What is church?

It seems that God is challenging many of us into questioning just what church really is. What do we think of when we talk about church?

One of my sons recently went to a church that had just started to have meetings on our estate. He went along to a small group meeting midweek along with others, in order to chat about what the church stands for, believes etc. It is good that no-one is expected to join the church without knowing exactly where it stands on important issues of faith.

All very biblical in what they said about their beliefs in God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. What he had reservations about, and I agree with him, is that they state,'we cannot see in scripture justification for not being committed to one local church,' and later in the introductory leaflet it says, 'God has a plan for our lives and we believe it is worked out through a local church. ... ... there is no alternative to being committed to one local church. Through her we are trained, supported, taught and released to serve in ministries. ... ... Being committed to the Church means you must decide which local Church is for you, how you can serve those in that church and use your talents, gifts and resources to see that church reach its full potential.'

I understand that they are urging people to not flit from one congregation to another but it does seem that the emphasis in on serving the church - i.e. a certain group of people and their activities - and not serving God in whatever way He is asking us to do so. So many seem to think that the only way to do God's will and carry the gospel message and make a difference in our communities is through church activities and groups. We must never forget that God was before churches came into being and He is so much bigger than any church or organisation or system of doing things.

I have lately read some very interesting blogspots about people who have been taking the gospel to the lost around the world through Jesus freaks and on bicycles without any church organisation being involved. They are simply followers of Jesus with a heart for the lost. Please don't let's keep God safely in a box that we open from time to time to look at Him. He's so much bigger than that. In fact He actually made the box in the first place!