My Church

“Sometimes I wish my church looked like a traditional church.

I love the artistry and tradition!”

           

Seemingly innocent and well-meaning words, but the young pastor’s statement hit the gray-haired former church planter like a fist to his gut. There are so many things wrong with that statement, he thought, that I don’t even know where to begin. And should I even begin to address it in the first place? Maybe I should simply leave it up to the Lord of the church, and let him deal with it. So he turned it over to the Lord, and from that day forward he prayed for that pastor every time the Lord brought him to his mind.

Many might ask, “Why? What was so wrong that he was so grieved by what he said?” The reason is that he was the original church planter who had labored for years to plant the church that the young pastor now led, and he was careful to lay a good foundation of Christ-centered theology and New Testament teaching. And a part of that was a clear understanding that the church is the people of God, not a building.

The congregation had met in a school, a park, a hotel, and a commercial office building before they finally settled into the permanent facility they now owned. Through it all he never let anyone call the building “the church.” Instead he consistently called wherever they were meeting the facility or the meeting place. And when people asked why he insisted on that, he always said, “Because the church is the people!”

So when the young pastor called a building the church, it struck him the wrong way. But what upset him even more was that he called it “my” church. For the church is the people who make up the Body of Christ and the church – even a local congregation – belongs to no man or woman but belongs only to God.

Sure, pastors call it “my church” all the time. And many treat the church as if it was his or her own business and he or she is the sole proprietor. All the meeting agendas and most decisions are made by the owner/pastor; direction and vision come from only the owner/pastor; money is spent as seems best by the owner/pastor. It happens all the time that a pastor acts like the owner of the church.

But does that make it right? Does church tradition overrule what the New Testament says about plural leadership by a group of elders? Do our church traditions of treating the pastor as if he were the head of the church bring glory to Jesus or do those traditions usurp Jesus as the head of the church? Whose church is it, anyway? Does it belong to the pastor or to the Lord?

As the church planter thought about these things, his anger turned to deep sorrow and he began to pray for the church worldwide and especially for the young pastor and the congregation he had planted so many years ago. “If only they could see you high and lifted up, Lord, the awesome and powerful Lord of the church. Our Creator, our Sustainer, our Provider, you did it all…”

As the church planter went on praying, the Lord interrupted him, “So why do you tell people that you planted the church? If it was all Me, why do you care so much? Is it because that congregation is still your baby, still belonging to you in some way?”

The church planter was cut to his core as he realized that what the Lord was saying was true. Yes, he cared about the theology and people’s view of the church, but what really hurt him was that the young pastor was so quick to dismiss his years of hard labor and the gifts of many individuals that made the existing church building possible and the church he pastored a living reality.

Sure, the church building wasn’t as grand as the one he was gazing upon and the traditions of his congregation were only measured in years rather than decades but is that any reason to not be thankful for them? Didn’t he understand how hard it was for the church planter to keep pastoring and evangelizing all those years while he worked a variety of jobs to put food on the table when the church was too small to support his family? Didn’t he understand the synergy and pooling of resources that had to happen to make the building he took for granted possible?

Once again the Lord interrupted the church planter’s rant, “Well done.” That was it. That was all. But it was all the church planter needed. Tears came to his eyes and he realized that he didn’t need the approval or thanks of the young pastor or anyone else.

God was pleased, and that was enough.

Let’s Pray Together: Lord, more than anything I want to please you. Thank you that whatever mistakes I have made are covered by the cross of Jesus and that when you look upon me I am holy and blameless in your sight. Give me new revelation and understanding as to what You want the church to look like and how I fit into Your plan. Give correction to me and church leaders around the world; give affirmation for what we are doing right; breathe new life into people and churches everywhere. I lift before you now these people and churches that need your touch…(continue praying as you feel led)

This devotional is authored and published by Randy Brockett. All publishing rights are reserved but readers are encouraged to repost (please include this copyright info) or share his insights with their family, friends, and congregations. For other devotionals by Randy, see http://www.blesseddisciples.com, http://www.dwellinchrist.com, and http://www.discoverbiblicalchurch.com.