My daughter was married in a small wedding chapel, deep in the piney woods of East Texas. The McMahan Wedding Chapel claims to be the oldest Protestant church in Texas. The church has a unique history; it has seen the start of the Civil War, 9/11, and Hurricane Rita. If the pine trees could speak, we would hear stories of faith. We hear how the small country church was a place of comfort, as well as celebration. Even though the main function of the church is now a wedding chapel, worship services are held on the first and third Sunday of each month.
The small country chapel won't be confused with any chapels in Las Vegas. Which leads to the questions, what makes a church or chapel different than any other organization? The Church is the Body of Christ, and the Holy Spirit gives life and power to the Church. The Church will always be misunderstood by unbelievers. It is not of this world, so it will not be understood by this world. The church has been accused of being a hotel for saints. Looking at various churches possessions and the lifestyle of several preachers, you can see why people think this. However, the Church should serve as a hospital for sinners as well as saints. The unsaved soul needs a heart transplant, but the saints need healing too.
The church has been persecuted down through the ages. It has been misused and abused by those on the inside and out. Throughout the ages the church has been called many things. It has been outlawed, rulers have tried to defeat it, but it still stands on the solid Rock of Jesus Christ. Then the Church can be about the business of building up believers in Christ.
The Church should be a training ground for new believers. We are good at feeding people knowledge. We supply them with charts, four spiritual laws, and explain acronyms, but we will fail in giving them confidence how this knowledge can be applied to their lives. They often see it as motivational tools instead of seeing the power of the Holy Spirit working. Once they gain confidence, not in the Church, but in Jesus Christ, they will develop a passion for Christ. Instead of following flowchart answers, they will see the power of the Holy Spirit.
Too often the Church overlooks the power of the Holy Spirit. They are more interested in producing assembly line Christians, which is why many so called converts fall away. We want to show them a better lifestyle, without out showing them the problems of sin. Other groups want an emotional high, and focus only on the gifts. However many gift baskets have been ruined by bad fruit. The Church should be a colony of Heaven, where people can catch a glimpse of how Heaven should be.
Being a member of the Church can be frustrating, there are times it is tempting to be a Cyber Christian. Download Christian music, with another click pick a sermon you want to listen to, and with PayPal make a donation to a worthwhile charity. However, Christianity is not a do it yourself religion. The church is made up of individual believers in Christ, but it isn't about individual comfort, or achievement. The church is not a social club, or an outdated organization. It is a body of believers proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world. The Church is God's chosen vehicle to proclaim the Gospel. One day, the Church will be presented as the Bride of Christ at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
