The 21st Century Church - Part One

When we think about the church today, that is the Christian Church, there are many images that come to mind. Some see the church as an institution, one of values and standards and morals that is mostly out of touch with society. At least that’s how those not part of it often see it. Some will say the church is simply another organisation which adheres to a certain moral code, mainly existing to establish a social structure. In fact most people, because of the churches high profile in society, will have an opinion of the church. But the real question is how does God and in particular Jesus view his church?

When Jesus in Matthew 16:18 states to Peter previously known as Simon, and pronounces him Petrus meaning rock he declares “Upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” This amazing declaration not only of Peter and the transformation of a weak and feeble fisherman into an immovable force but also the declaration of the church which Jesus would himself build as an unstoppable force to be reckoned with begins what has to be a different church than what we see today.

The early church not only was unstoppable but literally turned the known world upside down and scripture along with secular reports from writers such as Josephus tell us that thousands began flocking to the church or the movement as it was also known. Reports of people being healed by simply passing under the shadow of the disciples or being set free of demonic bondage by a spoken command was common practise. The church was on its way and yet this was merely the beginning and start of what God had planned for his bride in waiting.

And so two thousand years have passed and we the church of today must ask the question, are we who Christ intended us to be? Do we within the walls of our fine cathedrals and lofty office places portray the image of Christ in all that we do? Would Jesus, if walking amongst today, say “well done good and faithful servant” or would he cringe and turn away saying “I do not know you”. Although harsh and unthinkable to someone who knows of the incredible love that God has for his creation and especially his church, this must always be at the forefront of our hearts and minds in wanting to continually please God and not man.

It is this difficult question that I would like to ask, not only of the church as a whole but even as myself, a part of the incredible body of Christ on this earth. Knowing that He, Christ is returning to a bride that is “without spot or wrinkle” as scripture tells us.

The Responsibility of Leaders

As a leader within the church, it is often spoken about the influence we have over our congregations or greater audience. Indeed due to the very nature of our work it is easy to see how this influence can go to our heads and it is then and there that we often hear of leaders falling in shame.

But what is not often spoken of is the responsibility that leadership carries within the body of Christ. It is this responsibility that I have been examining as  I have studied scripture in recent days and in particular Malachi and the minor prophets.

The minor prophets, in my opinion, give incredible insight into God's reaction to man's sins whether they be of Israel, the greater community of believers and in particular those who are called to give leadership He has intrusted with care.

Throughout these books God gives his response to our wickedness and sinful ways, and whilst it is easy to say that Christ brought us a new way through our faith in Christ and all he did on the cross, a way which we would define as grace, we must also remember that sin carries consequences.

Just as James reminds us that "faith without works is dead", so too is grace without holiness. Over and over again we see the Lord both in the old and new testaments admonishing his people to "be holy as He is Holy". The message of grace that we often preach in Romans and elsewhere in scripture comes to us as a double edged sword that is grace gives us the ability to live and be holy. This message I believe has been distorted in recent years. We often see grace as a get out of jail free card which can be pulled at any moment when the sense of guilt and shame arise.

As leaders we have a responsibility to teach the whole word and truth as it appears and not sugar coat it so as to fill church pews and by it make ourselves look good. Indeed I believe this is the very message that Malachi brings to priests which could be interpreted to of those leading the church today.

Malachi chapter 1 speaks of blemished sacrifices and as we examine this scripture we immediately say "we are no longer under the old covenant but the new" and therefore these scriptures do not relate to us, especially if we are gentiles who have been grafted into the vine. Yet, I sense the warnings of Malachi are just as relevant today then when they were written.

Paul commends us to give ourselves as "living sacrifices" and it is during his time in Ephesus in particular that we see this workout in his life the most graphically as we read in Acts 18:18-23. It is here that Paul takes a vow and finally completes this vow by shaving off his facial hair and brings it to the temple as an offering.

The blemished sacrifices we read about in Malachi represent our response to our sin. As discussed earlier, we often sugar coat sin by waving the wand of grace and calling all good, but as we read in Malachi all sin carries consequence and all leadership carry the responsibility to ensure the church lives out their "salvation with fear and trembling" as Philippians indicates.

Leaders therefore carry a heavy responsibility to lead the church in righteousness, holiness and in such a way that sees The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit honoured and glorified. It is this role which I believe the Lord Jesus would call those who wish to serve the body as ministers back to. Remembering that in the last days only a remnant will remain.