Reflecting in Church
I was sitting in church today and something suddenly struck me.
The real problem with the Church today is that it is struggling to be relevant.
It doesn’t have to be relevant, it just needs to be righteous. Those who seek after righteousness will discover the Church to be most relevant, in a world that is increasingly self-righteous and compromising.
Somehow, the Church has lost faith in itself. Perhaps that’s because it has been trying to build.
Who Builds the Church
“I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” This is from a great worship son, I Will Build My Church and it comes from the Bible verse Matthew 16:18
“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”
Jesus said He will build the church. But it seems so often that we the Church seem to think its our job to build it. And so in some instances we fall into error.
The Problem with Compromise
Relevance is an error if it requires compromise. Whether its making music loud and fast, to draw in young people, or ignoring the wisdom and availability of the elder, wiser folk to ensure it remains attractive to the young, cheats young and old of genuine worship and supportive relationship.
Compromise to keep things relevant is also not the Jesus way. To twist scripture to fit a modern world, to enable gay marriage for example, and all things related, is another way to keep things relevant and destroy the foundation of the Church.
Biblical scripture says, “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.” (Leviticus 18:22) and also says, Love your neighbour as yourself. So we love those who are going against what is Biblical but we do not endorse it. Only the world cannot see the difference, but we through Jesus can.
Fearlessness
“Do not fear” is a Biblical principle. Whether it is fear of what others will think of the Church, or fear of our own failure, fear is not of GOD. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Psalm 111:10a) and Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
Let us not join the fools who lead the world into sin and error, but let us join Solomon who also wrote, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10)
It is great to make things in Church interesting and relevant and challenging, for old and young alike. But to compromise is not the way to do so. In fact, let us be guided whole by the Holy Spirit as we seek to allow GOD to build His church through Jesus in us.