My Church or His Church?
Pastor Scott D. Snyder
Matthew 16:13-18
Introduction:
(A person’s possessions are an indication of the quality of that person—expound.) You don’t expect, at least you shouldn’t expect, to find a lottery ticket in the pocket of a true disciple of Christ. Or a bill from the liquor store sitting on their counter top at home.
Ownership and quality of character have a close relationship to each other. So when Jesus said, “…on this rock I will build My church…” He indicated its character by the use of the possessive pronoun.
How could Christ stand morally responsible for the bringing into existence of a spiritually inferior product? Think about this! Would a holy Christ build an unholy church? Would a merciful Christ produce an unmerciful church? Would a compassionate Christ build an uncompassionate church? Wouldn’t an evangelistic Christ produce an evangelistic church?
WHAT EXCUSE DOES THE CHURCH HAVE FOR DEFEAT?
Can a person be born again, born of God, and not partake of the divine nature of God? Can we claim to be the products of Jesus’ concern for the redemption of mankind and then fail to show concern for others? You have all probably seen the signs that you can put on a door of a room that says, “Do Not Disturb.” Will a Christ who was so disturbed about the needs and condition of man produce a church, which can sleep soundly in the face of the vital, pressing needs of society?
What did Jesus have in mind when He said, “I will build My church”? He meant it to be a conquering, overcoming church, or else He would not have said, “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” In the light of this statement, what excuse does the church have for defeat?
Remember, we have these promises—“Lo, I am with you always even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20). “Greater things than these shall you do” (Jn. 14:12). The church was equipped to be completely victorious. There is little excuse for defeat at any point.
It would be inconsistent for an omnipotent God to produce a powerless, weak, failing church. It is inconsistent for a divine head [Jesus Christ] to be joined together to a sickly, diseased, helpless body. And the church is called the “body” of Christ. It is inconsistent to go forth in Jesus’ name to failure, to go forward in the Conqueror’s name to defeat.
THE CHURCH IS TO BE LIKE CHRIST
The church is truly the church only when it reflects the character and spirit and power of Christ in its fight against evil.
a. Christ is holy. So then the church also must be holy!
b. Christ belongs completely to God. So then the church must belong to God alone!
c. Christ reveals a compassionate love for all mankind. The church then must also go out into the world with the story of redemption!
d. Christ gave Himself unselfishly for others. The church will become sick and die unless it does the same!
If the church has been lacking in victory and power, it is the fault of the church, not of Christ. The church was birthed to do battle against the powers of evil. It is brought out everywhere within scripture that victory is the outcome of such battles. If victory is not won, something is wrong with the church.
If we are supposed to be the light of the world, why does so much of the world still lie in darkness?
If we are supposed to be the salt of the earth, why has the salt lost its flavor? When will we learn that we find our greatest significance in service to God, in service to the church, and in service to mankind?
MUTINY AND TREASON AGAINST GOD
Is the church of today what Jesus had in mind when He said, “I will build My church”? We our in danger of making it our church instead of His church. And in many cases, it’s already happened! If it is His church, He must continue to make the rules governing it. When you and I change the rules or make them to suit us, it is mutiny against God and evidence of our lack of spiritual vision—evidence of our spiritual inadequacies. When we set up a human head for the church, which is replacing Christ as our head, we are guilty of treason against the government of God.
Christians today need a new vision of the true nature of the church. We need a new baptism of fire. Fire heats, purifies, and consumes. There is carelessness and absentmindedness in the church today, which threatens to cancel out what ought to be effective service for God.
WHY IS THERE A CAR IN THE SANCTUARY?
Do you see the Lord when you come to church? Sometimes we no more than start our praise and worship, or begin to pray, or I even begin the message when the rear doors of this place suddenly open with an irritating, annoying noise and then they shut again. What has happened? One of you men here has suddenly brought your car to church with you. It’s having some problems and you’ve chosen the time of worship to figure out the problem and what you can do to fix it. Or one of you women has come through the doors pushing your stove along with you. You’ve brought your Sunday meal preparation right into the sanctuary with you. The interruptions continue. Someone is repairing a roof or a leaky faucet. Another is working out the details of the job, which faces them tomorrow. A student is working on the term paper that is due. And another is making a list of things, which need to be accomplished before guests arrive tonight. And then this afternoon, after you get home from church, a man will say to his wife, “Didn’t the service seem a bit dull to you this morning?” And the wife will say, “Yes, what was wrong?” Hmm, I wonder!
Being preoccupied with self is an enemy of Jesus’ church! The church needs a new power—a power that comes only when its members are fully surrendered to the spirit and purpose of Christ.
Where is this church, which Solomon describes as “fair as the moon, clear as the sun, awesome as an army with banners”? We are not to simply tolerate Christ. We are to love Him, give ourselves to Him, work for Him, follow Him…if need be…even to the ends of the earth.
ABSENCE OF EVIL IS NOT ENOUGH
In this service for Jesus, absence of evil from our lives is not enough. The righteousness of the church must be a positive force for good and not a negative self-righteousness. If Jesus’ church is really His church, it will be aggressive. It will be filled with men and women of faith and good works. It will be completely dedicated to truth, led by His Spirit. It will always be found doing His will and never be found doing anything contrary to His will.
His church will interpret His moral and spiritual teachings to the world and will set an example in His kind of conduct.
IS JESUS EMBARRASSED ABOUT HIS CHURCH?
Can Jesus speak with pride when He says, “This is my church”? All of us in some way or another like to be proud of our possessions. That’s why so many spend hours cleaning and taking care of their cars or homes. Proud of the collectibles you might have. Given this—we need to do our best to make the church an honor to God. Does Jesus ever say apologetically to our heavenly Father, “Father, I’m really embarrassed about the condition, the quality, of the church, but it seems to be the best I can do right now”?
What does Jesus think of Christians who show so little desire to worship and share fellowship with their brothers and sisters? What does Jesus think when He sees Christians lacking in a mature, adult sense of stewardship and holy obligation, when He sees Christians running after the things of the world, worldly pleasures, worldly entertainment? What does Jesus think when He sees Christians bad tempered, rude, unforgiving, holding grudges, stubborn, unyielding, bad attitudes, criticizing brothers and sisters and neighbors? What pride could He have in calling that His church?
WHAT IS THE CHURCH?
It is not Catholicism or Protestantism…these are man made institutions. It is Christianity…Christ likeness! It is the family of the redeemed, the children of God, the army of “called-out” ones, the saved, the born again. It is Christ’s body, created to do His work. It is Christ’s bride, to give Him loyalty and love, service and affection. And it should be His pride and joy.
Are you a part of His church? When He says “My church,” does He mean you? Does your life show it? Does your spirit show it? Does the way you handle your money and time show it? Do you love everybody? Do you carry a burden for the lost?
It was said of Matthias, who was chosen by casting lots to fill the place Judas left vacant, that “he was numbered” among them. Is that enough for you—just to be numbered among the people of the church? I believe that we want more than that. We want to be a living, working part of the church. We want our lives to count for Christ and His kingdom. For we know that it is only when a person is “in Christ,” head over heels, sold out with all they are and have, that Christianity really becomes meaningful, satisfying, and wonderfully real to them. Only then will you know the meaning of Christ’s words, “I will build My church.”
