Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Simple Church
Mankind is notorious for complicating simple things. I believe this is what we have done with the church Christ is building. Pursuing the idea that the Builder of the church may intend it to be in a fluid state, what better analogy is there than water?
Every molecule of water consists of two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen. Very simple. So the formula of the basic structure of water is H2O. Nothing can be added to make it "more water" than what it already is. Though we have greater and lesser quantities of water, it all is the same simple structure, H2O.
Could it be that Jesus gave us the simplest and the most fluid structure of the church when he said, "Where two or three have gathered together in my name, there I am in their midst" - Matthew 18:20. Two or three gathered people, plus Jesus gives us church. There is a condition, however. The gathering is in Jesus' name. I don't subscribe to the idea that anytime two believers are together they are "having church." The "in my name" phrase indicates the purpose for which they gather, which is Jesus, not a movie, not a ballgame, not shopping, etc., but Jesus. (There is much more significance to that phrase, but that's for another time).
Isn't the presence of Jesus in our midst what it's all about? So what more can we ask? He's the way, the truth(reality) and the life. As the Scriptures proclaim, he's the fullness of God. So we agree with Moses when he said, "We ain't goin' anywhere without you"(paraphrased).
Have we muddied up the waters with all the things we've thrown into the mix, thinking they contribute to making us a church? I wonder if all that we've added has only contributed to distorting the church and obscuring Jesus.
Every molecule of water consists of two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen. Very simple. So the formula of the basic structure of water is H2O. Nothing can be added to make it "more water" than what it already is. Though we have greater and lesser quantities of water, it all is the same simple structure, H2O.
Could it be that Jesus gave us the simplest and the most fluid structure of the church when he said, "Where two or three have gathered together in my name, there I am in their midst" - Matthew 18:20. Two or three gathered people, plus Jesus gives us church. There is a condition, however. The gathering is in Jesus' name. I don't subscribe to the idea that anytime two believers are together they are "having church." The "in my name" phrase indicates the purpose for which they gather, which is Jesus, not a movie, not a ballgame, not shopping, etc., but Jesus. (There is much more significance to that phrase, but that's for another time).
Isn't the presence of Jesus in our midst what it's all about? So what more can we ask? He's the way, the truth(reality) and the life. As the Scriptures proclaim, he's the fullness of God. So we agree with Moses when he said, "We ain't goin' anywhere without you"(paraphrased).
Have we muddied up the waters with all the things we've thrown into the mix, thinking they contribute to making us a church? I wonder if all that we've added has only contributed to distorting the church and obscuring Jesus.
# posted by Carman : 12:16 PM
