When the topic of church arises, do you think of a place to go? Is it an organization that provides a safe place for your community/social desires to be met? Is it where you take your kids so that someone wiser than you in religious matters can teach them how to not mess up their lives? Is it an experience to have? Is church something you shop for (by visiting and checking out several), pay for (by dropping some money in the offering), experience, and then feel good about the benefit or pleasure you derive from it?
Perhaps church encompasses all of the above, but the most important fact to remember about the Christian church is that “it’s not about you,” (as the opening sentence in The Purpose Driven Life says), but is all about reflecting the character of Christ to our community. This is the message of Ephesians 4.
I find that when I think of myself as a consumer of my church offered benefits, I see no end of things to find fault with. Somewhere along the line, my expectations will not be satisfactorily met.
However, when I think of myself as having responsibility to be a healthy, working part of a church community in order that it accomplish the purposes of Jesus Christ, I am motivated not to complain, but to serve.
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