We're Christians. We favor "the church." Well, mostly. Not so in our culture. Why would that be? Well, first and foremost, our world follows the prince of the power of the air (Eph 2:2), so it would be by definition opposed to Christ. We expect it. Here's the problem. Sometimes we don't see it. That is, because we're in it, sometimes we don't recognize its influence in our thinking. Take, for instance, how we think about "the church."
Our American culture is an "independence" and "individualist" culture. We value, perhaps above all else, our individuality and our independence. We view as heroes those who "make it on their own," who stand alone against the crowd and prevail. Independence. And individualism. And that creeps almost unbidden and unnoticed into our thinking about the church.
Christianity, we know, is a relationship. It is a relationship of individuals with the Almighty. It's a wonderful thing. But when we allow our culture to tell us it stops there, we miss the point. Big time. It is quite common for us to view church as an add on, as an option. Perhaps a good idea ... perhaps. We're careful to say, "The church is not that building on the corner; it's us," but then we go on thinking that it doesn't require us. If we do participate, we do as consumers, picking and choosing where we're most comfortable. Find the music I like. Make sure that preacher doesn't preach too long. Or get too personal. Is there a good program for the kids? That's important, because I really want my kids entertained for the morning. And if something changes, so do we. Find a new one. Because church, primarily, is all about me and my preferences. There are typically more Christians attending church than Christians who are attending church as members. And if you factor in the standard "80% of the work is done by 20% of the people," church involvement is very low. Because who needs membership? Who needs that kind of commitment? Megachurches are popular because we like popular and, besides, it's easy to go unnoticed in a big church. We are thinking of church like we think of other consumables -- like our culture thinks.
The New Testament does not reference anyone who was not a part of a church. All of Paul's epistles were either written to churches or written to people who were leading churches. The Bible has no category for "saved but not part of a church." Yes, we begin with a personal relationship with Christ, but that relationship necessarily leads us into a relationship with Christ's Body. In his first epistle to the church at Corinth, Paul explains that we are each "given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." (1 Cor 12:7) He goes on to describe that "common good." He describes us as a body with many members. Each of us is a part. Each of us contributes. How does that work, then, as an individualist? How does "I like Jesus, but not the church" make any sense in the imagery of the body? "Independent and individual" doesn't work at all in this context.
Scripture is full of "one anothers." It doesn't take a genius to recognize that in order to perform "one another" you must have "one" and you must have "another" and that trying to "one another" without others is nonsense. But we do it. Regularly. In and out of the church. Some don't go. "I can't find a good one." "Churches aren't good for me." "I don't really need the church; just Jesus." Others attend without involving themselves. Works out the same way -- not at all. Paul describes us as a temple. The foundation is the Apostles and the Prophets, Christ is the cornerstone, and we are the building material (Eph 2:19-22). "Jointly fitted together," he says. Except a good number of us would just as soon remain "independent" and "individuals."
Here's what I just came across. Here's what makes this most egregious. The fundamental purpose of the church is to make known to rulers and authorities in the heavenly places God's manifold wisdom (Eph 3:10). And we have believers -- genuine Christians -- saying, "Nah, not interested, thanks. I'll just stay over here with my Lord." That cannot be a good thing. That cannot go over well with God. If we are commanded to "Consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another" (Heb 10:24-25) and we say, "No thanks," it cannot be considered obedience. How is it not sin?
We know that the world is opposed to God and, by extension, to His people and His church. That we -- His people and His church -- would be complicit in this is a slap in the face of God. How can we be comfortable with that? If we are lackadaisical about church -- the Body of Christ -- whether we attend or not, how is that to the glory of God? If we're satisfied to attend but not minister, to be involved, to be committed, to be invested, how is God declared to the world? It sounds a lot like too many of us are saying to our world, "Yeah, you're right. The Body of Christ isn't such a big thing."
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