The Church - Fail or Faithful?

For today’s Theology Thursday post I want to look at the church.  There are lot s of theological ideas and concepts that involve the church.  Through the church we live out the Great Commission in Matthew 28.  We find out what is means to live together as brothers and sisters in Christ.  We worship God, read His word, and challenge each other to live faithful and obedient lives.  “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”  Acts 2:42

However, the church is not without it’s faults, and many people have used the church as evidence for why they should not be a Christian at all.  There is no doubt that the church throughout history has made mistakes.  At times in history, the church has gone out and done things in the name of God that looks anything but Godly.  There are still instances in our churches today where people do things in God’s name is aren’t Godly, although usually in a much more local context.  People in the church still hurt each other, some may violate several of the 10 Commandments, and others may violate all of them while still being a part of a church.

So, do we give up on the church?  Absolutely not!  Yes, people in the church make mistakes.  The church is made up of broken sinners, not perfect saints.  The reality of living in a broken world is that any institution that we are a part of will be tainted by our own sinfulness.  We are a sinful and broken people, so it is not surprising that a group made up of us sinful and broken people will also be broken, thankfully we are not left alone in our brokenness. 

So, do we give up on the church?  Absolutely not!  The church may be made up of sinful and broken people, but it is sinful and broken people who are trying to live the life that God is calling them to.  God designed us to live in community together (Matthew 18:20).  We were designed to be a part of a body, the body of Christ, and all of the parts of the body are needed for it to function properly.  “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every aspect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.  From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”  Ephesians 4:15-16

The church is not perfect, but it is an amazing gift that God has given us.  No matter what, God is always the Head of the church, and we can’t do anything that would ever change that.  If we walk into any church expecting to find a perfect environment we will be sorely disappointed.  We need walk in knowing that we are joining a fellowship of broken people all in need of a Savior, and all on different parts of the journey of sanctification to become more and more like Christ. It is a place where we are able to share our concerns, our hurts, our pain, our praise, our joys, and our sorrows.  It is a place where we are able to worship God together and encourage one another in discipleship and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.  God did not design us to live alone in this world and have to struggle by ourselves, but designed us to be a part of the body of Christ  so we can hold one another up in prayer, encourage one another, and be the hands and feet of Christ to each other and the world.

Even though the church is not perfect, and I pray that God would continue to correct things that are not of Him and help us to be faithful as the body of Christ, I also praise God for it each and every day and can't imagine life without it!