We are the Church!

Some people say  the only difference between Christians and non-Christians is the hour or two Christians spend in church each week. What do you think? Are we Christians actually identifiable by what we say, how we live, how we spend our resources, and our ability to love and forgive unconditionally?

Yesterday's sermon by Todd Watson at Main Street United Methodist Church focused on Priscilla and Aquila, friends and disciples of Paul They came to Athens after Claudius expelled the Jews from Rome. They were tent-makers or leather-workers. Paul lived with them for the longest stretch of his freedom. The only longer periods in one place were during his incarcerations.

Priscilla, though a skilled tradeswoman, did not enjoy true freedom. As a woman, she was considered chattel property of her father and then her husband. Despite being disenfranchised, Priscilla became a leader in the church. Through her Apollos, a former disciple of John the Baptist, came to know the living Christ, moving from good to great in his witness to the world.

God's use of Priscilla, showed that reform in the church might be the way to ultimately bring societal reform. Since Christ is not returning to the world as quickly as Paul thought, we need to work to bring the Kingdom of God to the world. The Corinthians faced problems in their church. Similar problems continue to this day.

1. Do we feel that we have done the unforgiveable or do we fail to forgive someone else? This is the poison that can contaminate a body of believers. We are called to forgive and be forgiven. We need to suspend some of our judgmental ideas. As Todd said, "Have I just become what I said they were?" That is definitely food for thought!

2. Do we believe that some folks don't belong in the church and it is our duty to help them find their way out? Wouldn't life be simpler if certain people would just disappear? I certainly needed to be reminded that it is for each individual to discern whether they belong. The church is not like a civic or social club. We don't get to choose who we love as brothers and sisters in Christ. The church cannot operate by corporate principles.

This idea fell right into line with this excellent book I just finished. The premise of this book is that we can learn a lot from the early Christian Church. We think the internet has changed our world with the seemingly endless information available at the click of the button. Has this rendered Christianity passe? Chakoian contrasts this to the building of Roman roads in the early days of Christianity, linking all parts of the known world. Christianity survived that, and modern religion will as well.

The author squarely addresses the fiction that the church can operate effectively using the corporate business model.  "The work that church leaders spend so much time on - preserving church buildings and pipe organs, meeting about curriculum and what to serve at fellowship, arguing about staff vacation policies or the color of the carpet in the sanctuary - will not prove to be important in the long run...churches can no longer rely on endless commitee meetings, votes, and papers."  Priscilla didn't need a committee to help her talk to Apollos about Jesus - and neither do we!

If we don't need to be acting corporately, what should the church be doing? We are called to be "ekklesia" the household of God. Rather than functioning like CEO's maybe we should try to truly be a family. We need to create a place where individual gifts are prized and shared, attendance statistics can be thrown out the window, and we can focus on each member as an individual.

Like a family, there will be problems. Rather than creating written mission statements and policy manuals, maybe we should focus on personal relationships. Chakoain tells us that "Churches become toxic when 'ungrateful, unholy, unloving, contrary, and critical' comments are allowed to circulate unchecked...When people are behaving badly, the church needs to intervene." The church must to police itself. Our shortcomings need to be addressed and resolved with love, rather than swept under the rug. As Todd reminded us yesterday, "Be gentle with the faults and messiness of others, heaven knows they are being gentle with yours!"

At a recent Wednesday night Bible Study on the book of Acts, Todd described our life as existing in the tension between grace and holiness. Living in this tension is not easy. Like Priscilla and the early Christians, our call is still to bring the message of Christ to the world. Chakoian says "Now, it may mean making points on Facebook posts, and Pinterest and holding discussions in town halls, at tailgates, or even in taverns." We can only do this if we have a loving foundation in our own church.

So, do we have anything in common with Priscilla the tent-maker? We continue to worship the Almighty God as she did, and continue to trust in His word. We must remain open to the moving of the Holy Spirit, and carefully discern our proper path. Like Priscilla, we need to be prepared to let God use us. WE ARE THE CHURCH!