change your view of church

The local Church.

These very words hold weight, in my view of the Church, this to me is of key importance. In my life, in my community, in my city, in the country I live, across the nations, it is these words, the local Church, that should hold weight. Jesus told His disciples to go to all nations and make disciples (Matthew 28:19). When they did go out from Jerusalem they started and planted local churches wherever they went. This was their response to hearing and seeing Jesus. Our response should be the same. Jesus loves the Church. The Bible even speaks of the Church as Jesus’ bride. Think of His great love for His bride, loving her with all of His being. Those of you who are husbands will understand this meaning more closely. Immediately our view of Church is changed when we look at the local Church through Jesus’ eyes and what She means to Him.

The Church can be described as the community of God, a togetherness of people, sharing and doing life deeply with one another. Believing in and worshiping Jesus, preaching the Word of God, being continually filled with the Holy Spirit. The local Church is full of relationship, a real life dependent, life-changing relationship with God and also with one another. It’s the family of God and it’s totally different from the secular view of what Church is. When we read the bible and see what the Church was really like our view should instantly be changed and our eyes lifted. The early Church in the book of Acts is extremely exciting. It provokes us to change our old view on what the Church was shapes our new view into something glorious.

Is the Church meant to be dull, boring and full of rules and regulations? Surely not, we as the local Church are called to be breathtakingly different, to bring people into relationship with the trinity, to share life together, to delight in what Jesus has done, glorifying Him again and again. This is life, this is fellowship that we long for, to be part of God’s great plan on a mission together, carrying out the very words of Jesus.

The local Church in the new testament, which was built on the words of Jesus, was not just totally counter-cultural, it was also culture changing! No wonder 3000 people were added in one day (Acts 2:41). When you are surrounded in darkness, the Church is what should break in with incredible light. When people hear the gospel, the truth breaks in, the light transforms everything and the darkness cannot stand in such a place. I long for churches everywhere to be like this. Many see the Church as only a Sunday meeting. People in and out of the Church hold this view but we must be ready to change this. We must see that Church as God’s, not ours. Church being the community of God is for everyday. With this in mind, Church life becomes a joy to behold, nothing less.

God’s Church, the local Church is full of love where all barriers are broken down, full of grace where Jesus calls us all to display and demonstrate His glory, full of joy where people are drawn into this God-given community. Our vision of Church needs to be aligned with the view Jesus has of His Church. We are called to love the Church, not to hate it, not to run away from it but to embrace the community of God. To let Jesus change us, our families and friends, our cities, countries and the world to see the Church as breathtakingly different.
I am part of a great local church where this community of God exists. Here at The Meeting Place Church, Fredericton, Canada, I see daily the expression of genuine love for one another, a deep fellowship with family, brothers and sisters who are for each other, who long to serve each other, the Church and the city better. This love for Jesus overflows into daily life, whether at university, the workplace, at the bar or whilst watching sport. These people who have become great friends, through together knowing Jesus, continue to lift my eyes and my view of the Church to one of praise to God. I thank God for superb leadership.

Meeting on a Sunday morning is one way in which we gather as the Church. This happens again at our Sunday evening prayer meetings and through the week in our Life Groups. But it doesn’t end there. Belonging to the Church and to God’s mission means that it changes our whole lives, it transforms everything, it shapes culture and breathes new life. Church doesn’t end after these meetings finish. It is all inclusive of life, breathtakingly different.

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