I Need to Be The Church

We have an old testament view of church - and that needs to change

In the OT, religion was a series of functions and rituals performed by others for us, centered on a place, and adhering to rules.

The thing is - you even see God being frustrated with the israelites and their approach to what religion is. They borderline idolized the temple, they ignored the big matters of the law and hyperfocused on the tiny details.

In the NT, religion is the work we do ourselves in the world, centered on a people, and powerfully led by the spirit in grace and mercy.

How do we shift our perspective?

‘I need to be the church’.

And this is more than just ‘I need to be IN the church’. That’s an essential part - but it’s not the finish line, it’s the starting line.

This phrase, ‘I need to be the church’. It’s a two sided coin.

On one side - we need to shift our value of the holiness of spaces, places and times onto something different. We need to recognize God’s true design for the church.

On the other side - we need to highly value the idea that WE are the church. that I AM the church. And that my church can’t be healthy until i’m actively engaged in it’s health.

Imagine saying - i’m healthy, but i’m missing my lungs. You aren’t saying ‘I’m healthy’ - you’re saying i’m healthy relative to this CRIPPLING PROBLEM i have.

Acts 2 has a wonderful picture of what church REALLY does look like.

Acts 2:42–47 NIV

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

This definition of church contains very few of the ‘standard markers’ that we look at when we define ‘chuch’ other than ‘there’s people there’.

So how do we shift our perspective on this?

In order to move from a place and time view of church to a new testament view of church, we need to take some of our values and realign them.

And here’s where it’s fun. We can take our OT perspective on church, and just…shift it.

The space to keep pristine is my heart

STORY - My church spent tens of thousands of dollars on carpet - and I ruined a not-small section of it almost the next day.

God didn’t ask for beautiful churches - he asked for a beautiful church. He wasn’t aiming to make stained glass windows - he was aiming to make a bride for himself.

2 Corinthians 7:1 NIV

Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

PERFECTING HOLINESS by purifying ourselves.

Don’t get me wrong - I’m sure he enjoys the beauty of spaces. The temple was an amazing building.

But the temple was a midway point for Israel. Israel didn’t start with the temple, and it didn’t finish when it was destroyed.

In fact, God’s feelings towards the temple is probably best described as ‘why are you doing this again? Literally, the earth is my footstool - what could you possibly do. But I guess you have the right heart, so sure, let’s go with this’.

So, part of being the church means - looking at ourselves, our own lives, and saying, this is the thing that I really need to worry about keeping spotless.

The thing to not break is my relationships with others

1 John 4:20 NIV

Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.

The Bible’s really clear - do whatever you can to live in love and harmony and respect and compassion and care towards each other.

And I’m afraid you’re misunderstanding me here. I’m afraid you’re hearing me say ‘Don’t break relationships with others’. Which is all fine and good. But it’s not enough.

John 13:35 NIV

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

The bible’s position is that the relationships we have with each other are so foundational to what the Gospel is, that how well we connect with each other will be how well the world can see Jesus in us.

So what kind of Jesus are we called to demonstrate to the world? A passive Jesus that is fine with us, he’s sure we’re great people, but he never really contacts us or visits and knows nothing about us?

Or are we here to show the world a Jesus who is intimately and deeply connected to our lives, who brings radically different people together in supernatural ways, and who has created a community that loves new people so deeply and practically that they think we’re nuts?

PRACTICALLY SPEAKING - Literally get together with other people. Not sure what to read or watch? Talk to me. Not sure who? Talk to anyone else.

And it doesn’t have to be for bible study either, though that’s a great idea. Connect for coffee. Invite someone you don’t know for lunch. Hang out together. Do stuff together.

The spot where God lives is in me - and all of us

If you want to go to the place where God is - look inside.

John 14:23 NIV

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.

I’m not bashing the act of getting out of our spaces, our familiar, and going somewhere that feels and seems separate and holy to us.

But the God who meets us in power here in our services - when we finish, and we have coffee and chat for a bit - go home - he goes with us.

SIDEBAR - here’s a secret. He doesn’t meet with us here because we hit the right chords, or sing the right songs. He meets us here because we’re still simple and fallen enough to believe that it’s about those things - so when we get them, we stop resisting God and open ourselves up. And it’s in that opening that God goes FINALLY, it’s about time! And he comes and he visits us.

And the real, true power of God is that we can do that absolutely anywhere, any time, for any reason.

The problem isn’t going to a church building and expecting God to be there in power - the problem is when we don’t expect him everywhere else. We want the power of the sunday morning moments - we NEED the power in every other moment.

We need to learn what it means to be a people who has the Holy Spirit, God himself, making HIS temple, HIS home, in each of our hearts.

ISRAEL was walking around in the desert being led by God. We see ourselves as the people in the camp - watching from afar, afraid that God will break out against us. But we’re not. We’re the ‘holy of holies’. That spot where God’s presence dwelled directly on earth. We’re right in the middle of that cloud.

As much as God lives in each one of us - God also lives in the holiness and sanctity of this thing we call ‘the body’. There’s a special spiritual power when a group of people connects together. And not just ‘occupies the same space’.

When they come together in the sense of a family for a meal, or a celebration, or after a tragedy.

Matthew 18:20 NIV

For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

But this isn’t about physical proximity. Right before this, Jesus talks a great deal about how seriously we should take our relationships. BETTER TO MILLSTONE - THEN STUBMLE. If someone wanders - put everything down and find them. If someone sins - go talk to them.

Jesus is saying - when we can REALLY come together, REALLY gather together - that’s where you’ll find the power of God.

Our hearts are where WE see God - our connections and relationships are where everyone else sees God in us.

Learn pursue God in the every-other moments. And also learn to pursue God in the power of deep and spiritual relationship with other believers.

PRACTICALLY SPEAKING - How is this different than the last part? About preserving relationships?

The difference is - we need to preserve our relationships. But we also need to value growing together in our spiritual walk - and each of us contributing to the whole.

Spiritual growth was never meant to just be something I fed you from up here while you sat and listened. We sharpen each other. We can pray with each other, for each other. We can read together. Study together.

But more than that - we can also be open with each other. Share our wisdom - but also our struggles. Give others a chance to be there for us.

This is what a beautiful church looks like

And there’s a reason that God designed it this way.

When we follow these priorities - honor these foundational values - what we will make will be a beautiful place.

It’ll be more fulfilling than you’ve experienced before. More transformative. More impactful in the world.