What Church ISN’T
POSTED IN: Blog Posts, Church
There’s an ancient principle that says you can learn more about something by first defining what it’s NOT before you try to define what it IS. Let’s take a look at a few things that Church ISN’T.
Church Isn’t About Protecting Christians From The World
Some of the church environments I experienced maintained that the church was a haven of peace and hope in a horrible, broken world. We were the sheep. They were the wolves. We had to protect our sheep by keeping the wolves out. We were “in the world but not of it,” remember? While there are many churches who consciously or sub-consciously adhere to the idea of being a place to hide from the evils of the world, I remind you the type of company Jesus kept when he walked this earth. He could have adopted the Pharisee’s method of separating himself entirely from everything “unclean.” Instead, he was known as a “friend of sinners.” Can our church say that?
Church Isn’t A Club
One of our strengths as the church is the friendships and community that come out of our local expressions of worship. People who have been hurt and rejected for years find healing in healthy relationships. However, if we’re not careful, friendships can turn into cliques and new people walking through the door will find themselves on the outside looking in. Our circle of friends is important but let’s not be so self-absorbed that we miss those Christ is calling us to serve.
Church Isn’t An Event
In Western culture especially, we have equated church with an event that happens once a week. We get ready for church, we drive to the church, we do church, we come home and then we don’t think about it again until next week. God never intended church to be an event that we only participate in for a couple hours each week. We are the church. That means that we carry it with us 24/7. It follows us wherever we go, whatever we do. Church is as much a part of the conversation we have with a co-worker on Monday as it is about the worship songs we sang the day before.
Church Isn’t A Location or Building
While most of us know this intuitively, we still need to be reminded that the church isn’t a specific building or location. Our buildings and programs create environments for church to happen but they are no more or less sacred than our living room or even the neighborhood pub.
Church Isn’t A Denomination
We each like to think that our own beliefs and doctrines are the “right way.” Which is understandable. We wouldn’t practice them if we didn’t believe them to be true. The danger comes when we begin to see our way as the only way. There are some hills to die on but then there are other battles that don’t need to be fought. Some sprinkle, some dip. Some take communion with wafers and wine, others with bread and grape juice. One day soon we’re all going to be sitting up in Heaven wondering what all the fuss was really about.
Church Isn’t About You
This one is the most important distinction in my opinion. Church isn’t about YOU. It’s about THEM. I have no patience for people who visit a church and come home complaining that the music was too loud, the message too long or the air conditioning too cold. Some people view church as a “pick-me-up,” a little boost of joy and happiness to get them through the week. Show up, sing a couple songs, shake a few hands, go home and pull out the potroast. The church was never meant to be a place to cater to Christian’s comforts. It is and always has been about “seeking and saving those who are lost.” (Luke 19:10)
These are a few of the things that I think the church ISN’T. What would you add to the list?
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June 25, 2009
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Good post. I especially like the last part about how church isn’t for “you”. Sometimes it’s hard to remember that our main goal should be to provide an environment where those who DON’T know Christ can feel comfortable. If we can’t promote the message of Grace to those who haven’t heard it, what’s the point?
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June 25, 2009
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[...] My friend Brad Ruggles nails it in this post about What Church ISN’T [...]
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June 25, 2009
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Preach it Brad!
Curtis Honeycutt’s last blog post..Wasted
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June 25, 2009
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“Church Isn’t An Event”??? But…does that mean that when they pass that bucket around they aren’t collecting admission? Boy,somebody owes me a LOT of money…(grin)
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June 25, 2009
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I really REALLY love this post. You definitely hit the nail on the head with this topic. Thank for writing it.
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June 25, 2009
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church is not a website.
John (Human3rror)’s last blog post..Best Infomercial Ever. Period.
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June 25, 2009
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Church isn’t just about the latest fad. Our faith is actually quite ancient…
Eddie Taylor’s last blog post..Bible Journey
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June 25, 2009
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@John – Bam! Great contribution.
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June 25, 2009
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[...] Church Isn’t Posted on June 25, 2009 by Robb An intersting post from Brad [...]
