the task of the church
July 28, 2010
what is the church supposed to be and do? there are many human ideas of the church. people say church people should be shining lights, perfect, sinless. the church is that stange combination of the communion of saints and the congregation of sinners. too often the church is judgmental. the words come out harsh and uncaring, no love can be felt or found. the church is the people of god who have been called out of darkness, away from the worlds ideas and standards, to the unity that exists in the good news about jesus christ. the church is not uniformity but unity. there are different ages in the church, different sizes,, different cultures and colors, different customs and languages. yet, there is unity.. the church believes and confesses that jesus christ is the savior of the world and the lord of our lives. he came to live a perfect life, we cant, to suffer for the sins of the world, we cant even suffer for our own, let alone make atonement. he came to die on the cross and wash us and make us white throughhis shed blood. our response to gods love in christ is to discipline ourselves to live the life of a disciple. the church lets us know that we are not alone. we have been bought with a price and there are many of us who need the grace and mercy of our loving god. the church can be a haven, a harbor, a quiet place a part from the storms of life, a hospital for healing, but, the church is also the living witness of the savior to the world. love is the important word. god loved and loves us therefore, we ought to love all men. service is the watchword. what can i do be the disciple god wants me to be. with paul the apostle i lament, the good i want to do, i dont. the evil i want to avoid, i dont. that makes life tough, a struggle. but take heart..go and share the good news of the gospel with all you meet anddeal with. the relationship we have with god we then extend to our fellow men. we share the love and the hope and the promise of our god. do not despair the church is not perfect, but it has a perfect savioiur who has sent the holy spirit to perfect us. come and be a part of the church, the community, and join the struggle for and in life.
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