Why I Love The Church
Part 1
Part of a Series by Alan Walker
Mt. Vernon Church of Christ, Springfield, OR
The following comes from Servant Magazine, dated January/February, 1989:
I was in the supermarket one day, and a lady came down the aisle whom I could barely see over the top of her groceries. I got somewhat frightened because she seemed to be heading straight for me. She screeched to a halt within a few feet of me, peered over her load, wagged her finger, and said, "I left your church. I left your church". So I said, "Well, if it's my church, I think that was a very wise decision. If it's my church, I think I'm going to leave too." She said, "Don't you want to know why I left?" I said, "No, not particularly, but I think I'm going to find out". And I was right. She said, "You weren't meeting my needs." I answered, "I don't ever recollect seeing you before, let alone talking to you, let alone knowing your needs. Did you ever tell anyone specifically what your needs were?" She couldn't recall that she had, so I raised another question. "Can you tell me, if we have 5,000 people sitting in that church, all with your attitude, how anyone's needs are going to be met? If you reserve the right to have that attitude, then you must give everybody the freedom to have that attitude. And if everybody has that attitude, who on earth is going to do all the need-meeting?" Standing her ground, she demanded, "Then you tell me who will." Relieved, I said, "I thought you'd never ask. This is what will work: when people stop sitting in the pew saying, 'They're not meeting my needs' and start saying, 'Whose needs can I meet?' Then needs will be met. When the servant spirit flourishes in a congregation, then they minister to each other as unto the Lord."
In today's Church we hear about people who are ready to join a Church, or ready to leave a Church. You hear how some like the minister, while others don't really care for him. We hear a great deal about evangelism, classes, sermons, work days, needs, finances, and all kinds of stuff.
What we need to be hearing about in today's Church is that God's people.... love the Church! That's right love the Church! "Wait a minute Alan, we are supposed to love God.We are supposed to love Jesus. We are supposed to love His Word. We are supposed to love our enemies, But,the Church? Are you sure?"
Did you know Jesus Christ, our Lord, loves the Church?
"Husbands love your wives, just as Christ also loved the Church, and gave Himself up for her;" Ephesians 5:25
A Nashville newspaper carried a tongue-in-cheek story about Mrs. Lila Craig who hasn't missed attending church in 1,040 Sundays although she is in her eighties. The editor commented, "It makes one wonder, what's the matter with Mrs. Craig? Doesn't it ever rain or snow in her town on Sunday? Doesn't she ever have unexpected company? How is it that she never goes anywhere on Saturday night so that she's too tired to attend the worship service the next morning? Doesn't she ever 'beg off' to attend picnics or family reunions, or have headaches, colds, nervous spells, or tired feelings? Doesn't she ever oversleep or need time to read her Sunday newspaper? Hasn't she ever become angry at the minister or had her feelings hurt by someone and felt justified in staying home to hear a good sermon on the radio or TV? WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH MRS. CRAIG ANYWAY?
What's the matter with Mrs. Craig? Nothing at all! She loves the Church of the Lord Jesus!
I remember reading about a farmer who was late for the evening service. He never missed services. A concerned congregation called but received no answer. They sent a couple of folks out to his home. They found him, pinned, under an overturned piece of farm-equipment. His life hanging in the balance. You might say he was saved, because of his love for the Church.
For the next few weeks, I am going to be sharing a series of messages on the Church of the Lord Jesus. This first message is one I hope you will get a hold of in your life if you haven't yet:
Why I Love The Church...
I. I Love the Church Because of Her People.
I think of a preacher who saw me unloading watermelons at the market and stopped and helped. He is one reason why I am here today!
I remember my High School teacher who didn't expect to find me visiting his Sunday School Class, but then, I didn't expect to find him teaching the class. Randy and Nancy were a great source of encouragement to me as a young Christian.
I remember Carl & Bea; Russell & Dortha; Old Jim Huckins, Ray Potter, Charles & Viola, Bob & Rose, Old Jim Edin and His wife Vesta, men and women, some of them who are now gone on, and others who will meet the Master soon, who shook my hand and made me feel like I belonged. My, I love those people!
