A Really Hard Question
Today’s sermon asked a hard question: What are we doing here? This is in relation to Church and whether or not we’re being the Body of Christ or just playing church. We need to look at this question closely, because this is one of those questions that we can get wrong if we’re not careful.
“What are we doing here?”
If we are content with playing church we are then content with pretending we’re church, pretending we are the Body of Christ. That just sounds wrong doesn’t it? I mean, who on earth would be ok with pretending to be the Body of Christ?
Us, thats who.
Yep, I went there. Think about the things that we get mad about in Church… music styles, WHEN things happen in the service and in which order, the color of the carpet, the placement of furniture… All of those things have split “churches.” *I use quote there because I don’t want to qualify those who choose to split over silly stuff as real churches.*
Are we guilty of pretending church? Sure we are. We know the words, we know the routines, we know when to sit, stand, move, not move, talk, not talk, etc… We have the art of doing church down to a science. There may even be a section of your closet/wardrobe that is set aside for ‘church clothes.’
No, having some nice(r) clothes isn’t bad… but if we’re not careful we will turn them into costumes. So what’s the point here? Simple – If we are not careful, we will turn all of our churchy activity into a parody or mask of what Church is meant to be about.
So we need to regularly ask the hard question: What are we doing here?
We are the Body of Christ and that has to mean something profound. The routine is never routine when we think of ourselves the way the Church was meant to be. Love becomes our rule when we represent Christ in the modern age. Grace becomes our currency when we act like Christ would act here and now. Peace becomes our highest ambition instead of being right or the majority.
We cannot be sedentary and satisfactorily call ourselves the Body of Christ. We cannot be complacent, malcontent, bickering, envious, or lazy and call ourselves the Body of Christ.
So what are we doing here?
Philippians 2:1-5;14-15 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? [2] Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. [3] Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. [4] Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. [5] You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
[14] Do everything without complaining and arguing, [15] so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.