What is church? Is church missing the point?

Over the past few weeks we have been prayerfully considering moving towards planting a church. This movement has evoked a number of questions and thoughts that I have been wrestling with. Even the mention of this direction has forced me to step back and take a look at things—this has been an interesting experience. For instance, the first question proposed above comes to mind: what is church? Many of you may be thinking that is an easy question to answer. You may be thinking, “we/you are the church—a body of believers.” If you were thinking along those lines you would indeed have the correct answer; however, how many of us live this truth out? That is where things get interesting, at least for me. The song If We Are the Body by Casting Crowns comes to mind: Click here to listen

It's crowded in worship today
As she slips in, trying to fade into the faces
The girls' teasing laughter is carrying farther than they know
Farther than they know

But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching
Why aren't His hands healing
Why aren't His words teaching
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going
Why is His love not showing them there is a way
There is a way

A traveler is far away from home
He sheds his coat and quietly sinks into the back row
The weight of their judgmental glances
Tells him that his chances are better out on the road

Cruise
But if we are the body …

Jesus paid much too high a price
For us to pick and choose who should come
And we are the body of Christ

Cruise
But if we are the body …

Jesus is the way

I know most know the answer to the question what is church, but do we honestly believe it? If that is the case why don’t we embrace “sinners” with open arms as Christ did? Why do we allow people to enter our lives and “fade into the faces”? Why do we not stand up for the weak? Why is the open road in many cases a better option than fellowship with the church?

There is a disconnect somewhere. The disconnect lays between our brains and our hearts. We, for whatever reason, know that we are the church body; yet we are disconnected in truly feeling and acting this truth out. Unintentionally, as the church we place up a wall that pushes people away from church rather than waiting with open arms, ears, and hearts.

Here is a story I found enlightening on this topic:

Does merely talking about your faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, “Good morning friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!” and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn’t it obvious that God-talk without God-act is outrageous nonsense?

- James 2:15-18, The Message Bible

God-talk without God-act: hmmm, that very well may be the bottom line. We desperately need to act out being the Church, not simply holding onto the knowledge and do nothing with it.

This may or may not be a heavy subject for a panicREV blog; however, it is my heart and the heart of this ministry. We are placed to serve the motocross community in a way that draws people towards Christ not in a way that repels people towards the “open road.” I prayerfully hope we all pray for the strength to embrace the fact that WE ARE THE CHURCH and as the Church we can live out our faith impacting this community for God’s Kingdom!

In His/Your Service,
Scott
scott@panicrev.org