Tempted to give up on church?

by Christine on January 20, 2009

Lots of talk about new churches, different ways of doing church, even online church. The new and the different sound appealing. It’s nice to think that if things don’t work out we can just change churches or go offline. Here is some encouragement to look again at the church through Jesus’ eyes.

“Do you love the church of which Christ has called you to be a member? For all its flaws and frictions, do you have hope that you and your brothers and sisters will one day shine brightly in the beauty of holiness? When your congregation or denomination seems to suffer one spiritual setback after another–’by schisms rent asunder, by heresies distress’–are you tempted to give up on the organizational church and go it on your own? Do the so-called saints you rub elbows with on Sunday seem to be obstacles rather than aids to your friendship with Christ and your growth in his grace? Then look again at the church through Jesus’ eyes, and in the bright light of her final destination. Jesus’ eyes see all the churches’ blemishes and bruises, yet our defects do not diminish his love for us or dim his eager expectation for the day when he will present the church to himself ‘in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkel or any such thing’ but rather being ‘holy and blameless’ (Eph. 5:27). When we glimpse the bride through the eyes of her Groom, it lifts our head in hope and calms our frustrated hearts for persevering love for one another.”

Dennis E. Johnson, Triumph of the Lamb: A Commentary on Revelation, p. 343.

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{ 30 comments }

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Johnny T. Helms 01.20.09 at 10:32 pm

I have been a Christian for 35 years and since '88 I have been a preacher/pastor. I resigned my last church in '03 when my wife became terminally ill and a former church member started trouble in a business meeting. It was just too much to bear.

I joind a church shortly after my wife passed away and within a month two of our pastors were forced to resign, including the senior pastor. Following that, four more of our pastors resigned; I quit going. The horrible things some of our members said in an open meeting about two of those pastors who were forced to leave did it for me.

Now I attend only when I visit my daughter and her husband who is also a pastor. I will get back to my church where the six pastors left, but it will be a while yet.

The church has forgotten who is its head. Going to church is difficult.

chrisdat 01.21.09 at 12:43 pm

What a tragic story. You are right, Christ is the head of the church. And as you've shown the church sure is blemished and bruised, often till bloody. I found the quote from Dennis Johnson an encouragement and helpful while we wait Christ's return for his bride, who through his death and resurrection is made spotless. Thank you for your comment and I hope the quote from Dennis Johnson offers a glimpse of our future hope.

chrisdat 01.21.09 at 5:19 pm

lifechurch.TV is a big one, and when I've searched others I've come upon quite a few. They are interesting and certainly are broadening the definition of the word church.

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