As congregants, to be servants to our neighbors, in all ways, and whether they fit our mold or not.
Too many people who call themselves “Christians”, tend to be picky as to who they will help, because they are not living the life, the “Christians” think they should, and so therefore, tend to push people away, when we are supposed beckon them to come in.
I was told this story of a young man who went to a church to check it out during the week, and when he entered was greeted by a deacon doing some work in the church, and was asked, what can I do for you? The boy said he was looking for a church because his mom suggested he start going to one. The deacon looked at him, and seeing how he was dressed, told him he should go down the street, where the poor folks are, and he would fit in better. The boy hung his head and started to walk out, when the deacon asked his name. The boy replied, “My name is Floyd, my mom calls me Pretty Boy.”
Pretty Boy Floyd was one of the most notorious gangsters in US history.
Imagine if the deacon would have accepted him.
The ministers on the other hand, are responsible for feeding the body, and speaking life to those who have gotten lazy, and comfortable, and for also motivating them to work.
The Elders need to help the Pastors, by doing the foot work in the community and the church, and the Deacons, are to assist the Elders with their responsibilities, as well as be servants to the Body of Christ.
All in all, we are to be servants. Also to edify one another, in the body.

Are you part of a regular church service, a house church, or do you not go to church at all — why or why not?
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Heb 10:25
Lokk at your spiritual life as a battery, and the assembling of the body, as the charger.
What one thing do you consider essential for an authentic Christian community?
Love one for another, and for the community.

What do I believe Jesus is calling us to do in our culture? Hear and obey in every detail of our life.

As of last week, we are not attending Sunday services but daily, actively pursuing relationships with those He has brought into our lives (both saved and unsaved) and attending a Bible study once a week also. Why not Sunday? We have recently experienced a multitude of confirmations through various books (Church Outside the Walls, Pagan Christianity), The God Journey website and family of God who have reaffirmed some things we have held in our hearts for years- that our Christian experience and relationship as the body of Christ; is not to be a spectator sport but a participation corporately in the Holy Spirit’s work both in and through one another…sorry for the blatant advertisements

What one thing do I consider essential for Christian community? That’s like asking me to eat one Lay’s potato chip… I would have to say it’s Christ Jesus living through totally surrendered vessels by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Love and appreciate the gift of God in you!

In our “Americanizing” or “Westernizing” of Christianity, something of the utmost, prime importance has been gotten away from to the extent that, for the most part, it is pretty much altogether left out of what it means to be a Christian.

If we really believe what the Apostle Paul says in Ephes. 5:25, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;” then, why are we not living like we believe it?

I am not being mean, ugly or judgmental, although the Word does tell us in 1 Peter 4:17, “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God:” I am certainly not being legalistic, for I myself detest legalism that holds God’s people in bondage. However, there are some things that God demands, indeed commands us to do, that are simply for our own benefit, protection and blessing!

When I refer to Ephes. 5:25, I am not referring to the first part of the verse concerning husbands.
It is an important subject, of course, and all of us husbands do need to learn the principle Paul is conveying. But, so many times we overlook the second part of the verse and the undeniable, overwhelming truth it speaks in volumes to us, and that truth is: “Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;”

Christ loved the Church, the Body, the assembly of believers, so much so that he shed His blood, died and arose from the dead, all for her, the Church!

We can make any excuses we want about how “church attendance is optional“, or “I just don’t have the time”, or “I have to have time with my family” or we have this meeting or this get together, or whatever, but the fact is that none of our excuses hold water in light of Scripture.

While many of the organizations and activities are not sin, in fact, many are very positive and even Christian based and are good things for us to involve ourselves in, to a degree, however, the plain fact is that Christ did not give Himself and die for the Country Club, the P.T.O., ballgames or sports, beach houses, AA, AARP, NAACP, politics, the Republican or Democratic parties, birthday parties, new homes, new cars, Sunday drives, family visits and a host of other things we give ourselves to. CHRIST DIED FOR THE CHURCH!

Not enough time for the Church? With all due respect and the love of Christ, I tell you, we have really bought into some false teaching if we are a professing Christian and are swallowing that.

