After the statement made by democratic presidential hopeful “Beto” O’Rourke to take away the tax-exempt status from churches which refuse to accept same sex marriage, a wave of fear driven panic erupted on social media and in the public square; the fear, in my mind stems from an unhealthy understanding of what the church is and is not.
What is the church?
Is it four walls and a roof? No, the church is more than an at-risk piece of real-estate which may be taken or forcibly closed by forces, political or activist which are opposed to or offended by that which is taught there. Jesus said in (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 Hell (Hades) shall not prevail against it.” Before there were incentives for Christian pastors and churches to hold their tongues about various national and controversial issues the church has stood. Why? Because the church is not something dead made of wood or steel– the church is alive and it draws its power to live and survive from Jesus Christ!
The church is people – people who met underground and, in some places, still do to worship the King of kings and it was people who met from house to house and in some places still do to worship the Creator of the heavens and the earth. The church is people who meet under highway bridges, in city parks, on street corners, under tents, in business offices and break-rooms, in youth camps and in front of flag poles – sometimes just two or three believers and the Lord (Matthew 18:20), sometimes 10’s and hundreds, even thousands of us; but it is people, not brick and mortar neither wood or steel and within each one of those people is the Holy Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6-19).
The church is not a man – it isn’t a little known or even a well-known pastor even though sometimes the church has taken a beating because of the person speaking for the Lord. Look again at (Matt. 16:18), Jesus did not say that He was building His church on Peter’s back but on the message which Peter had received from Almighty God concerning Jesus in (v.16-17):
“Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”
The gates of hell may prevail against a man BUT Jesus declared that the gates of hell would NEVER prevail against His Word or His church. He did not say that hell and all that is in it would not try to prevail against the church He established on His name, reputation and work for the redemption of ALL mankind; He just said that IT WOULD NOT SUCCEED!!!
Concerning the church, the writer of Hebrews wrote in (Hebrews 10:24-25) “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” Some have used this verse to beat people into being in the four walls every Sunday but I think that the verse addresses something far more important than church attendance.
It addresses a need.
Listen, I never found the kind of love, acceptance, kindness and grace which I have known as a part of the body of Christ in the world around me. That is what the church is – the body of Christ; and from it, not the brick and steel but from Spirit filled people you should be discipled, challenged, encouraged, lifted up and sometimes even disciplined and corrected. Wherever and whenever we come together as believers, it is to “stir up love and good works” in each other and as the days we live in grow bleaker and more chaotic we need to come together as often as we can to support and encourage one another in the “fight”’ to liberate those still walking in spiritual darkness.
As the day fast approaches and the world around us continues to call good evil and evil good (Isaiah 5:20) don’t panic, “Do not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; For the Lord will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught.” (Proverbs 3:25–26) and don’t forsake the assembling of believers together wherever that gathering may be; “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”” (Hebrews 13:5–6)
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