Since we have covered all the seven deadly sins and their accompanying virtues, we will move onto other matters.
This week I want to consider the definition of the church. Jesus tells us in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” So according to Jesus the church, which is the body of Christ, is present wherever 2 or 3 gather in Jesus’ name.
So what does that mean?
Too often we think of the church as a place, or a building, or a group of people (usually the same group of people) with which we gather each week, especially on Sunday. But what if Jesus’ definition is more inclusive than that?
What if we began to see the church, as the body of Christ, present anywhere at least two people gather in agreement in Jesus’ name? How might our perception of the church and its purpose change?
Last week, as a chaplain with the local police, I had an opportunity to gather with some workers at a local business following the tragic death of one of their co-workers. As I walked around, I chatted with a few different people. It was amazing to me to see how many professed faith in God, yet others lamented that there were not many believers there, likely because they did not attend the same weekly worship gathering.
What might happen in that business, if the believers recognized each other as brothers and sisters-in-Christ? How might their workplace change? How might they be able to encourage one another?
I believe it is time we learn to see the church as Jesus defines it, “where two or three gather in my name”. As we do, we will begin to see more opportunities to carry out the purpose of the church which is to reveal Christ and His kingdom to those around us wherever we find ourselves as we journey together along the Way …
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