My friend doesn’t like the idea of attending church. She says, “People leave their brains at the church doors.” A contemporary poet describes the church this way: “Outwardly splendid as of old; inwardly sparkless, void and cold. Her force and fire all spent and gone, like the dead moon she still shines on.”
For some people, the church is simply a place for those who are religious. But the apostle Paul sees the church through a different lens. He sees the church as a significant body. It’s the “household of God,” “the church of the living God,” and “the pillar and foundation of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). The church isn’t a building, or a meeting held in a building. The church is people—those who’ve been born by the Spirit of God and have entered into a new relationship with God as their Father and each other as siblings. It’s the “household of God.”
In addition, the church belongs to the living God. When believers gather, they experience the presence of a God who speaks His words to them, hears their prayers, and responds to their worship.
Unlike what some people believe, the church isn’t an outdated remnant of the past with no relevance for today’s society. There’s a reason for its existence. It’s the “pillar and foundation of the truth”—created in the world to make a difference, to introduce truth into a world saturated with error.
May God help us, the church, to learn again who we are and what we can do through Him. For “Christ loved the church. He gave up His life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s Word” (Ephesians 5:25-26). The church is a thing of great worth and value in God’s sight.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Esther 4:1-17
More:
Read Colossians 1:18 and 1 Peter 2:7-9 for more insights into the true purpose and value of the church.
Next:
How can you—as a member of the church—participate in the household of God? How can you lift up the purpose of the church to be a pillar and foundation of truth?
lindagma on May 5, 2011 at 5:58 am
And we as individuals are the “life” of our churches. Yes we have leadership but the love of Christ and the enthusiasm to serve is only as vibrant as the bodies sitting in the pews.
eppistle on May 5, 2011 at 8:30 am
”I’m a Christian, but I don’t like organized religion” usually means “I don’t want to be involved in a local church.” It’s easy to understand the sentiment because the local church has often fallen way short of what God intended it to be because of its hypocrisy and/or irrelevance. And yet, if Christ loves the church (Ephesians 5:25–26) and commands our participation (Hebrews 10:24,25), how can we be antagonistic or apathetic toward the local church? Sure, every local church has its shortcomings, but we can either be part of the problem or part of the solution. If you play hookey from being involved in the church, you’re part of the problem. Instead, love your local church and become part of the solution.
tom felten on May 5, 2011 at 8:42 am
Good thoughts, lindagma and eppistle. The reality that we’re all sinner saved by grace means that the pews will be filled with imperfect, needy people. But that’s the point—as we blend our gifts and humble seek God together, something sacred happens. We encourage and sharpen one another in Jesus. Praise God for the Body of Christ!
GChoo on May 5, 2011 at 11:37 am
Thank you for today’s devotion.
I believe that no matter who we are and what we have done in the past, God will make wonderful things happen when we humble before Him and others, and be obedient to His Word. There was a time in the past, i did not see the relevance to attend church because of some ‘immatured church-goers’ and my belief that i can stay right just reading His Word. I was definitely proved wrong when i looked back some years later. Thank God that He had made me see the need to be part of the body of Christ; to worship, pray and serve (God and others) together for the glory of God’s Kingdom.
Our God was relevant in the past, more so in the present society, and definitely so in the years to come. Yes, may God continue to remind us and help us to know who we are and what we can do through Him. Amen.
mike wittmer on May 5, 2011 at 2:35 pm
Thanks, Poh! It’s popular to dismiss the church today because of its flaws. People say they like Jesus but not his bride, which is a bit like saying I like my friend but not his wife. I don’t think my friend would be too happy with me for that, and neither is Jesus when we criticize his darling.
daisymarygoldr on May 5, 2011 at 3:24 pm
Thanks Poh for reminding us about the reason for the Church’s existence! Jesus Christ Himself is the Truth—the foundation on which the church is built to stand as the pillar of truth. To lift up the purpose of the church, Christians must live a life that is above reproach, live with a clear conscience, love one another, must not slander others, care for the poor and needy and faithfully preach the gospel.
It is because of scriptural ignorance of us- Christians, the Church has no relevance for today’s society. In a conversation with my friend the other day, I asked her why there is such a negative connotation about being a Christian and going to church. It makes me cringe when we ourselves speak demeaningly about the precious body of Christ. To hate the church is to hate Christ. Words like churchy people, Christianese, Bible jargon, spiritually superior, born-again obnoxious people etc. dishonors Christ. Hypocrisy to not practice the truth we preach to others has driven people away from the church.
The message that I hear coming out loud and clear from the church today is: “who said being a Christian means going to church every Sunday and to read your Bible and pray every day? Those who do such things are Pharisees and hypocrites that will go to hell. We can always worship God even while sitting at home and watching football on TV or by playing golf at a vacation resort”. No wonder people have concluded that it is a sin to go to church. This is the reason why fellowship or assembling of believers has been reduced to pointless “church attendance”.
In Ephesians 3, Paul refers to church as a mystery which God kept secret from the beginning and was hidden throughout the ages but revealed to us. This wonderful mystery is that saved Jews and Gentiles would be united together in one body. The church exists to reveal the saving wisdom of God to the lost and dying world. Jesus said, “I will build My church”. The body is already prepared and the bride has made herself ready. Are you a part of it?
poh fang chia on May 5, 2011 at 8:55 pm
From time to time, a nasty thought will sneak in to my little mind: “Be a back bencher Christian, Poh Fang. Don’t get so involved, in that way you won’t be disappointed.”
Ephesians 5:25-27 really helps me. It promised that God has started the work and He will complete it—the church “will be holy and without fault.” Till that day comes, may we avail ourselves to be cleansed by His Word and be used by Him to build up the body of Christ.