THE CHURCH

The church receives it’s names from the greek word ecclesia, which means assembly. An assembly of believers who are the body of Christ. If the believers are the body, Christ is the head. Hence the church is led by Christ, follows Christ, imitates Christ, possesses the attitude of Christ, it breathes Christ and lives Christ. This body of Christ is driven by the vision and mission that Christ the head has for his church.

The best example we have of the body of Christ is in the book of Acts. A church that lived Christ; a radical group of people, living contrary to the ways and the culture of the world. Yet, were drawing people to it daily.

It was a church that gave importance to teaching, prayer, worship and the breaking of bread. It was a church which shared, sacrificed and was open to all. It was a group of people who had committed themselves to living as Jesus lived on this earth. A church, Christians, who had fixed their eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of faith (Heb 12:2a).

A church, believers who have their eyes fixed on Jesus will have goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection and love as it’s qualities (2 Peter 1:5-8). Qualities that Jesus possessed. Qualities which help you grow in Christ.

However a church, believers who take their eyes off Jesus, set their eyes on people or individuals, who give importance to, I, Me and myself: ego, are those who have moved Christ out of their sight.

Such a church, believers, will only find in their midst gossip, speaking lies and evil about others, tarnishing the character of others, hating and holding on to bitterness, isolating and pushing others out, instigating one against the other, sowing seeds of dissention and bringing division. These are not qualities found in the body of Christ.

Such is sinful behavior, which is detrimental to the unity of the church. It stops church growth, stunts the church and makes it nothing different to secular organization.

However even to those possessing such a bahaviour and attitude all is not lost. The bible is full of Good News. God calls, “return to me with all your heart” (Joel 2:12). So the church is made up of sinners who have given their life to Jesus, experienced his love and forgiveness and are made pure and holy through God’s grace; those who have returned to him. To return to God is an opportunity to become personal with your creator and give him the foremost and the center place in your lives.

The bible continues to call the church, believers to be like Jesus. “Forgive as the Lord forgave you”, (Col 3:13) and forgive so that you will be forgiven (Mark 11:25). “Be holy as the Lord your God is Holy” (Lev 19:2). “Love one another as Jesus loved” (John 13:34) – love for God and neighbor, for love overcomes a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8).

 When a church, believers embrace and live this highest calling the behavior of the church is transformed. The church becomes a place of love; embracing anyone devoid of who they maybe, even if they are not to it’s liking. It’s people learn to see that others are better themselves; there is humility. It’s people are forgiving and willing to be forgiven; they forget the past and experience what God is doing in their midst in the present. It will always strive to be at peace with each other. The church will be living contrary to worldly standards, giving space for God to keep adding to his church. Such a church, believers becomes one that realizes they are under the reign of God.

For a church, believers who are under the rule of God, worship becomes the heartbeat of the church. When we say worship it is not the mere singing of a few songs and saying halleluiah, praise the Lord, but worship is the response of God’s people to God for who he is. A holy God. God almighty. A God who is enthroned in all glory and Majesty (Is 6), falling down on your face and worshiping God (Rev 7:11). Worship is an act which consists of confession and absolution, the reading of God’s word, the exposition of the scripture (sermon), thanksgiving and intercession and finally a blessing and a dismissal to go out into the world and live Jesus. Worship in a church should relate to the life of the people. A church that belongs to Christ, worships Christ and lives Christ should also poses the behavior and attitude of Christ.

Just as worship is an important aspect of the life of the church, so is the exposition of God’s word. A sermon will speak in many ways to different people in the pew. It strengthens some, encourages some, corrects some, disturbs some, because every individual who sits in the pew is different, comes from different backgrounds, and are at different levels in their relationship with God.

Just as God’s word is broken and shared to the people of God, there is a time when the body of Christ comes around the Lord’s Table to share in the broken body and the shed blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Here Jesus reveals himself to us and reminds us that we are a saved people.

So the church gathers as a body and all that happens must be done for the strengthening of the church (1 Cor 14:26).

To a church for it’s edification (1 Cor 14:12) and to serve each other (1 Pet 4:10) and it’s growth is given various gifts. When the church uses it as specified in scripture, then the church is growing. However the danger is to use God’s gifts for self-glory. To concede is to bring destruction upon self and the body and to end up disillusioned and demotivated in serving God.

So the church which is equipped in various ways should always remember that it is being equipped and growing and maturing not just as a group of individuals but as a bride in preparation for the coming of the bridegroom. The bridegroom expects the bride to be spotless, blameless and at peace with him (2 Pet 3:14) when he comes to take his church as his bride. Which means every believer “ought to live holy and Godly lives” (2 Pet 3:11).

Therefore in Humility consider others better than yourselves (Phil 2:3). Do not take revenge my friends, let God handle that, rather do what is right in the eyes of everybody (Rom 12:17-20). Love as Christ loved (Eph 5:2). Allow Jesus to deposit his love in your heart that you may be persons of love. Forgive others so that you will be forgiven. And strive to lead a Holy, pleasing and acceptable life before God. in short be imitators of God (Eph 5:1).

Free yourself from following individuals and belonging to different groups. Rather bring yourself under the rule of the savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, let the Holy Spirit dwell in you and work in you, for you are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19), so that the whole world will see you as persons who are standing on God’s side.

People of God should live in Jesus and walk as Jesus did (1 John 2:6). “be like trees planted along the streams of water. Yielding fruit in its season, who’s leaves do not wither and is prosperous” (Ps 1:3). The church should be a bible reading, bible believing and bible attending and living church. It is such a church that is a witnessing church. A church should be a group of people who acknowledge they are created by God for his works (Eph 2:10). Then, when the bridegroom comes, “like a thief in the night” (2 Pet 3:10), in the hour you do not expect him (Luke 12:40) he will say “well done good and faithful servant, take your inheritance in the kingdom prepared for you” (Mat 26:34).

            Live as people who have renewed their strength in Jesus Christ. May God continue to bless the church.