cash into my hand and said, “Hey Joe, we have a mutual friend who doesn’t go to our church, but who I know is struggling financially. Her house was damaged by the storm and on top of that, she was having health issues. He said to me: Please give this to her – and don’t tell her who it’s from.” I uncrumpled the wad of cash – and it was $400. When I gave it to the woman in need, she cried…

I know some people think of it as an institution or a building or a pastor… But we know it’s way more than that. Paul says we’re a living breathing temple, with God’s Spirit binding us together, enriching us, enlivening us…sending us…

What do you think about, when you think about church?

Let us pray: Bind us together loving God, that we might be strengthened and healed to serve you and this world you so love. In Christ’s name. Amen.