Church & darkness

While we worry about our money or fret about our job or over-indulge in the politics of our day the lives around us stagger in abject darkness. How is that we Christians can glimmer the light of Christ and yet keep silent? Is there no fire within our hearts, no compassion, and no care at all for the lost? Has comfort and self-preservation swallowed up the gentle spirit within us that yet roars to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ?

I am afraid for we are captive to the material things in this life while denying the eternal qualities of relationships. We've been hurt or we are so prideful that we build walls of material to seemingly sooth the ache in our hearts. Our hearts ache at the loss of closeness, the heart to heart sharing, the joy of laughter, the tears of shared sorry, and the comfort of embrace not only towards the Lamb of God but towards one another as well.

We are afraid to extend our hearts. We are afraid to unmask, to be honest, and be authentic. We follow along with or set up rules for living... do this... don't do that... be this way... not that way... dress so and so... while all the while our hypocrisy prevents the wounded, scarred, and weary to enter through our church doors.

Much of the darkness that prevails is our fault. For glowing inside us like a raging firestorm is the very Lion of Judah who roars, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). Yet, this compassion-heart of the Gospel is drowned out in the fermented legalistic laws of tradition.

For Church is not a building. It is not a set time. It is not a pew. For we are the church and we ought to 'be in church' (that is, in Christ)wherever we are or wherever we go. Did not Jesus say, "for where two or three have gathered together in my name, I am there in their midst"? (Matt. 18:20).

Therefore our hearts desire should be to gather more, study more, love more, and not less... and if our gathering be two or three then what of it? Why must we look at numbers instead of looking to Jesus, the author of our faith? Why must we condemn ourselves if vast numbers do not pay heed to the truth? Or feel small when the gathering is small? It is the Father who draws sinners to Christ and not a church program, a personality, or a creative invitation (John 6:44).

I testify that our focus is in error. Have we not forgotten our first priority that is, "seek first His kingdom and His righteousness..." (Matt. 6:33)