Church

There's no such thing as a 'perfect' church! 

By definition churches are populated by people... and they are 'operated' by people and people are NOT perfect. So we could never believe that the Father's fallen creation could create 'perfect'. Or do we? Do we expect the leadership and Pastor to always do 'the right thing' (do need a definition of right thing and who made it). Infallible - no, but I would like to believe it is directed by caring and concerned people - at least it needs to be, and yes... sadly there are churches that aren't. It needs to have people who know who they are, are passionate about what they believe but aware that they need the counsel of others to verify. And I would go so far as to include in that last sentence - conscious that they have been blessed with a gift to help grow the body. Personally, I have a list of what I think leadership should be about... whether or not they are.

Now... put that in the following context:

   "...just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might

    sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might

    present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any

    such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish."

    [Ephesians 5: 25b-27, NKJV]

The Amplified Bible says in verse 27: "...so that [in turn] He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy [set apart for God] and blameless" What a future is set before us! Does this define and direct us? Do we seek the Lord's plan for our particular church? Is this vision shared with the congregation? Does everyone know their part because EVERYONE who is planted in the church has a job, has a responsibility... because they have a gift!

i would argue that there is no way that, on our own, we could ever attain 'without spot or wrinkle'. But the Word says  that the Lord is coming for a church that is without spot or wrinkle. One question is: does without spot or wrinkle define perfect? Is this state beyond what we can attain? We can only walk in the light that we have, but where does our light come from? And do we let it shine? (Yes I know that was more than one question. Questions birth other questions.)

Becoming 'the church' is not a challenge except toward our arch enemy. That devil, the liar, will always tell us that we can never be such a church. And we need to be like Nehemiah when it comes to the church. Read again how he directed the walls to be rebuilt - it is still a good plan. Do remember though that our weapons, which are not carnal (2 Corinthians 10:4), are not directed at one another (another of the devil plans).

Becoming 'the church' is a process and is enriched every time we have new people who become planted in our fellowship. EACH person has a part to accomplish and when one member leaves, that part is always filled. But it always is our privilege to be part, belong. And it is always our decision. I sometimes think we need to follow the song's suggestion... 'Count every blessing, count them one-by-one...' the context is the church. 

Have you thought about the blessings from being part (as in member) of the church? Some of the obvious blessings are: 

   fellowship, belonging, having a place to share our gifting, to learn and grow

   individually and as a group, a meaningful way to touch your world, 

and that begins a blessing listing.

To repeat myself... there's no such thing as a 'perfect' church, but that isn't excuse or license to not look at the Word to discover, grow, and act on the teachings Jesus gave and the Holy Spirit reminds us and realize that we will always need the help of our Triune God to become the church that they have prepared for us.