Is one man a church? That's what a friend asked by sms this morning as I woke up. "No. Church is a collective noun." Then the Lord reminded me how when He created Adam, He said, "It is not good for man to be alone." From creation and on to the New Testament, the pattern had been community. Jesus sent the disciples two by two. Then they looked for a "man of peace" to stay with. Together they formed a new and slightly bigger community.
Then this afternoon at our house church gathering, one of the sisters shared how she felt tired and was not eager to come to the gathering. But they prayed and the Lord prompted them to "share." So they came to the gathering and shared. Another sister shared also how she skipped the gatherings for a couple of months thinking that she was still okay in her relationship with the Lord, just that the gathering was a little too far for her. (She had recently moved to another community.) But later the Lord made her realize how she still needed to community for encouragement and spiritual strength. She began attending again last Thursday.
"Do not forsake the assembly," we are reminded in Hebrews. Church is about relationship, about coming together for the Lord and to share life with each other. Man was not meant to be alone. No man is an island. We were created to share life with each other. A person who thinks Christianity is a private religion is mistaken. Christianity is LIFE together with the Master and His Body.
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1 comment:
Very true words, brother, and much needed. Too many are declaring themselves (singular) to "be the church" and as such they have no requirement nor reason to gather.
If those truly born of God LOVE the brethren, why would they not desire to gather with others?
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