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June 25, 2009
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Okay, I get what you’re saying with the last point, but if “the music is too loud, the message too long or the air conditioning too cold” won’t the lost be less likely to show up? That stuff does have to be taken into consideration, in moderation, I think.
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June 25, 2009
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Church ISN’T about being prosperous. It’s not about how we Christians “deserve” good things – health, wealth, happiness, etc.
This is just what I needed to hear today. I just had a talk with my sister-in-law this morning about our common struggle with these issues. Thanks for your wise words. If more people, and churches, held onto these truths, the faith community would look very different. Perhaps… more attractive to those who are seeking, even?!
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June 25, 2009
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You did make some good points and I did enjoy your post but I do disagree with the statement.”The church was never meant to be a place to cater to Christian’s comforts”
And just in reply to sarah, It’s a shame you feel like that, Christ died for the sins and sickness of mankind. God doesn’t want you to be sick he wants you to be living a blessed life “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”"the joy of the lord is my strength”
Jeremy Young’s last blog post..My Vision for Global Evangelists.com
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June 25, 2009
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But Jeremy – you can be physically sick, and still be blessed! You can be poor and blessed! Look at Mother Teresa, Paul when he was in jail, and many other, past and present.
I’m living a blessed life in Christ, no matter the state of my physical, earthly body. The joy of Christ is having him in my life, a friend who will never leave or forsake me. That joy is not dependent upon being in perfect health, having a large savings account, or even being in a place of physical safety.
It is NOT a shame to find joy and blessing, even in poverty, sickness, or when things don’t go as we like. I urge you to find passages that indicate that God designed for us to live in complete physical health, to not be in need financially, or anything else.
The joy of the Lord IS my strength – if all things in my life were perfect, I wouldn’t have to rely on it!
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June 25, 2009
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[...] and the love that I saw Christ exude in Scripture were two different things entirely. I read a blog post about what church shouldn’t look like, and this paragraph stood out to me. Some of the church [...]
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June 26, 2009
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Please contct our ministry
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June 26, 2009
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The Church is not a democracy. Its not of the people, by the people, for the people. Its a Theocracy. Of God, by God and for God alone.
So, the church is not intended to cater to your needs. Once we do what God wants us to do, He himself will provide us with what we need. We don’t go to church looking for what we need, but seeking out what we can do for others.
Nice Post, God Bless You
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June 26, 2009
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Great…so what is church?
Stephen Bateman’s last blog post..My blog needs to rest.
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June 27, 2009
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Sounds like we need a follow-up post on this based on the comments…
Do it now.
Jason Ruggles’s last blog post..Food Friday: Rice and a Little Piece of Meat
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June 28, 2009
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OK, Brad, I’ll bite. Church ISN’T for unbelievers! It’s the ekklesia – the “called out ones.” Paul mentions “if perchance an unbeliever would come into your midst…”
Could it be that we have it all backwards? Is it scriptual to expect the lost to come into the found to find out they are lost? Are we steadfastly refusing to go out into the world and insisting that the world come to us?
If the ekklesia concerned itself with worship and discipleship, would believers mature and become strategically fruitful in the harvest – which is located in the world?
Mixing the lost with the found and trying to do both hasn’t worked well – so why do we persist in trying? Decide if your “thing” is a church or a mission, already!
And please don’t burn me at the stake.
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July 1, 2009
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If the music is too loud it’s a little distracting when you’re trying to worship God and the musicians are trying to be rock stars……
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July 1, 2009
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AMEN and AMEN!
Pat’s last blog post..Hung by the Tongue: Day 2 – The Flattering Tongue
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July 1, 2009
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sTim: Unfortunately, it’s the lost that usually complain about their creature comforts.
Pat’s last blog post..Hung by the Tongue: Day 2 – The Flattering Tongue
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July 1, 2009
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Correction to sTim: I meant to say that it’s NOT the lost who complain about their creature comforts.
