Take me to Church
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church—for we are members of his body. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church." -Ephesians 5:24-32
Notice the relationship between Christ and the Church has been intertwined with a description of a husband and wife. Beautiful.
The passage is about marriage yes, but Paul’s intentions are less to do with defining the roles of husbands and wives, and more to do with defining the relationship between Christ and the Church. He wanted us to understand just how much Jesus loves the church and how important it is for us to care for the church as we would care for ourselves and for our significant other.
The Church is not a job, it is a relationship.
The Church is just as important today as it was the day Jesus rose from the dead. Meeting together, worshipping together, all for the glory of Jesus, will never become irrelevant or obsoltete. But the role of the Church is bigger than a building. The Church is crucial today for those who are already in it and those who have yet to experience the love of Christ.
The Church is important to you:
“let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10: 22-25
As members of Christ Church, it is fundamental to our faith that we lean on one another in times of trial and rejoice together in times of joy. Just like a relationship with a spouse, our relationship as a church with our bridegroom Christ Jesus, grows in strength and love with continual support.
The Church is important to others:
“Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” –Matthew 5:42
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” – Philippians 2:3-4
We have a responsibility as a church to seek out those in need, feed the poor and watch over the orphans and widows. In 2016 there is so much love to be shown and so many needs to be met. And rather than seeking our own glorification, as a Church we can work together to glorify God and stir a curiosity in the hearts of non-believers as we introduce them to the unconditional love of Jesus.
The Church is important to God:
“Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God,[a] which he bought with his own blood.”
-Acts 20:28
As a Church we must watch over one another, as we are all God’s sheep. The flock, the congregation, the house of God; we are called to look after one another lest one of us goes astray and has no one to bring us back home.
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The Church is Christ’s beautiful bride. And we are members of the Church. Meeting together and taking part in worshipping God and bringing His love outside the church building and into the streets of New York City, Denver, Nashville, Topeka Kansas, wherever you live, is why the Church is still important today.
This is an invitation, with no expiration date, to seek out a church if you do not already have a church to call home. And make Sunday a day you spend with Christ’s bride.
Let’s Take Back Sundays.