Church is a loaded word. Church is used to talk about the “institution”, (for example the Catholic Church or the Anglican Church). Church has often been used describing the “vocation of the ministry“—(“Andrew has decided to go into the Church“), and church describes the place believers meet together on Sunday nights (“I went to church on the weekend”). As we begin looking at the concept of church, we need now to go back to the Bible and see how the word is used in the Bible.
By looking at the references to “church” in the New Testament, we can establish a working definition. The church is the “Body of Christ” (Ephesians 1:22); the “church” is in Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:1; 2 Corinthians 1:1) and in and around Galatia (Galatians 1:2); the “church” is growing (Acts 9:31); and the church has been bought with the blood of the lamb (Revelation 5:9-10). From these verses, it seems that the church is scattered throughout the earth. Yet, at the same time, the church is corporate; it is all believers as the body of Christ.
The Greek word is often translated as “church” is ekklesia. Ekklesia is used in reference to the assembly at Mount Sinai (Acts 7:38), where God gave the law to his people and where God told Israel, his bride and gathered people, the conditions of their relationship (Exodus 20). Ekklesia is also used in Acts 19 in reference to a legal assembly and the rioting mob in Ephesus (verses 32, 39 and 41).
The assembling of Israel at Mount Sinai foreshadows the picture of heaven, seen in Revelation—a great multitude of people gathered together from all nations praising God (Revelation 5:9-10). This gathering is the Body of Christ; this is the Bride of Christ—the church.
So church is all those called by Christ. We become members of the church as we confess Christ as Lord. The Church, in the true sense, is something we belong to, not go to—and we belong not because of our will. It is not the gathering on Sunday night in St. Augustine's or St. Thomas'. But it is the gathering of all believers in the true heavenly city (Hebrews 13; Revelation 21-22).
However, our local “gatherings”, like the “earthly gatherings” in Corinth and Galatia—and Bulli or Kensington—are important too; they are an illustration, or example, of the true assembly in heaven. Our gatherings are to point people to the true gathering—the gathering which will culminate when people from all nations are assembled together by God when his Son comes to judge the earth.
The body of believers in Corinth (and in Kensington) is an important component of our day-to-day life. Much like a football team gathering together to train together to better understand each other, enabling them to play a team game, Christians need to gather together to encourage each other to be ready and to build each other up as we prepare for the Day of the Lord. It is not the questions of when should we gather or where we should gather that are important. It is the purpose of the gathering that is significant; it is what we gather around and what we do when we gather together that is important.
For this reason, we encourage each other—by the words of the creed, by sharing in the Lord's supper together, and by reminding each other of how we are able to meet our Lord and maker.
How does—or how can—church prepare us for the Day of the Lord? Let me illustrate by sharing with you my time at Bulli.
Firstly, I want to say that the experience of my time at Bulli was both good and bad. I shared joy, I was carried through pain and experienced frustration. I am sure that you, like me, can attest to both the beautiful and painful experiences of your life with “church”.
I remember the first Sunday I attended St. Augustine's Anglican Church at Bulli. I remember my family being invited to a picnic after church, at the Uniting Church Conference Centre at Otford. I remember, as I joined the youth group, it was a loving inclusive and encouraging group and the people showed me Christ. They showed me Christ as they listened to me and as they included me.
These people were there in good times and in bad. In 1993 one of my Aunts was diagnosed with cancer and she died a short time later. My dad went back to New Zealand for the funeral and the Assistant Minister of our church in Bulli arranged for a service to be held at the same time of the funeral in New Zealand. This is something that I have not forgotten; it enabled me to feel included, it provided me with closure and I felt supported by my church family. It left a lasting imprint on me. I realised this is what church is about: walking together, sharing joys and sorrows, and, through it all, pointing each other to Christ.
One of the lasting memories that I have from my time at Bulli is watching people grow—watching the people that I taught in Sunday school grow through Youth Group and maturing in the faith; seeing friends move from doubt to belief, from an intellectual acknowledgment to an active faith; seeing friends stand up and publicly declare Christ as their Lord which was truly a beautiful and humbling thing; witnessing the work of God, bringing people to maturity, which was also a huge encouragement; and also, heatbreakingly, seeing people turn away from God.
Let me say my experiences will probably not be typical. We live in a world stained by sin; chances are that many of us will have spent time in churches where things are not rosy. Indeed, if we look at church history, there has been much that has been done which would not bring glory to the name of Christ.
