Monday, March 5, 2018
In church, not in Christ
2 Corinthians 5:17
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
There is a trend being observed in churches across North America, many persons who claim to be Christians are opting out of church. People who could be described as long-time believers, familiar with the scriptures, and active in ministries, are no longer coming to church. These people are claiming that they haven’t given up their faith, they have just given up church.
There are other people who claim that they believe in God but they just can’t stand the church and the people in it. They then give a list of bad personal experiences that they have had with “church people” and as a result, they are never going back.
Then there are those who argue that church attendance and participation is not necessary for their faith. They believe in God and the Bible but don’t need to be subject to the weekly routine of church attendance, and to hear the same preaching over and over again. They can connect with God at home without mingling with people at church who could very well be fake.
There are issues on both sides of the equation that created this situation. In some cases, there are the actions of leaders and others in church that have turned people off. No doubt, the many scandals of our time, especially the sex scandals, caused by pastors and other elders who perpetrated many sinful and disgraceful acts, don’t help either.
On the other hand, there are many who are just looking for an excuse to check out and do so at the first hint of wrong or the first wind of gossip. Anything to give them the opportunity to live outside the routine commitments to church or the demands of a life of faith.
More fundamental though, is the matter of transformation. We have a lot of untransformed people in church and many of them either do things that affect others causing them to leave. Others, untransformed themselves, look for an excuse to leave and often do.
The Apostle Paul, writing to the church at Corinth, had to confront the many signs of untransformed conduct that included, among other things, sex scandals. “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife!” 1 Corinthians 5:1.
Jesus constantly confronted this matter in His ministry, directing attention to the fact that the leaders of synagogues and the temple were hypocrites. “Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.” Matthew 23:3,4.
In that very chapter, Jesus gets more caustic in His criticism and condemnation. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.” Matthew 23:27.
At the core, many in church continue to be self-seeking, untransformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ, so that they are in church but not in Christ. Our key verse today speaks to that. When a person comes to Christ they undergo a total transformation that changes their thinking, speech, and conduct. What we have very often are people who have come to church but not necessarily come to Christ.
Many come to church because they were moved emotionally at some point, or because they have been brought up in the tradition in their family, or because the church seemed like a good crutch for the challenges and issues they were facing at a point in their lives. Other’s have come to church because it looked like a good place to serve and to get involved in their community. And there are some that have come with less altruistic motives. I remember a time, as a young man, when guys used to say that they are going to the church because the church always has very nice girls.
The challenge of people leaving the church now is greater than it ever was. In fact, the challenge is compounded by the increasing number who won’t come in the first place.
For any of this to change the church must become an authentic body of believers who are truly transformed by the Gospel, and who demonstrate this in attitude, speech, and conduct every day. We have to work with everyone in church to ensure that there is growth in grace and in the knowledge of God.
When Paul was talking to the Corinthians about being a “new creation” he was doing so in the context of a discourse on reconciliation. He was making the point that we, the church, have been reconciled with God and have a duty to promote this reconciliation. “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,” 2 Corinthians 5:18.
It is therefore ironic and disturbing that the centre of reconciliation has become the place discontentment. That people are opting out of church, the place where they could find healing and hope and relationship with God and others.
We need to get back to the core message of reconciliation and transformation. We need to ensure that our members are in Christ more than just being in church.
Think on these things:
- Can you identify clear changes in your thoughts, speech, and conduct as a result of coming to Christ?
- What is the most meaningful thing that you experience regularly in your church life?
- Have you ever considered quitting church, if so what made you think of leaving, what made you stay?
Prayer focus:
Let us pray today that we would be transformed by the Spirit of Christ and work to see others transformed.
In His Grace
Pastor Alex