Trending
There are many reasons I love the Church of Christ, here are a few. I love the church because it is the body of Christ, I love the church that Jesus built with His own blood. I love the church of which I have the privilege of serving my Master through. It is amazing that the church, which is us, is the body of Christ. Paul would proclaim that as he wrote in Colossians 1:24, “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh, I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions”
Recently I shared with a visitor that I don't think it is possible to join any church. They seemed confused about why I would say that. My response was, "we are added by God to His church. We were added by Him to His body. Isn’t that what Luke records in Acts 2:47: “Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”
Another reason I love the church is because it is where truth can be found. Paul told Timothy in 1 Timothy 3:15, “but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.”
How important is the truth? I would say it is very important. If we allow ourselves to believe a lie or follow an untruth, it can have devastating eternal consequences.
The church must constantly make sure what we are teaching and preaching is the truth. Romans 1:25 speaks of those who exchange the truth of God for a lie. We might not like strong and straightforward doctrine, but at least it’s clear what we must do when we hear it. The world needs someone or something to trust, and that should be the church. We are the ones who must share God’s truth to a lost world. We should make sure we hold up the truth and that we are grounded in God’s truth.
I love the true church because it's a home for the hurting. The church offers, or should offer, a home for the hurting. Jesus said in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. My yoke is easy and my burden light.” When you are weary in heart and your soul is burdened with pain, where do you go? Hebrews 4:16 tells us, “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
I also love the church because it's a home for misfits. I am reminded that the men who started the church on earth were not the best educated, professionally trained and well-spoken men in Israel. As Luke shares the early history of the church in Acts 4:13, He tells us that, "now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John, they understood they were uneducated and untrained men. They were amazed and recognized that they had been with Jesus.
There are many other reasons I love the Lord's Church. I would hope you would love it enough to find a Bible believing body of believers and make it your home.
-- -- -- --
Finding Faith is written and compiled by area pastors. This week's column comes from Pastor Mark Riley, minister of Flemington First Church of Christ.