Much like the human species, churches come in many shapes, sizes and characteristics; big ones, little ones, talkative ones and quiet ones, ones with lots of money, and ones with very little. Churches even have different races; Anglican, Baptist, and Pentecostal. I have no idea when, where or how they came about, but they are here.
Churches are born and churches die, and one church can be so different from another, yet still called ‘Christian’. So if Church is so diverse, and God is so undivided, then how on earth does the whole thing work? Does it even work? Is Church as we see it in 2006 how God planned it? Did God even plan it?
What we do know about Church is that it was never meant to be a building or a business. It is a body; living, breathing and active. This body is not made up of one part, but many (see 1 Corinthians 12:14); every part is valuable and every part different. The Church, the Body of Christ, is in its intrinsic nature, diverse, yet called to be united (see Romans 15:15), which in all honesty is a pretty hard task. Unity is not something us humans specialise in.
So how do we reach this unity? Paul has a hint for us in Colossians: “and over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” (see Colossians 3:14). John goes even further and explains that, “by this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (see John 13:35), which I believe is the big clue to figuring out this whole Church thing. Whether it’s breeding internal community, becoming externally focussed, or being a breathing billboard of Grace that you seek in your Church, love is the catalyst. Be that love, and you will become the body of Christ.
To discuss further what Church means for us in 2006, jump onto our messageboard and look for the thread “Jargonology: Church”.
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