APG: What difference does it make if I'm part of a church?

Hi

My name is Gary Priddy. As a pastor, I feel that one of my major responsibilities is to help people live out their faith. Part of this to answer real questions about faith and life. I make these short videos to focus in on real questions, one at a time and give you a clear answer without a lot of fluff.

If you have a question you would like me to speak to, please let me know

I hope today’s answer helps you.

I hear this all the time … at least once people find out I am a pastor.

Usually they respond something like “Oh yea, I’m a christian, I grew up in church.

Sometimes I’m willing to take it a bit further, then I ask, “oh yea… what church do you go to now?

Well, I don’t any more… at least not that often.

Or… I go to X-church… at least when I do go, that’s where I go.

Now, I’m like most other folks, I don’t want to make people uncomfortable, so I usually don’t challenge people on their thinking on this, but when I hear this, I know these folks don’t really understand that it means to be a part of a church.

They think of their church as the place they go on Christmas or Easter… but that’s really missing it.

My wife and I were in an accident recently, and we got a lesson on what it means to be a part of a church. You see, our church family showed out.

Immediately after the accident, we started getting texts and calls about how we were, if they could do anything. We had friends offering us vehicles to use until we could get things straight. Folks were coming by to offer help.

Seriously, we have had people bringing us meals every day, sometimes 2 and 3x a day.

Cards, calls, I could go on and on.

The bulk of those calls and deliveries were from friends who are a part of our church.

Granted, you could have folks love on you like this without being a part of a church; ok, I’ll give you that… you have a great family or a bunch of good friends. But let me tell you, what we experienced is pretty normal in the life of our church family. We strive to take care of one another, to love one another. When someone is in need, people jump in. We actually look for ways to help one another. We don’t do this perfectly every time, I’ll grant you that, but this experience is by and large the norm rather than the exception. We do this because of the what the Bible teaches about what it meant to be a church.

In the New Testament, there are three pictures that the writers used to describe what it means to be a part of a church.

First, the Church is seen as the bride of Christ. Jesus describes himself as the bridegroom and Paul extended that to the church being the bride who was to love the bridegroom. Jesus explained what loving him looked like, doing the things he asked us to do - simple obedience. The church is the bride of Christ, and as such we show our love by doing his will. Caring for one another, making disciples, Loving others as we love our-self.

The second picture is the church as a part of a vine; actually the branches, where Jesus is the vine or the root and we are connected to him. This gives us a powerful picture of our connection. And that being the church isn’t so much about what we do, but what God does through us. You see the branches hold the fruit, but the vine produces the fruit. Our responsibility is to stay connected to the vine.

The Third picture, Paul presents the church as the body of Christ. With Jesus as the head, in the position of authority; we, the church, the people are the body, the functioning parts; the hands and feet, arms and legs, the eyes and mouth. We follow his lead, we go where he sends; just like the parts of your body do what your brain tells them and they are designed for.... ours is the task of doing what we are designed to do, as Jesus teaches us… all in concert with the other parts.

What I don’t see in these pictures is a building. I do see relationships.

Being a part of a church means you are committed to a group of people and that group is committed to you. It’s a family, not unlike your birth family. Some you are closer to, some who are a bit more distant, but there is a shared connection and sense of obligation.

A connection that finds it’s identity in the head of the family, Jesus. A connection that finds it’s purpose in one another.

Plain and simple, if you consider yourself a Christian, but aren’t invested and involved in a local church you are missing out. You are missing out on relationships with people who feel called to love and bless you. Not only that, but a whole group of people are missing out on the blessing of having you in their life.

As a matter of fact, I don’t see how someone can be a Christian and not long to be a part of Jesus’ body - a local church. We get to do the work of Jesus. In fact, the church, the body of christ, are his hands and feet… living out God’s mission in the world… If that doesn’t get you excited… you may not have a pulse!

And thinking of the “Jesus as the groom - the church as the bride” picture from before… I know I hate being away from my bride. Life just isn’t right when she’s not with me. Surely there is a sense that Jesus longs for our claiming our part.

When we become a Christian, scripture teaches that God begins to move in your life, equipping us to live the new life that he gives us.

The new Testament is filled with over 50 statements describing how Christians are to treat each other, there are called the “one another’s”. Love one another, forgive one another, serve one another, and on and on. Jesus equips us to do these “one anothers”; but if we aren’t around the “others” then we can’t experience a major part of what it means to be a Christian living out what faith makes possible.

You see you are gifted; and you are gifted so that you can be a blessing to others, primarily through the relationships of the church.

What difference does it make if I’m a part of a church? It makes all the difference in the world.