Missing the point...

Have been thinking over again how we how we participate in church stuff and our approach to life as believers. Now the point is that Church is people (which I'm sure many of you do not need me to point out) - it is the worldwide collective that have put their faith and hope in Jesus Christ as Saviour. You see we are part of his church, we are participants in this redeemed community. Now we now that there is that which is to come; the return of Christ and eternal life (if you have any doubt that Jesus talked about eternal life or have lost the plot concerning eternity then just read John's gospel to get acquainted with the fact that faith in Christ brings with it an eternity with him) the hope of full redemption, as for now we only know it in part and are working and living towards that full redemption. But maybe (definitely) we should act and live like a redeemed community in the here and now and get rid of this defeatist attitude that seems to pervade the church as a whole and begin to realise once again that the is certain hope that things can be different because of Jesus sacrifice on the Cross! Please make no mistake redemption of all things is only possible through Christ's death and resurrection and not by our good works!

The church is that redeemed community and to be part of the church we must believe that Christ died for us so that we may be redeemed from a life of sin and separation from God, there for the church is a made up of a redeemed people!

But somehow I feel that we have somewhat missed the point in that we see that doing our bit as being in church on Sunday or being at mid-week stuff and somehow we (church leaders) think we have cracked it if we start fill the auditoriums that we have. Now I make no apologies for holding to the fact that I would love to see WBCC grow numerically. But surely that is not the point of just being able to say we have a large crowd on Sunday's! Church attendance is not the mark of the redeemed but how much has our lives in the whole sense have been and are continually being transformed by the sacrifice of Christ and the indwelling of the Spirit.

Wouldn't it be great to say that there is a large crowd of people who are connected to WBCC or your church who have grasped the fact that we are missionaries that gather together to celebrate and learn and encourage. Who then set out for the other 6 days of the week living living and working with God in redeeming the broken by pointing people to Jesus. The point of being part of the church is that our lives of following Jesus are lived out in the work place and it is seen by your colleagues that you give your best, don't rob the company in the many ways that you could, you treat you work mate in the very same manor that Jesus would - imagine the a thousand times over how much of an impact would that have on our town or you town wherever you maybe. You can take that thought then and transfer it to every sphere of life and you potentially have church/es full of people who are learning to live like Jesus whether that is with the family or in your leisure time. Imagine the impact on our towns, in our schools, colleges, Uni's, workplaces, councils if we grasped the point that living for God is far bigger and much more exciting that just attending church services!

We need to begin talking positively once again about the church. The church is the beautiful bride of Christ who is in the process of preparation for the wedding day! To quote Bill Hybels the church is the hope of the world. May the church recapture the call to participate in the redeemed community and be part of the process of God using us to invite others to the dance. God has not finished his work of redeeming that which has fallen and been broken.

I love the church and think it is important that the church gathers together, for one thing you realise that you are not in this alone!

We are not just learning what it is to live for God in church. But actually we will be learning patience through some of the boring tasks that you have to work or through the person who just constantly irritates you. This is not to mention, self control, kindness, goodness, faithfulness etc. If fact much of the discipleship process takes place outside of the church context. Where is it that the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22, 23) is developed most? So I finish with these questions, have you missed the point? Do you wait for church to be "discipled"? How do you need to rethink you life and actions to be a missionary? What can you celebrate that God is doing in your life at the moment? What quality is God forming in you through your workplace, family etc?

I'll leave you with this passage of scripture from 2 Peter 1...

2Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

3His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

10Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.