“The music is too loud”, “these songs are so old and boring”, “the sermon went for too long”, “we need something more challenging”, “I can’t believe she lets her kids get away with doing that in Church”, “somebody needs to say something about that behaviour”,
It’s very easy to see Church from a ‘worldly point of view’ and think only about what we can get out of it. But Christ’s love compels us to see things differently, to see everything differently. What matters isn’t the style of music or getting my needs met, but reconciling the world to God in Christ. Isn’t it incredible to be part of the new creation – as we are born again by faith in Jesus Christ, not having our sins counted against us. And as we are adopted into his family with all these crazy brothers and sisters in Christ – young, old, quiet, loud, rich, poor, put-together, letting it all hang out, but all sinners saved by grace and seeking to make Christ known!
This Sunday we have a chance to all come together as one big Church family to celebrate this new creation and the ministry of reconciliation that God is working in and through us. It makes sense for us to gather in our separate congregations most of the time, but we need to always remember that we are part of something bigger and that we are serving someone far greater than ourselves. God is at work in our world and we have the great joy and privilege to be a part of it. I’m so encouraged when we don’t get bogged down in our worldly attitudes, but instead get on with serving one another and serving Christ!
Yours in Him,
Ben
