I’ve recently been struggling. I’m a children’s and youth minister at a local church, and have been for 15+ years. The question, “Is what I’m teaching other people, leading other people to do … are they eternal things?” While seriously struggling with my Christian identity, I had the opportunity to hear a speaker discuss the church. My eyes were opened, and I’ve never turned back.
Trick question. Did you go to church this past weekend? I asked my congregation that same question some time ago … even with the upfront note that it was a trick question. Nearly 200 people raised their hands without even thinking. Then I asked the question, “Who is the church?”
Small whispers floated through the room. They were saying, “We are.” But if we are the church, do we go to church? Do we “do” church? Is the church a place? Does the church have an address? As I thought about these questions … as I sat listening to this conference speaker put me in a very uncomfortable place…I realized that power is taken away from us when the church is a building with an address. If I truly live as though the church is a people, then wherever I am the church is.
When I’m in front of the young gal at the local fast food joint, the church (Jesus) is standing in front of her. No! I’m not Jesus … but Jesus wants to use me and work through me and talk through me and smile through me and be kind and loving and caring through me! Wow! Now that’s power. That young girl serving me a burger and fries has a chance to see Jesus through me. In fact, everywhere I go, Jesus is there. He’s not just with me, He’s trying to live through me so other people see Him! That makes life so much more fun and exciting and adventurous. Will you be the church, the body of Christ, to someone today?
Don’t live the lie that Satan has so masterfully created for us. We don’t go to church. We are the church! Jesus IS living through us. We have POWER through Him. Catch yourself when you say those phrases that limit the church to four walls of brick and cement. 2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline” (TNIV). Now go and live powerfully today as the body of Christ!
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