Pat’s last blog post..Hung by the Tongue: Day 2 – The Flattering Tongue
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July 1, 2009
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Kayro, unfortunately something often gets lost when the “ekklesia concerned itself with worship and discipleship”. Instead of “believers mature and become strategically fruitful in the harvest” many get caught up in head knowledge and too comfortable to go out to the masses. Somehow we have to be more aggressive in our discipleship programs. Maybe intersperse mission with discipleship right from the start and not wait until people have all their i’s dotted and t’s crossed. By then, it may be too late.
Pat’s last blog post..Hung by the Tongue: Day 2 – The Flattering Tongue
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July 1, 2009
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Thanks Pat. It does appear that when the ekklesia was in order in the NT, they received strategic direction and power from the Holy Spirit as a result. Then they WENT OUT in demonstration and power to the lost.
Spiritual babes cannot reproduce. THe five-fold (or four-fold) ministy’s purpose is not to win the lost, but to equip the saints to do so. Thus the ekklesia.
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July 3, 2009
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And it’s not about some pastor and his “show”. According to the Bible I read there were several people who spoke in church and one of them wasn’t some honcho.
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July 6, 2009
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If church isn’t an event it should be! An event that reconnects and reorients believers to the presnce of the living Christ.
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July 7, 2009
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Many thanks for an excellent post which I have just tweeted about http://budurl.com/qndk and will be talking about with our small group this evening!
Andrew
Andrew Foulsham’s last blog post..Writing CDs or DVDs on a Mac
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July 11, 2009
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This is my first visit here and really enjoyed this post. The part about “church isn’t about you” really reminded me that I need to be serving much more than I am in my own church. Thank you! Also, I love the part about it not being an event. I soooo wish more christians would hold regular prayer times and worship and bible study in their homes througout the week. I have tried to no avail! I would love the opportunity to attend a gathering of christians any day of the week. Maybe I will pray that God would open that door for me to get the ball rolling! Also, to Jimmy, “Church Isn’t An Event”??? But…does that mean that when they pass that bucket around they aren’t collecting admission? Boy,somebody owes me a LOT of money…(grin)
This is a difficult thing for some, I would HIGHLY recommend the Crown Financial Ministries study. It will open your eyes to so much about what God says about money. It’s not yours anyway!! God bless
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July 14, 2009
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I do agree about the criticisms of the church being to inward.The churches are instructed to instruct and build up one another but their mission is to go and disciple. I believe it would be better to not even have a “church building”, that would force us to go!
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July 17, 2009
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Church isn’t about you…but it isn’t about them either. Church is about God. He is the focus and when we start focusing on “them” we begin to compromise the message in order to make them “like” coming to church. The congregation is for believers. Do we invite unbelievers to church? Absolutely! Do we soften the message to avoid offending them or bringing them to the knowledge that their sins make them enemies of God? Absolutely not!
John MacArthur says “When an unbeliever comes to Grace Community Church, they either get saved or they don’t come back.” If we are faithful to deliver the unadulterated Gospel truth(the good, the bad and the ugly), sinners will come under conviction and beg for forgiveness or the get offended by the truth and don’t come back.
Believers should come together in one voice and worship and praise the Lord. That is the purpose of church. Pastors should equip his flock to defend the faith and to share the truth by which we have been saved!
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July 18, 2009
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Amen Christopher!!!!
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July 18, 2009
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Jesus taught many times, as well as Paul,that we are a body. We function as a body and we build up the body to become the example to the world how Jesus can love and care.The time we spend together is as important as the time we spend with the world. Remembering that all things are by Him, of Him ,and through Him should shape our purpose.
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August 14, 2009
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Church isn’t who you answer to…God is.
Church isn’t your judge.
Church isn’t the rule maker.
Church isn’t somewhere you go…it’s something you do, the way you choose to live, who and how you love.
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December 7, 2009
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[...] 7. Brad Ruggles writes about what church isn’t. [...]
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January 5, 2010
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[...] “While most of us know this, we still need to be reminded that the church is not a specific building or location. Our buildings and programs create environments for church to happen but they are no more or less sacred than our living room or the neighborhood pub.” –Brad Ruggles [...]