John Bunyan called the church 'The House Beautiful'. It was a place the King built in order to help people on their way to heaven. It belongs to Christ; it is the people of God; through each of them He prepares his people for the next stage of their journey. If that is not our experience - something is wrong. It will help us if we stop looking at the church from our own perspective, and start looking at it 'from above' - in its global wonder. In Old Testament times the church (using the term in its broad sense) was the community of God's people who gathered in worship to seek his face. The New Testament tells us what we have joined (Hebrews 12); it includes all generations of saints, along with the angels, and the blood that opens the way to the Father in heaven. It is a living organism with Christ as its head (Ephesians 4). As such it builds itself up as each member contributes, Christ by his Spirit being its lifeblood. It is varied, and is marked by love (John 13:34-35). The church has certain functions. From our perspective that is to honour God, to build up its members, and to go into the world as Christ's servant. From God's perspective it is for revealing himself, building up his children, and using them to do good to others. We enter it by the new birth, faith in Christ, and baptism. We are called to fit in rather than follow our own agenda. We relate to one another in love, worship, and mission. We relate to God by seeking his face and honouring him. We ought to pray for these things when we gather as church. |