I think of a short fellow by the name of Beckman who taught me to preach. A funny man by the name of Ballard who taught gospels and Acts. A tall, skinny man named Anderson, who taught New Testament. A young man who taught us Greek and sang his sermons in chapel holding his guitar named Magness! I love those men and women.
I remember first coming here to Springfield so many years ago. ReVona & I were just starting to unload our U-Haul into a small apartment when Jack showed up and helped us unload. I remember the good times we as a congregation have shared, and how you have blessed my life - God's people are something! They have touched my life.
Yes, there's been the other side too...
Some who haven't liked me too much, sometimes I can understand that!
Some who have hurt me by their actions and their life-style! But no one is perfect!
Others who have caused the Church harm and directly or indirectly affected my family.
However, it is wise to forget those things rather than cling to them. The people of God are good people! They are people who are trying to please their Savior!
Once in a while there will be one who will try our patience, one who will misunderstand our motives, some who will seek to harm us, but they are few and far between. I'm glad.
The people who have influenced my life the most...
Have always been the people of God! Some great men & women of the faith, others, simply Christians, like you and me. Some with PH.D.'s while others were farmers and mill-workers.
If there were no eternity (and there is an eternity), I feel blessed to simply walk among and be a part of the people of God. You are the finest men and women on the planet!
We will not always agree, and occasionally, we may find ourselves on different sides of opinions, and we may even exchange tense words. But, you're the family of God. You are one of the reasons why "I love the Church".
II. I Love the Church Because of Her Purpose.
What is the purpose of the Church?
Some might say to build buildings!. Others that we meet three times a week for no less than one hour at a time. Still others might suggest the purpose has to do with getting people into heaven, and saving them from hell.
I believe we can see the purpose of the Church in the diagram of a triangle. I don't imagine we can exhaust the purpose of the Church in this diagram, but I think it will be helpful to see it this way....
On the bottom left corner of the triangle put the words: EVANGELIZE THE LOST!
Jesus came to "seek and to save that which was lost." Lost people, just like you and I used to be, before someone shared the wonderful news of Jesus Christ.
A familiar passage in the Bible is referred to as the Great Commission. This passage is near and dear to the heart of Jesus Christ. (Read Matthew 28:18-20)
It's easy for me to love the purpose of the Church, because it was this very purpose that touched my life and changed my life from what it might have been without Jesus, to what it has become because of Jesus.
On the bottom right corner of the triangle put the words: EDIFY THE SAVED!
Paul's words in Ephesians 4:11ff come to mind...(Read) "To the building up of the body of Christ!"
The Church exists to "build" it's member up in Christ.
To encourage the faint of heart. To strengthen the weak. To help the hurting. To cry with the weeping. To laugh with the happy. To teach the teachable. To pray for and with each other. To be there as family is to be there for one another.
Put at the very top of the triangle the words: EXALT GOD!
The Church exists to bring glory to God and honor to Jesus, the Savior of the body. Our actions individually as well as corporately, are to exalt God. Whether in a worship service, an elders meeting, a mission dinner, or a Wednesday evening kindergarten class, we are to glorify God.
When the Church evangelizes the lost and edifies the saved we are a long ways toward our goal of EXALTING GOD! It's something we simply cannot measure in the life of another. But we can measure it in our own heart!
Puccini (Poo-che-nee) composed the operas La Boheme and Madame Butterfly. It was during his battle with cancer in 1922 that he began to write Turandot, which many now consider his best. He worked on the score day and night, despite his friends' advice to rest and to save his energy. When his sickness worsened, Puccini said to his students, "If I don't finish Turandot, I want you to finish it." He died in 1924, leaving the work unfinished. Students gathered all that was written of Turandot, studied it in great detail, and then proceeded to write the remainder of the opera. The world premier was performed in the La Scala Opera House in Milan in 1926, conducted by Toscanini, Puccini's favorite student. The opera went beautifully until Toscanini came to the end of the part written by Puccini. He stopped the music, put down the baton, turned to the audience, and announced, "Thus far the master wrote, until he died." There was a long pause; no one moved. Then Toscanini picked up the baton, turned to the audience, and, with tears in his eyes, announced, "But his disciples finished his work." The opera closed to thunderous applause, and to a permanent place in the annals of great works..
