Faith together:the church

We have been going back to the basics. We started talking about God, and the gospel. But this week, I think Faith has this subject down. I mean Faith does this best. Last week, I told about my first date with my wife. So, let me get mushy for a minute and tell you that I have told her many times that she is perfect for me. Now, I recognize that she is not perfect. She certainly has her flaws. But, she is perfect for me. She makes me so much better! I promise you have no idea! So, why do I say all that. Well, the same is true for all of you. You are the perfect church for me. Now, you are not a perfect church. We certainly have our problems, but you are the perfect church for me. When people ask what brought me here the second time, I say it is because God called me here. And, you all make me better as well. This is not a one way relationship. Because, I believe God called all of you here as well. Shirley Gutherie Jr, the former professor Emeritus of theology at Columbia Theological Seminary, in Georgia, writes, “To be a follower of Christ has meant from the very beginning to join a community of disciples he draws together around himself. You cannot be a Christian by yourself; you can only be a Christian together with other Christians who serve God in the world.”

Now that is an interesting statement, You cannot be a Christian by yourself. I had to wrestle with that a little bit. When I thought about it, I think Dr. Guthrie is right, you cannot be a Christian by yourself, you need other people! When Covid happened and churches moved to online formats, I think we all felt that. We need each other. I mean that is why we share our prayer requests for one another. We need people to celebrate our joys. We need people to be sad with us. We need people to pick us up when we fail. We need each other. During my installation service, during my charge I was given some advice and that advice was both good and bad. He said Michael don’t put your problems on these people. Don’t lean on these people like that. Now, I know what he was talking about. However, he was partly wrong. See, he didn’t give you credit for being the incredible people that you are. He doesn’t know the history of this church and how this church works tirelessly to be in relationship with one another. It is that relationship that helps make this church special. It is why I say that this is the perfect church for me!

I have heard it said many times that the Acts 2 church is the church we should all strive to be like. I mean there is this mix of people. They came from all races, nationalities, and spoke different languages. However, God moved in that place and great things were happening. This is why every year in May, we celebrate the day of Pentecost. Now, I will tell you, without a doubt, that church was not perfect. In fact, it had many flaws. One of those flaws was that they believed because of the signs and wonders. Unfortunately, this is a common problem. Throughout the Bible people wanted Jesus to show them a sign or a wonder to prove that he was God. The same is true with this church. I mean great things were happening. Peter preaches a sermon. The Holy Spirit falls down, people are speaking to one another and God is moving. This set the emotions high and people believed because emotions were so high.

Unfortunately, the emotions were so high that people started making rash decisions. See, Peter had just preached about Jesus sitting on the throne. Everyone was thinking Jesus would come back and would come back soon, like tomorrow maybe. So, why not sell everything you own? I mean you won’t need it. The emotions were high. Just a few chapters later Ananias and Sapphira decide to sell their land and give it to the church. That story took a really bad turn. But, emotions were high! Peter said turn from this perverse generation and people were doing just that! They were selling everything they owned and devoted themselves to the Apostles’ teachings. However, as we continue to read in the Bible, people quit selling their stuff and giving away everything to those in need. Now, I have no doubt that people were generous and people fed the widows and such but the generosity started to become measured, and there is nothing wrong with that.

But, if all that was emotional, why should we strive to be like that church? Well, they did get some things right! See, the first part of our text says that they devoted themselves to the Apostle’s teaching, fellowship, and breaking bread. See, they didn’t just listen to some preacher, they fellowshipped with one another. They broke bread and took communion together. These were important aspects of the church.

But, one of the most important aspects of this church is the fact that they were together. All who believed were together. Day by day they spent time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and they had goodwill for all people. The church is people together! In fact, the word Ecclesia means mob! They believed together, they broke bread together, and they listened to the Apostles’ teaching together. They even had things in common. However, nowhere in the text does it say that they agreed on everything.

Here is the thing, we don’t have to agree on everyth/ing either. In our text in Matthew, Jesus asks a simple question. Who do the people say that I am? There was not a consistent answer. Some say John the Baptist. Others say Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. There was no consistency in the answers. But, Jesus then turns to Peter and asks, “who do you say that I am? Peter responds that you are Christ the son of the living God. What a statement. Peter responds that Jesus is the anointed king and the son of the living God. Only in Matthew’s account does it tell us that Jesus is the son of the living God. The other accounts of this story just say that he is the Christ. Jesus reminds Peter that it was God who gave him that answer and tells him that it is that foundation that the church is built.

Did you know that this is the first time the word “church” is used in the Bible? Now, in the Greek translation of the OT there is the word Ekklesia but it is translated assembly. However, this is the first time it is called church. But, for all my English teachers, notice the tense that Jesus is speaking in this text. Upon this rock I will build my church. My elementary grammar teacher told me that if the word “will” is used that means it is future tense. The church hasn’t been built yet. Jesus has plans to build it but it isn’t there yet. What he plans to build, he says the gates of hades will not prevail.

Here is the thing, what is he building? There already was a temple in place. A mob of people would come to it regularly. The temple, back then, centered around the priest and the sacrifice. The temple had section as to where people could go, like women, the lepers, and even the court of priests. It had the holy of holies that represented God’s presence. But, the whole thing centered around what the priest could do. Only the priest could present offerings. Only the priest could go into the holy of Holies. It was the priest who had access to God. The people had to go through a conduit.

Jesus switches that up. Peter proclaims that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the Living God and Jesus says it is that proclamation that the ecclesia will be centered on the people professing Jesus. Isn’t that what made the Acts 2 church so special?

The church is a group of people from all walks of life devoting themselves to the Apostles’ teachings, they have things in common and they break bread together. They don’t always agree but together, we make each other better for it.

Rob Bell, in his closing letter to Mars Hill, describes this. He writes, “The church is where the main thing was actually the main thing. A church that understood that there is a simplicity on the other side of complexity, aware of all of the various interpretations and theological perspectives and complicated systems of thinking and analyzing and yet with a clear, resolute sense that Jesus is doing something in the world, bringing water to the thirsty, food to the hungry, peace to the restless, presence to the lonely and we are invited to join his movement. that Jesus is ultimately not a proposition you intellectually assent to but a person you say 'yes' to. what matters then, is your 'yes.' with whatever you have, and whatever you don't have. with whoever and however you are or aren't, wherever you've come from. what matters is our 'yes.' you, my friends, through you i have experienced the mysterious joy of creation.”

Friends, a pinnacle foundation of the Presbyterian faith is the freedom of conscience. The priesthood of all believers. We all are walking closer to God. We are all making each other better. The foundation of the church is not whether we agree on everything. No, it is on our mutual confession that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God. In Proverbs 27 we are told that Iron sharpen Iron so one person sharpens another.

Faith does such a wonderful job of sharpening one another. Keep doing that! Keep seeing that Jesus is doing something in the world and Please, I beg you. Keep doing Faith together!

Grace and Peace