I Can't Sit At The Church!

OK, now for a random story that I hope will illustrate and make a point in the end.  Here goes. 

 

Today I sat in the bathroom.  Just sat there.  Looking around and observing.  I should mention that I’m remodeling – with the help of the boys, and at times Alissa (Stacy has not found the opportunity to get in on the fun).  We’ve completely gutted it down to the studs and floor joists – well, we left the tub.  I’ve completed the electrical to add outlets to a 1951 bath that didn’t have any.  I’ve added hardee backer on 2 of 3 shower walls, and completed the plumbing of the single-handle tub/shower rig.  The old setup had no shower, and we’re looking forward to having one in there.  I’ve replace the sub-floor – 2 layers of ¾” wafer board.  I set the new toilet so that we’d have a second one in the house for now, but I’ll have to pull it and reset after the tile goes in.  I still have to put hardee backer on the floor (to go beneath the tile I’ll be laying – first time ever).  I have to hang sheetrock, tape, float, sand, texture and paint (most of which I’ve never done before).  I have to lay tile in the shower – first time.  (Right about now many of you should drop to your knees and pray for Stacy to have the grace to endure this project.)

 

So I’m sitting in the bathroom, just soaking it all in.  I was planning some, figuring , measuring occasionally – but not really “doing” anything.  Then I thought, “I wish I could do this at church”.  Not gut it and start over – that might have crossed my mind at another church, but not here.  I was thinking about the time spent “processing” – just sorting it all out in my mind.  I had this picture of me at the church office, feet on the desk, leaning way back in my chair, processing.  In my mind, my desk was not cluttered (that’s how you know that this is not based in reality), the office was decorated nicely and apparently all of the “stuff” was done.  I had time to dream about what the Lord would do.  I was able to think about how we’re doing, and how we need to improve. 

 

(right here I’d insert a sound effect like when a record stops abruptly and the needle scratches to a halt)

 

I CAN’T SIT AT THE CHURCH!  WE DON’T HAVE A CHURCH!  There is no office.  There is no sanctuary.  There is no prayer room, no fellowship hall, no Study.  We don’t have a building – we rent from another church and only pay for about 6 hours each week. 

 

Then a smile came.  I am so blessed.  I could be distracted by an office, a sanctuary, a prayer room, a fellowship hall, and a study.  I might start to think that I should be in my office rather than out doing the work of the ministry.  I might forget that the sanctuary is just a big room – without God’s people, it’s just a “hay-barn”.  I might tend to relegate conversation with God only to the prayer room.  (you see where I’m going?)

 

I was reminded that we don’t have a building, but we do have a CHURCH.  May we never forget that Christ did not die to purchase a building, parking lot, and sign out front.  The church is the body of Christ, and we are members – hands, feet, ears, eyes.  And Christ is the Head.  Praise God for the church.  No building, big deal.  (note to pastors with church buildings: don’t forget the building is not the church, and don’t forget that the building is a tool and a blessing from God.)

 

I was reminded that we don’t have a sanctuary.  We ARE the sanctuary.  Holy Spirit God dwelling IN the believer.  We really ought to say WOW to that.  In me.  How can this be?  Sola Gratia, Soli Deo Gloria!

 

I was reminded that Prayer, Study and Fellowship are not real estate terms, they are Bible terms.  These are not rooms, but these are the business of the Christian.  Pray without ceasing, not just in that room.  Study diligently to be a worker who rightly handles scripture; it’s not about a bunch of pretty books on a shelf.  Fellowship with other believers – we’ve really got this messed up. 

 

Fellowship has become synonymous with eating and talking about our lives.  We get together with Christian people, many times at a “Christ-dedicated” facility, and then we completely leave Christ out of the picture.  Conversation is about work, about home or family.  We somehow don’t feel comfortable saying, “So how is God challenging you lately?”  or “Let me tell you what I was gripped by in the sermon.”  Fellowship – seems to be a lost Christian discipline? 

 

Let me encourage you in this.  Believer, you are in the church – not the building – the body.  You were placed there by God who composed it (1 Cor 12).  You need other members of the body.  Don’t think you can do it alone – you can’t, no such thing as a Lone-Ranger-Christian.  Other members of the body need you.  When you aren’t there the body suffers.  You probably think you don’t make much of a difference, but the truth is that you do.  If the eye is gone, then where is the seeing?  If the ear, then where is the hearing?  If you’re gone, how will your gift get exercised in the church?  No matter how insignificant you think you are in the body, God placed you there and there is not another to “fill in” when you’re out.   God doesn’t need you, but by His grace He uses you – what a joy. 

 

I thank God that today I don’t have to focus on building a structure on real estate.  Let’s concentrate on the church, and the Savior who died to purchase her. 

 

Pastor