Years ago, “family time” WAS time spent in church. Our kids today are doing some crazy stuff and we sit back, scratch our heads and say, “Oh, this generation of kids has just gone mad”.

We have made the church out to be some social club, however, Christ did not die for social clubs, and with the many other Scriptures that speak in volumes concerning this, the bottom line is that “
Christ… gave himself for it ( the Church);

If the Church is the apple of God’s eye; If the Church is so tenderly and affectionately called the Bride of Christ; If “Christ…LOVED THE CHURCH, AND GAVE HIMSELF for it;” If the Church means that much to the Lord Jesus, if He loved the Church so much that He sacrificed Himself, shed His blood and died for the Church, if the Church is that IMPORTANT TO HIM, … then SHOULD IT NOT BE IMPORTANT TO A BODY OF BELIEVERS WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE IN COVENANT RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM AND WITH EACH OTHER?

The Book of Hebrews is all about that covenant relationship. I could write much, much more here just based on the carelessly and widely overlooked Hebrews 10:22-31. However, again, the bottom line is that Christ gave Himself for the Church.

Since that’s the case, then church attendance must be, not just important, but imperative. I know we are to BE the Church, but part of that being is assembling with the Body, whether it is a house, outdoors or a cathedral.

Blessings,
Michael P.

My initial involvement was through the divorce recovery and single parents ministries and my church has been there for my family in many ways over the years despite my often extended absences. I’ve gone back and forth over the years as to the importance of “church”. As a member of a 12 Step program, I’ve often treated recovery meetings as my “church” – I needed the freedom to trash my fundamentalist, legalistic, shame-ridden upbringing so I could come to know the God who loves me so intimately. I’ve come to long for the fellowship of other believers where I can worship, study, serve, and grow in the likeness of Jesus. I am “called out” to share the journey with other believers.

However (and here’s the “but”…), I’m often ill at ease in a predominately white, upper middle class, suburban church, even though that’s how I grew up. I often joke that I am not “white enough” to be there and they merely tolerate me as one of “those people” they’re here to help. My rebellion towards God and my upbringing led me down a different spiritual path, but it has also brought me back to the importance of being “part of” the body of Christ. That sense of belonging is what I sought through years of addiction money, drugs, status (and the list goes on…).

I believe that although I don’t always “feel” that sense of belonging that God has brought me there for a reason. Although I live in the inner city, I don’t drive and SUV or vote Republican, I have a place in my church home. Sometimes it’s only to be a “voice crying in the wilderness”, asking others to step out of their comfort zones and get their hands dirty (the young people and I have worked on several community garden projects). Sometimes it’s to be a recovering addict with HIV so that others can know God’s love and His healing power. Sometimes it’s so I can be fed by God’s Spirit through the power of nour Saturday evening worship service. Even though I’m not always sure why I go I generally walk away knowing why I came.

Is my congregation perfect? BY NO MEANS! Is it human? YES! and what a relief. The best piece of advice I was ever given came from a dear friend and mentor who urged me to “go anyway”until I became “a part of”. Church, like the rest of my life is not dependent on how I “feel”. I get out of it what I’m willing to put into it and share with others. Being a “part of” is an active choice. That doesn’t mean that I always agree with every policy, program, or person. However, it does mean the I agree with the mission and principles I have in common with other believers who worship there.

Jesus calls us to live the Kingdom of Heaven right here. It begins for me by having a place to serve and worship with other believers. I’ve learned the hard way that self-sufficiency is a lie and that God sufficiency without others just doesn’t work! Sometimes it’s the conflicts that cause me to grow and that if I seek I will find.

I appreciated your article. Jesus came to save and create a people (community) of his own who are eager to do good [Titus 2:11-14]. Without active involvement in a community of believers–be it a house church or mega church–we are not challenged to have an active faith, laboring love or enduring hope [1 Thess 1:3].

All church communities have to resist the temptation to only cater to the comforts of its members. Followers of Jesus have a world-wide mission which means we must all stretch beyond our comfortabilities. We, like Jesus, must bear the cross.

–Ray