It’s easy to go to church, it’s hard to be the church

April 25, 08 by admin.

So I was working on the Evangelism class materials and I had a bit of a revelation…

Going to church is easy, but being the church is hard.

For us, as the body of Christ sent forth to the world, what does it mean for us to really BE the body of Christ FOR the world (see ELW p 111 communion liturgy). It means simply that being a Christian person doesn’t cure life’s ills. It doesn’t make life easier, much more, it makes life harder. Because when we remember what the church is for, EVERYTHING looks different. Every conversation, every relationship, every movement we make looks and feels different. Different - because we know the good news, and when we do, our life changes. We are more forgiving, loving, and grace filled when we remind ourselves daily what the church is for. And if the church isn’t making a difference in people’s lives, what good are we?

And as we remember from Pentecost, the church is given a mission - a mission to all people, to all of creation. Without mission there is no church. A congregation without mission, one that feels like they’ve ‘paid their dues’ and needs not worry about carrying the message out, is not the church. Rather, that’s a country club, a place where you pay dues and receive a service. So, here at Faith, we are practicing BEING the church. Its not the building, the land, the style of worship, anything at all BUT the people. The church IS the people, called, gathered, enlightened, sanctified and sent out with a mission, God’s mission to all of creation.

Several weeks ago, we read the Scripture about the stoning of Stephen Acts 7:55-60 (the whole story begins in Acts 6). As Stephen is dying, while being pelted with rocks by the very people he intends to serve and love, he pleads to God. Not for forgiveness, or safety, or rescue though… Stephen pleads for the forgiveness of his murderers. WHAT!! Are you kidding me? What an amazing account of God’s love lived out.

Knowing the good news, that God loves us beyond measure, that God has rescued us from the bonds of sin and death and that God will come again and God’s Kingdom will have no end, knowing that Jesus Christ died on the cross, taking our sin and brokenness upon himself and was raised on the third day, knowing that God sent the Holy Spirit to be our Advocate to hold us up each day when the world throws all it has at us, WE REMEMBER that our call is to go and tell the whole world how much God loves them!

If we are called to be the church, and to be the church means we carry, tell, and live out the message of the good news that changes lives, perhaps we should expect the world to throw stones at us. And when they do, our call is to love them even as they reach for stones. And if the world isn’t ready to throw stones at us when we carry that good news out the church building doors, are we really making a difference?

Grace and peace. I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Pastor Matt

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