We cannot do it alone.
That may sound like tripe or rhetoric to you. However, there is a deeper need for the
individual to understand that statement in regards to the church. I know a lot of people who will say that I
can worship better in mountains on a camping trip than I do in a worship
service at a local church. That may be
true, but don’t commit only to the former and neglect the latter. People tell me that the church just doesn’t
“get it,” they are selfish there and naïve to the truth. That too may be true, but it does not remove
your need, that’s right “need” to be connected to the local church. God did not make us to be an individual
particle bouncing around trying to do “good things” as a follower of
Jesus. You diminish not only the value
of the church when you disregard her, but you diminish your ability to
initiate, participate and benefit from the movement of the living God when you
isolate yourself. You simply weren’t
meant to do this alone. Alone, you don’t
get to see the threads of God’s movement through the church universal. Alone you don’t get to see the whole
communities being transformed. Alone you
wont get to see the whole picture. Alone
you wont get to be a part of the wave that washes over humanity bringing life
change like on the day of Pentecost.
Alone is arrogant. We
may call it independence or individualism, but it is selfish. You rob the church of your gifts, talents and
most importantly, the word that you receive from God. You have an obligation to join in with others
so that the world will know the truth, experience the mystical and see the
miraculous. You owe it to the church, to
those whom you can better reach and to yourself. You need to see what God can do when he adds
you to a body that is moving. If you
don’t think your church is pursuing God, find another one that is. If you have bitterness toward your church,
get over it. If you think they make bad
decisions, get inside and change it.
Maybe you need to learn hat it is to submit to leadership. Learn to serve. Each church has its problems and they all
have room to improve so don’t look for greener grass. When God moves you to a church home, he wants
you to plant there, get involved and serve.
Stop acting like a consumer.
Become the church that you were made to be.
It may be that the world is falling a part. It may even be the churches fault for not
being more like Jesus. However, since
you are the church, it may be yours for not taking up your cross and following,
living, serving, loving… in community.
