WE are the church!

Several years ago, a youth pastor commented to me how completely different all four of our kids were. So different, that it was hard to imagine that they grew up in the same house. One of the greatest things about my family is how different each of us is. There is nothing wrong with different.

Having differences in family does not make one better than the other, it just makes us different. Our kids all have different strengths and different weaknesses.  That is what makes them unique and special. And as different as we may be, at the end of the day, we are still family.

Sometimes, I think we can lose sight of that in the family of God.

 Lately, I have been hearing other Christians comparing their church to others. I know, I know…it’s like the story of the young boy who tells all of his friends that HIS dad is the biggest, the strongest and the fastest. We all like to think that OUR church is the best, with the best pastor, the best worship, and where the Holy Spirit moves like no other.

But we need to be careful of who and what we are boasting about. THE church is not the name on the sign, nor is it the man we call “pastor”, THE church isn’t even how large or small our congregation is or how many members are in the choir. THE church is not where it is located, or how much it cost.

THE church comes in different sizes, shapes and colors. For you see, THE church is not a building, it is not a person, THE church is where God resides. WE are the church…but who is we?

WE are His followers. We are spirit filled, forgiven followers of Christ. WE are from many denominations, with one belief…that Jesus Christ is Lord, He lived, He died, He rose again, and He is sitting at the right hand of the Father, interceding on our behalf, and He is going to return one day, very soon.

We may all be different, but we are from the same family. And one day, we will walk the streets of gold together.  Heaven will not be divided by race, or by wealth or by denomination.  Nor will heaven be divided by how big or small the church you attended, or how loud you sang, or if you jumped the pew or prayed silently.  

1 Corinthians 12:27 “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

Please do not make the mistake of committing the sin of self-righteousness or judging by doing church comparison. Like my kids, we, as Christians, all have our differences…but in the end, we are all family. The family of God!

WE are the church!