Over the past couple of weeks, I've been challenged to see the Church as more than a meeting (by a man named Wayne Jacobsen), more than just the gathering, but a lifestyle that I can immerse myself into...a relationship. In thinking about it, I have thought often about my life as a husband. In 1992, I publicly committed my life to Rhonda Echols and we became husband and wife. I wear a ring on the ring finger of my left hand to symbolize that covenant relationship I have with her. She has taken my last name as her own and for 16 years she has been known to all as Rhonda Gartman. She is a Gartman, no matter where she is or what she does. She can wear her ring or not wear her ring, but she remains a Gartman either way. She can carry Graysen to the store and she's a Gartman. She can volunteer at Garin's school and she's a Gartman. She's even a Gartman when she doesn't want to be a Gartman!
In a very similar way, Jesus refers to the family of God as his Bride. He refers to this Bride as the Church. When he speaks of this Bride, there is a relationship. It's not a system of beliefs or a building to go to. It's not a dream or a vision of one person...or even a handful of people. The Church is not something we go to, but something we are. So much of what is done in church is designed to get people to commit to that structure or organization, rather than spur us into a deeper love relationship with Jesus. Come to our "service," "be in group," or serve here or there. If we aren't careful, we can look up and the reason for our commitment is simply to make the machine keep running. We limit our worship to singing and call our gatherings fellowship, when it's hard to do either in large group settings. This is not how Jesus talked about the Church, and I believe it grieves his heart when he sees what we have done with his Bride.
The Church is not something we do, but someone we are. That means that no matter what we do, we are the Church. We are the Church when we go to a "church service" and when we stay home. We are the Church when we are in a bible study and when we are drinking during the game with buddies. We are the Church when we go on a mission trip and when we go to work everyday. This whole thing is so much bigger than just us. The God of the Universe has invited us into a relationship with Him through Jesus. He did not sacrifice his life for an organization, but for a relationship.
I believe this to be the primary reason we started Church @ the Springs. We don't need another organization in League City. We don't need another church. We need followers of Jesus to live fully in Him where they live and work and play and serve. We are not the church at the Y, but we are the Church where we live. We are the Church. What church do you go to? I don't go to church any more than I go to Gartman. When we are fully committed to this life in Jesus, then we will want to be around others who are on the same journey. Neighborhood Life is about gathering with others on the journey, admitting failures, celebrating victories and just being together. When our love for Jesus is the center of our lives, then it will be the center of our conversations, our gatherings and our parties - whether or not we sing or open our bibles.
We may not have everything in a row and it may not look "organized" enough for some people. Our goal is to see people falling in love with Jesus, not relying on the "professional Christians" to feed that relationship and connecting with others on that same journey in relevant and meaningful ways. It doesn't matter if you come to the Y every first and third Sunday or not. Our calling as Christ-followers is to be a spring of living water (John 4) and to be the Church at the Springs. So let's be the Church, instead of worrying where we or others "go to church" or don't go for that matter.
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2 comments:
I hear what you are saying. I have heard it since the first days of coming into contact with The Springs. Your analogy of a marriage relationship and Christ's bride is a decent one. In one way you are encouraging us not to subscribe to the name of an organization or group, and then in the next thought you are saying to carry the label of The Springs wherever we are. I know what you are getting at though, being known by our love for Christ outside four walls of a 'church.'
But in a way, we have to commit ourselves to the idea of not committing to anything other than these ideals to make our 'machine' of the Springs work effectively? There may not be a traditional, organized way of drawing people into a building but we still have a similar goal do we not? To draw people to Christ?
p.s. Where are all of the other 'discussers'?
Yeah, where is everyone?
As you think about the things that have been "added" to the church since the early New Testament churches, have those things delivered on their promises? As a whole, have they produced a group of people who love Jesus and love others in radical and unconditional ways? Do the accouterments of church really assist us in living out our priesthood, rather than passively watching the "professionals" do it? For some they may, but for most they don't appear to lead us in that direction.
Being the Church is more than simply not going to church. In fact, it may not mean to leave the church at all. For me, it's a modification, not an abandonment. For some friends of mine, it's a move to a house church, for other friends of mine it's a break from any organized religion. What's important is that wherever we find ourselves, we don't settle for anything less that which draws us into a deeper love relationship with Jesus and a more radical love for others around us.
Anyone else?
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