I was thinking this morning about the church and how much I
love it. I don’t mean just my local congregation, although I do love my
immediate church family more than I can express with words. I was thinking more
of the church as a whole, the body of Christ on location in the earth.
What is this church of which I speak? The writer of Hebrews
calls it the general assembly and church of the firstborn, the spirits of just
men made perfect (Hebrews 12:23). The general assembly is the part that best
defines what the church is. It is a group of people who have been called out of
the world and assembled together under the banner of Jesus Christ. We have a
common salvation (Jude 1:3), a common hope of heaven, one common holy book, and
a common love for Jesus Christ, our Lord.
We are made of up of many different nationalities, language
groups, and backgrounds but God has made us all of one nation through the blood
of Jesus Christ, His son (Acts 17:26). All of us come from different walks of
life; we see things differently based on our own experiences and family values.
These differences can be cultural, social, philosophical, and political. The
one thing we have in common, salvation through Jesus Christ, is more powerful
than all the things that might serve to divide us.
The church is somewhat of a mystery in the Bible (Ephesians
7:13). Throughout 4,000 plus years of Old Testament Jewish history the New
Testament church is never really foreseen. There are illusions to it perhaps,
but none that specifically identify it. The Jewish prophets never saw a time
when God would turn from his covenant people and open his spirit to a group of
gentiles from every other ethnic group on the planet. It would have been
inconceivable to them. Yet that is exactly what God did.
The Jews were very territorial. They saw God as their God, the prophets as their prophets, the law as their law, and the future Messiah as their Messiah. It is absolutely amazing
that, though Jesus is the Jewish Messiah, it is largely gentiles who worship
him. This certainly was not foreseen by the Old Testament prophets. That God
would set aside a time in history (more than 2,000 years and still counting) to
open his arms to the rest of us was something they just could not have
anticipated.
Truly this church is amazing. It is the church that
encourages me when I’ down. It is the church that prays for me when I’m sick.
It is the church that preached the gospel to me. It is the church to which I run
in time of need. I have spent my happiest and saddest moments in the church.
The church has been there for me when I needed direction, consolation, rebuke,
and love.
There are people who don’t understand my need for the
church. Personally, I don’t know what I would do without a church family. I am
strengthened every time I go to the house of God. I would be lost without my
church family to connect with. It is more than just a building or a meeting
place. The church is my very lifeline to God. Sure I can pray alone. But when I
pray with other believers it is so much more powerful. The church is a constant
reminder to me that I am not alone in my pursuit of God. We are a unified body
of people with a common goal: we want to please the Lord and call heaven our
home.
We church members are human. We laugh together, cry
together, and sometimes fight amongst ourselves. We need constant guidance from
the pulpit. We would certainly be lost without God’s patience. None of us have
made it to a place of perfection yet. But we are the Body of Christ on location
in the world and when we come together in prayer we are a force that hell
cannot reckon with. We are the church!
If you are not a part of us, we welcome you with open arms.
Perhaps you were once with us and have wandered away; we welcome you back. Perhaps
you have been disillusioned; we encourage you to try again. We will forgive
your faults if you will forgive ours. Come one, come all and be a part of the
church! Everyone is welcome!
Blessings, Spanish Pastor Jones