Pastor Schmidt August 2007
Dearly Beloved,
In the New Testament we discover a vast number of phrases used to describe the church. Various inspired authors write that the church is a “royal priesthood and a “holy nation” (1 Peter 2:9) a “holy temple” and the “household of God” (Ephesians 2:11-22), “God’s field” (1 Corinthians 3:5-9) and “Christ’s body” (1 Corinthians 12). But nowhere is there a single, simple definition.
Throughout the history of Christianity, theologians have offered a variety of definitions for the church. The Roman Catholic Church regarded the church as a “perfect society” and then the “mystical body of Christ”, and now in recent times has emphasized the church as “the people of God.” Lutherans have long defined the church as “where the Word is rightly preached and the Sacraments are rightly administered.” I grew up with this understanding of the church. It is extremely insightful and theologically profound but is not without flaw.
Unintentionally, it can lead to a “practical definition” which was never intended by Luther nor by God. The church becomes THE PLACE “where the Word is rightly preached and the Sacraments are rightly administered.” The church becomes something we go to once a week. It is a destination. Or a commodity. It becomes something we shop for. Something that exists solely for me and my needs.
The church isn’t a PLACE. It is a Movement...a people in movement. God brought us together as his people for a purpose. That purpose the church is to serve is: to participate in the God’s mission to bring this world back to him, holy and whole.
Every single one of us has the call to participate in God’s work in the world…out there. St. Paul reminds us of this our fundamental mission: “God has given us the task of reconciling the world to him” (2 Corinthians 5:18). That is why God sent Jesus Christ. And “this is the wonderful message he has given us to tell others” (2 Corinthians 5:19). The point and purpose of the church is to serve God in fulfilling HIS MISSION. The church has but only one mission: to fulfill God’s Mission. It is God’s mission, and our mission to bring this world back to him, holy and whole.
Our Vision Statement reads: “to glorify God in all that we do reflecting his love to our community and the world.” As a congregation we have captured on paper the essence of the purpose of the church. What now is before us is to live out that purpose we have placed on paper corporately and individually. To do so, a change must occur in you and me. We must cease to think of “church” as something we go to. The church is not a structure, an event, an object, a commodity outside of ourselves. WE ARE THE CHURCH.
Stop going to church!
(Wow. I thought I would never say something like that!)
Instead: BE THE CHURCH! Be the church by being an agent of God’s reconciling mission to bring the world back to him, holy and whole. How do you and I do that? What does that look like? Here is a beginning point: In your daily living help people meet God in their daily living. Point to the ever-present grace of God which permeates life, and is abundantly poured out before us all. Speak of Christ and his presence in your life. Share your faith journey with young and old alike. Live as Christ would. Join with other believers in worship and prayer. Glorify God in all that you do.
In the Love and Joy of Jesus,
Pastor Wayne
For a good read look for “Reclaiming the “C” Word Daring to be Church Again” by Kelly Fryer from Augsburg Fortress. 