So Many Questions About Church....
Well, I am still trying to find answers to the questions of church as it relates to the modern-day Christian in America. What are some common problems that some Christians might struggle with in the church world today? Are they unnecessary issues? If so, how can we help to change these problems as much as possible on this side of heaven? I finally got the bright idea to start searching the Bible for facts in hopes that I might begin to understand what God might have to say about this concept of church. Here are some amateur thoughts of mine after reading some Scriptures.
Hebrews 10:25 establishes the fact that Christians should "assemble" together consistently. Other verses explain why: For spiritual protection provided by pastors, leaders and the presbytery (1 Tim 4:14) or body of elders as they "shepherd" us (1 Peter 5:1-2) through Bible teaching (Titus 1:7, 9) and leading by example for us to imitate (Hebrews 13:7); to use our talents to serve others (1 Peter 4:10), to encourage and build each other up (1 Thes 5:11), to confess our sins to each other, to pray for each other for healing (James 5:16), etc.
Many problems that Christians have with churches, and that I have encountered myself, have come from the simple fact that we are part of a fallible family. Like a physical, nuclear or extended family, there are going to be faults, weaknesses, even very grave wrongs committed toward each other. This is a fact that on one hand, must be lovingly pointed out as wrong, yet on the other hand, simply accepted.
Earthly families might quarrel or not see life from the same perspective even though they are in the same family. These disagreements are often very sad and hurtful. I was able to experience some of this over the holidays. But communication helps us to grow closer and stronger through the differences, as long as we do not disown each other. Some families have extremely damaging issues, yet they all still come together for Christmas, or a family reunion. This is interesting to me. Perhaps Christian unity exists much more than what meets the human eye?
Other problems concern false doctrines and practices within church leadership. This is the reason for the mandate of a body of elders, plural. A group can make better and more effective decisions than a single leader. They are responsible to teach sound doctrine and warn of wrong influences. A Christian is responsible to attend a church that is believed to be the most accurate model of the Biblical description of church. But, what exactly is that model? This is where I am confused and need to do further research.
At this point however, two key concepts in the New Testament stand out to me: the Early Church and the body of Christ. There seems to be one major difference between the early church world and the current one. The Early Church saw themselves as one body, the body of Christ, which met in various geographical places (for obvious reasons). The body of Christ today is divided into many denominations and movements, each claiming spoken and unspoken, to be the church that resembles the Biblical one.
Although the body of Christ in the Bible speaks of consisting of many members, it is still one body of Christ (Romans 12:5) held together by the unity of the Spirit (Ephesians 4:3). "There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all." (Ephesians 4:5, 6)
Could the Scriptures aforementioned concerning the reasons for attending church also be applied to the body of Christ? In other words, do Christians have the same responsibility to all believers? Acts 11:29-30 tells us that the church in Antioch sent financial aid to the church in Jerusalem. Jerusalem had already sent an elder and prophets to Antioch. Paul and Barnabas and others traveled from church to church. This was truly one body of Christ.
The reason why I am wondering this is because although friction and division has its place, and we can learn much from differences, there seems to be a strange alienation today. Perhaps the cause is the ease and comfort that the Industrial Revolution brought with it, or commercialism, or Hollywood. I really don't know if there was a single cause or a root of the change, or even a marked change at all.
It just seems foreign to me that often when I step onto a full elevator, nobody says a word. Vehicles with single, distant drivers crowd the freeway. Passengers sitting 2 inches from each other on a plane for hours are not interested in even saying "hello". Students at school and colleagues at work hardly know any personal details of each other in many parts of America. I don't know the first names of most of my neighbors even though we exchange greetings quite often. Does this seem weird to anyone else or is this the way it has always been?
Does this sense of separation from one another affect the church today? The proclaimed reason for most church dissensions, such as the Reformation, if I understand it correctly, is that a group of people disagree with the main body. Necessary change is not feasible unless a break away occurs. I can't see any problem with this, especially since Jesus led a movement which was contrary in many ways to the church world of His day while claiming that the unified gospel had always existed, and His disciples continued "to obey God rather than men". But after that, any dissenters from the Early Church were considered heretics.
The members of the body of Christ belong to each other (Romans 12:5). This spiritual family takes precedence over any other family or relationship, which Christ also exemplified. I love to see close friendships among people at church, who hang out with each other outside of a worship service or small group, but it seems rare in my experience, or awkward, or as though Christian friends are only fulfilling some sort of "ministry" rather than a sense of belonging to each other. Church programs try hard to create this kind of unity but they often seem fabricated to me.
That one body of Christ often seems obscure at church. I am surrounded by Christians, people who are devoted to Jesus Christ, and yet we hardly know each other. We will visit each others' homes, eat meals together, even pray together every week for an entire year and still not know things like favorite scriptures, hobbies, likes and dislikes. We know if they attended church last week, but we don't know their intense, internal dilemmas. We know each others' position on eschatology but we don't know their political views. So many taboos. We are close without the closeness.
Unity does not mean total conformity. I love the diversity of Christians. It would be good for us to encourage each other in figuring out and supporting the wide range of different gifts and lifestyles. It's difficult for very different people to be friends but what a beautiful picture to see odd couples and groups working together because of the common bond of Christ. Together we fulfill a special purpose on earth and I think we all long for that unique togetherness.
Going to church seems so unlike my current understanding of gathering together with the body of Christ, almost as though the essence of church is in part missing. Is it too formalized in the same way that public schools remove the heart of learning? Theologians contrast a local church body with the body of Christ, but should we be striving to decrease that contrast as much as possible? Does the multitude of Christianity's factions sadden God, even though He can still use them for His glory?
Or is everything okay, and going according to plan? Maybe us Christians expend a lot of wasted energy on fruitless works, but when it's all said and done, in heaven, we will see all the ways that God used our weaknesses to prove His mercy, His free gifts and His unconditional love.
I really do not understand the problems I am trying to describe. But in my heart I have this nagging longing for church to be different, not necessarily the specific church that I attend, only the modern American church world in general. I desire to see more passion for Christ and care for each other. But I also want to see that devotion and love spill over onto the world, not only for people but for the earth, our health, our possessions. I want church to be a picture of the body of Christ. I'm not trying to complain or state that I am above these issues since they are my problems too. I am only attempting to explain this strong emotion in me. Thus, my endless string of questions about church.