It's a purpose I can...
Understand! Be involved with!
Regardless of my age, whether I am young or older, I can be involved in the purpose of this glorious institution. Age is not a factor.
Regardless if I have many talents or if I have only one! I can use it in the Church of the Lord!
III. I Love the Church Because of Her Power.
One of the greatest commentaries on the Church is the changed lives of those who are committed to her.
Whether significantly or slightly, the Church of the Lord Jesus has touched your heart with her power and has changed your life.
The power of the Church is seen in the eyes of those who are about to leave this world, knowing for sure there is something beyond the last breath!
The power of the Church is seen each and every time a sinner repents of his or her sins and after years living for the devil, give their heart, mind, body, and the remainder of their years to the Lord!
The power of the Church is seen each time a young person decides to commit their lives to serving Jesus, whether through full time ministry, or in whatever career they choose, allowing Jesus to be first in their lives.
The power of the Church is seen in...
#1. The very fact she has survived against incredible odds!
At one time it was against the law to be a Christian. The Church was persecuted, Christians were killed! The Church survived!
An example is the former Soviet Union! They denied the existence of God, they persecuted the Church and imprisoned or exiled Christians. There is no longer a Soviet Union, but the Church still exists!
Long after the Darwinian Fish is gone, the Church will still be here!
Daniel 2:44 (read)
#2. The power it has to transform a life...
Romans 12:1-2
The Church of Jesus Christ has given to people for hundreds of years the power to transform their life from what it is, to what God would have it be.
We can be renewed! We can change. We can adopt new values, new goals and new hopes.
I remember Leroy, a meat-cutter I went to college with. He and his wife were married outside of Christ, raised their family outside of Christ, and after the kids were gone, they were touched by the gospel of Christ. He and his wife and gave up a career and went to college, and I believe are ministering today. The power of transformation!
Jerry, is a veteran of Vietnam. To cope with the pressures of Nam he drank to intoxication every day. He came home with an alcohol problem. The gospel of Christ touched his life in Vale, OR. He has raised all of his children (Asian-Americans) in the Church, one is now ministering, all have attended bible college. The power of transformation!
Bruce was a successful High School Teacher, a successful High School Coach and had been a Christian all of his life. Yet, he walked away from it and went to Bible College, supporting his family by working as a custodian in a School, and today is a successful minister of the Gospel! The power of transformation!
I think of...
Peter, who denied Christ , Paul, who killed Christians, Matthew, who worked for the IRS, Luke, who was a doctor, James and John who had a short fuse, James & Jude, who wouldn't believe Jesus, their half-brother was Messiah, Mary Magdalene, who may have been a less than reputable woman.
The power of a transformed lives! Why! Because the Church belongs to Jesus! I think of your life, whoever you are, and whatever your relationship with Christ may or may not be today. You have access to the power of transformation through the Church because of Jesus.
IV. Personal Application.
"Can I be a Christian without loving the church?" Answer: Yes, it is as possible as being:
A student who will not go to school. A soldier who will not join an army. A citizen who does not pay taxes or vote. A salesman with no customers. An explorer with no base camp. A seaman on a ship without a crew. A business man on a deserted island. An author without readers. A tuba player without an orchestra. A parent without a family. A football player without a team. A politician who is a hermit. A scientist who does not share his findings. A bee without a hive. [ Robert G. Lee, SERMONIC LIBRARY, pp. 115-16.] The Church of the Lord Jesus is so very easy to love! Her people are the greatest! Her purpose is eternal Her power has or will change your life!
Are you a part of Christ's Church? Have you been immersed so you can be a part of God's eternal Kingdom? Have you discovered your ministry in the Church? Are you committed to the Church? Does it show? Do you love the Church Christ died to give us?
Alan Walker is editor of The Preacher's Corner and Minister of Evangelism at the Mt. Vernon Church of Christ in Springfield, OR. He may be reached at adwalker@pond.net.