The picture above is a church in Tanzania pastored by Augustino Otieno. This church is affiliated with the church I serve Grace Ministry. Look at the picture again. Isn’t this a beautiful church?
Perhaps some of you are thinking what does Chuck mean by “beautiful?” The building is just a wooden frame with corrugated tin walls, no windows and a dirt floor. I know. But I am not talking about the building I am talking about the church—the people!
The Greek word translated “church” in the Bible is ekklesia and it means a called out assembly of people. The Bible calls Christians “the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15).” The church is in reality the called out assembly of the one true living God. We are called out of a sinful, hopeless world and into the family of God. We are called to obtain everlasting life and glory. The church; you and I and every Christian everywhere, are the pillar and ground of the truth.
Like the magnificent pillars of a great temple we stand out offering hope through the good news of Jesus Christ. We are the ground, the foundation upon which God’s truth rests. Each and every believer in the church is filled with the Spirit of God. We have Christ in us the hope of glory. And we have been commissioned to bring the good news of Jesus Christ, the salvation he offers from sin and the gift of everlasting life in his coming kingdom, to every man woman and child.
The church is beautiful! It doesn’t matter what kind of building we have in which we gather to worship. It doesn’t matter if we have a building at all. The church is not a building of brick, stone, stained glass windows or corrugated tin; it is the assembly of the one true living God. The church is God’s called out community. It is His family. God’s people are “a holy temple” the “dwelling place of God in the Spirit (Ephesians 2:21, 22).” Awesome!
The next time you gather with the church look around at all the people gathered with you. Aren’t they beautiful? The church is the most glorious thing in the world. What a privilege it is to be a part of “the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”
Thank you for how beautifully you pastor us in the Church. I can now use and say the word "Church" because of what you have taught me. I feel so much closer to these beautiful people who God has called. My old discomfort and dislike for this and that "Building" now seems so unimportant. Thank you it is truly a beautiful thing being a member of the Church.
ReplyDelete