If that is the case for you, then I am sorry, for the Church of God is not meant to be like that. But we can look forward to the day when sin is dealt with properly—when God will gather His people (people made up from all tribes and all nations) to him—when our God will be with us and will wipe away every tear from our eyes—when there will be no more pain, suffering and sorrow, for the old will have gone and the new, come (Revelation 21).
So what should the goal of the church on earth be? Why should we meet together? We read in the letter to the Hebrews that the gathering of believers as the body of Christ should serve each other, encourage each other and build each other up:
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:23-25
The goal of meeting with each other is to encourage each other as we live in the light of our Lord's return. Paul echoes these ideas in 1 Corinthians 11-14 where he explains that orderly worship is for the edification of all who attend.
The passage begs the question, “How can we encourage each other as we meet together?” In our gatherings, how can we spur our pastors on? How can we edify (ie. build up) those sitting beside us in the pew (or in my case, lecture hall)?
Firstly, I think the biggest thing we can do to encourage our pastors and the other members of our congregations is to show up regularly, show up on time and, more importantly, to show up with an attitude of service. As I attend church how can I serve my pastor. How can I serve those around me? This is a vital attitude shift.
When I look at myself, I know that, when I attend church with an attitude of “What will I get out of this service?”, its often harder to enjoy the service. I then find it easier to criticise the sermon for being too shallow, too long, too short and/or too confusing; I find it easier to criticise the music for being too old or too new. I am more likely to talk with people I know to tell them my thoughts about what was wrong with church. This has been an issue for me as I've changed churches; I've found it easy to find faults and flaws in the church. Instead we need to come to church with the mindset of “How can I encourage those I attend church with?” We should think about how we can challenge each other from the sermon. We should look for the newcomers and spend time chatting with them, rather than only chatting with those who we find it easy to relate to. I find this just as challenging as you but this is what it means to encourage those around us—encouraging one other with the gospel news: that we can now come and approach God confidently because of the death of Jesus.
Secondly, we should encourage our pastors and the other congregation members who minister to us (Galatians 5; Hebrews 13). We should encourage them by telling them how God has challenged us through the passage that was preached. We should encourage them by sharing with them what God has been doing in our lives, and by asking them about how God continues to challenge and encourage them. We should encourage them by praying with them and for them.
Thirdly, we should be involved in the church. We should seek to give of our time in looking after the church, in teaching Sunday school, leading youth group, and in doing many other ministries. We should be active in ministry as we build up and encourage each other to be prepared for the Lord's return.
Why do I belong to church? I belong because of the work of Christ. The church is the family of God, the body of Christ—all believers, from all ages, from all nations, gathered together in the Heavenly City.
Why do I attend church? Because I want to meet with God's people. I attend church because, in part, it's easier to belong to a group of like-minded people who God will enable me to encourage and who God will use to encourage, rebuke, teach and challenge me. The solo runner is tempted to give in; the pressures are too much and the pain is too great. Those who run with company are supported through these times. Church also gives me the opportunity to serve by using the gifts God has given me—the opportunity to encourage the faint and bear the burdens of others.
Another thing that struck me recently in my reading is how God often addresses His people corporately. God chose a nation to be his people, His priests; we are referred to as His sheep—a flock. The emphasis is on the many—on a body of believers—rather than on individuals. For, in fellowship, we have others to pick us up when we fall; we have others to challenge us to live appropriate lives; and we have people with different gifts who play different roles so that all may benefit. We gather to encourage, to serve, because God has already gathered us.
Let me conclude the article with a poem reflecting on my time at church in Bulli and my prayers for those of you attending churches or looking for a church:
As iron sharpens iron,
You have sharpened me.
Your faith anchored me,
Your hope strengthened me
And your love inspires me
As chisels carve wood.
As hammers bend steel,
My life sharpened by you,
My character formed by Christ in you,
By your blows of faith, hope and love.
As we sang, knelt and ate,
I changed, I grew.
As we talked, listened and fought,
We were joined, we spurred each other on.
We've walked side by side,
Sheltered in storms, basked in the sun.
We've shared laughter and our tears lay side by side.
Now life causes us to part.
As iron sharpens iron, you sharpened me.
My prayer on parting:
Your faith anchored;
Your hope strengthened;
In the love of Christ—
The love you showed me.
Written on the occasion of my departure for St. Augustine's, Bulli, on 18th February 2003. Edited 3rd December. Inspired by Proverbs 27:17:
“Iron sharpens iron,
and one man sharpens another.”
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