CHURCH?
Our Pastor, one Sunday, commented that when we mention CHURCH images of buildings come to mind. These images are usually substantial, solid buildings with varied designs.
When Jesus said, “I will build my church” was that what was in his mind? When Paul wrote to the Church in whatever city was a building what came to mind? Back in the day when I was involved with church planters many of them focused on finding a building. If they could get a building and put a sign on it with a church name, +they felt successful. Many found out that the slogan, “If you build it they will come”, did not apply to church buildings.
It seems to me that Jesus and Paul had something else in mind. They both seemed to have people in mind. Paul’s letters are full of references to individuals he knew in those cities. People that made up the church.
When Jesus talked about building a church that the forces of hell could not destroy, he was not talking about monolithic buildings. Jesus was referring to people. In Europe the churches died leaving behind empty buildings. In other lands churches prosper without buildings.
Talking about “putting God in a box”? We have associated God with a certain building so much that we have difficulty conceiving anything different.
Many are dissatisfied with what we have created. (I think it could be much better).
We have focused on building, organization, and numbers. Maybe Jesus has something else in mind. Maybe, with the decline of the church in America, we need to allow Jesus to build His church his way rather than our way? No, telling what the church will look like when Jesus builds it. Give him a chance.
Maybe we need to pay attention to “the Nones”. Jesus may be speaking through them. Church should be far more than a building, an organization, or a program.
What would the church Jesus would build look like? I have no idea. But I feel certain that when Luther nailed his thoughts on that door and started the Protestant Reformation, he had no idea what the results would be.
The Church of the future will only be revealed to those willing to Follow Jesus.