burning down the church

I can remember growing up going to church. It was a white building with a steeple on it that had a cross outside which read ‘Jesus saves’. I can remember trying to stay awake (many times failing!) when the sermon was being delivered when I was young and listening to the old lady bang away on the piano and organ during our singing times. It’s funny. Although I said I went to ‘church’ the church was never a building but was always the people inside that I remember fondly (when I was awake! lol).

For instance. You can say you went to ‘So and So High School’ and it is true you did attend there but your real high school experiences were the classmates and teachers you had. Even if the building burned down you would’nt care except for the fact those buildings represented good (or bad) times in your life where you interacted with others.

Same with the church. The ‘church’ is a people, not a building. The building just holds the ‘church’. If the building burns down the church is not gone, it will just need a new place to meet next week! When anyone falls away from the fellowship of people in the church that is tragic. It could be from their own sin they don’t want to confront or from someone elses’ sin that has affected them, but any time someone leaves the connection with the true ‘church’ it has sad consequenses. The church is a place of instruction, encouragement and rebuke all delivered in a fellowship of love to help people see their need for a Savior and help to follow Him better.

I have seen people reject good teaching. I have seen people fall away from good relatioships. I have seen people turn away from God’s love. To cheat on their spouses. To become homosexuals. To chase after money. To satisfy their desire for fame. A good church challenges you. A good church loves you. A good church will not let you remain as you are but will push you to be what God has designed you to be. A good church will never fail at helping people to see God’s glory and chase it. Because the Church is people not programs. It is an living organism not dead organization. It lives and breathes. It moves and shakes. Like Jesus.

Though the church burns down, the Church remains. Find a good church and be there. For good.