“Me” church

George says he is a Boy Scout. After a dozen years, he claims to have advanced to the level of an Eagle Scout. He sometimes puts on a scouting uniform, has reads the scout manuals, and he does do many things that Scouts do; service to community, citizenship in his country, and personal fitness. He’s even given himself scouting medals and awards. But, he’s never been to a Scout meeting or on a Scouting camp-out though there are several scout groups near where he lives.  Is George a Boy Scout?

“I don’t need a local church to be a Christian” is something I hear even from people I know to be sincere in their desire to please God. Many offer stories of churches that were shallow in faith, hungry for money, or hypocritical as the reason they abandoned the local church. Others say they found pastors boring or out of touch. Some point to unfriendly people. A few, more honest than the rest, admit to liking having Sunday free to do their own thing after a busy work week, preferring sleeping in to Scripture study, or a leisurely breakfast to worship. And, it is sometimes said, “I can be a better Christian without a church than I could be in the church.”  If that is true, then find a better church, don’t abandon the Bible’s plan for spiritual development.

Truth is, the Bible does not offer a solo spiritual experience as an option to a person who is serious about being a disciple of Christ. Those who would know and serve Him in the most effective and mature way are expected to be ‘in the Body.’  When I say, ‘church’ I am not referring to a building, but a group of people, called by God’s Spirit. They are united in shared love for Christ, learning and doing the Scripture’s teaching,  using their spiritual gifts to serve Christ’s purposes, and encouraging one another to a holy life. It can be a group of thousands or of a dozen. It can meet in a living room or a cathedral. They must recognize their mutual commitment and their part in the larger Body of Christ.

A person who refuses to deeply connect with a local church puts his own spiritual maturity on hold, risks sliding into spiritual apathy, will never be as effective in service, and walks in disobedience to the Lord’s clear teaching.  This is not based on a few select verses in the New Testament. All of the Christian life is described in plural terms.  We are called into ‘the body.’  We are urged not ‘forsake the assembly.’ We are told to ‘love each other deeply.’  Being ‘churched’ is part of being a disciple, critically important to growing deep in the Lord.

Americans love independence. The 11^th commandment for many of us is ‘Thou shalt not tell me to do anything unless I feel it is in my best interest.’ That streak of independence often blinds us to the value of that which God deeply loves; His Church. How much does He love Her? "Christ gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault." (Ephesians 5:25-27, NLT)

If you think that ‘church’ is unimportant to your discipleship, read the 4^th chapter of Ephesians carefully and ask yourself – does this make any sense without connection, real and meaningful, with other followers of Christ Jesus? 

Here’s a word from that chapter. Let it be your Word today. "As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received." (Ephesians 4:1, NIV)  "It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." (Ephesians 4:11-16, NIV)