Five Minute Friday - Church

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One word. Five minutes to write about it. This is the idea behind Five Minute Friday and this is today's free-writing post.

be the church

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"Be the church" has been a catch phrase for quite a long time, but I've been hearing it more than ever during the pandemic. We all agree, I hope, that we who consider ourselves Christians and part of the church should also be the church. It sounds good, but what does it mean? Do we even know?

What is the purpose of the church? Acts 2:42 tells us what the early church considered most important, and I think we could consider these priorities the purpose of the church.

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

The church should be devoted to learning all we can about what we believe in. We should be studying the Scripture diligently, teaching each other from Scripture, and discipling each other. The church must know what the Bible says, be equipped to explain and defend the truth, and be able to apply the truth to our daily lives. When we understand the teachings of Jesus in Scripture, we also understand that we are to share that Good News with everyone.

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. ~II Timothy 2:15

The church should place a high priority on fellowship. Being together, building relationships, being a family. Yes, I think that includes worshiping together because that's the bond that makes us a family and leads us into unity. 

The church is about breaking bread together. Eating together. And not just the Lord's Supper, although that sacred act is so important. Breaking bread together is sharing the Lord's Supper and sharing meals. Sitting around the dinner table with family and friends and . . . fellowshipping. 

The church must be a place of prayer. And if we are to be the church we must be a people of prayer. Praying together is an act of worship and unites us as we seek God's answers and intervention in our world. And if God's people come together to repent and pray, God says he will hear them and bring healing.

And foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be his servants, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant - these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations. ~Isaiah 56:6-7

The church-goers of America have raised questions - rightly so - about being able to return to our Sunday morning worship services without restrictions. The Constitution acknowledges that we have the right to worship freely, and this is a freedom we should defend and a right we should claim. I will go on record that I believe the state is violating our rights with many of the restrictions, and particularly those that restrict or prevent us from gathering for corporate worship. 

I've grown concerned that the church has focused on being able to meet in our buildings for our Sunday morning preaching and singing, but perhaps has not focused enough on discipleship and fellowship and prayer. Our Sunday morning services are important, but there is more to the life of the church - and the unity of the church - than just Sunday morning. We all transitioned to livestream and video worship services, but it's not the same, is it? The fellowship is missing. We need the accountability of small groups meeting to study God's Word together and pray together. We need the bonding times of breaking bread together. We need to disciple each other - especially our young people - and make sure they know the Scriptures and sound doctrine. We need to pray together. Yes, these things are happening, but are we giving them the attention and importance they deserve? Or could we do better? 

We can be the church without our church building. We can represent the church to our communities. We can each participate in the work and purpose of the church in our own sphere of influence. But I don't think we can truly be the church only as individuals. To be the church, we must be together. In one accord. And they'll know we are Christians by our love.

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See What is the Purpose of the Church? at GotQuestions for more on this topic.

Also, yes, I did take longer than five minutes to write this.

This post is linked at Five Minute Friday for the word prompt "Church".

 

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