Reader’s Digest records an interesting conversation between three frustrated pastors. Three pastors got together for coffee one day and found all their churches had bat infestation problems. “I got so mad,” said one, “I took a shotgun and fired at them. It made holes in the ceiling, but did nothing to the bats.” “I tried trapping them alive,” said the second. “Then I drove 50 miles before releasing them but they beat me back to the church.” “I haven’t had any more problems,” said the third. “What did you do?” asked the others, amazed. “I simply baptized and confirmed them,” he replied. “I haven’t seen them since.” (Reader’s Digest, July, 1994, p. 64)
I have heard many a veteran pastor express similar sentiments – not about bats – but about people. It’s unfortunate – but it seems that many people believe that the only thing that the church is good for is baptizing, confirming, marrying, and burying them. So long as the church covers those four bases that’s all the church is good for. Beyond that the church is really nothing more than a nuisance.
But is that God’s view of the value of church? How would God answer the question, “Is church really that big a deal?” We turn to Colossians chapter 3 for the answer. Through the inspired words of the Apostle Paul God encourages us to: Be Thankful for the Blessings of This Christian Congregation. I) Because it binds you together with other members of Christ’s body and II) Because it builds you up in the richness of Christ’s Word.
One of the greatest blessings of being part of this Christian congregation is that through it you are united together with other members of Christ’s body. For some of you that uniting started early in life at the baptismal font – when the love of Christ was poured into your heart as water was applied in the name of the Triune God. For others that came when a faithful Christian friend or family member shared the precious truth of Jesus’ love for you. It’s that love that unites us – the love that Christ has showered on each one of us, the love that knows no boundaries, that looked death in the face and knocked out its teeth, that smashed the shackles of sin, and destroyed hell’s furious grasp on each one of us. Each of us is clothed in that love that binds us and our various gifts together in service to one another.
United by that love we can live in peace with one another. This Christian congregation provides us with that unique environment. In a culture marked by strife and discord, marred by violence, a place that praises the theory that only the strong survive and prosper, and richly rewards those who are willing to double-cross, backstab, and scheme to get ahead – in such a world the church presents a radically different approach to life. This is a place where people matter, where sin is forgiven, where relationships are restored, and peace prospers. This is a place where other people’s needs and wants are more important than my own. This is a place where the peace of Christ rules because the peace of Christ, the peace of forgiveness, the peace of a right relationship with God is established and strengthened in each of our hearts.
Those are tremendous blessings! This is a place where you can make friendships that truly last forever! This is a place where happiness and purpose and fulfillment are found. This is the place where I want to be because this is a place that wants me and moves me to live in line with the kind of person Jesus Christ died to declare me to be, one of his dearly loved brothers and sisters. That’s why I love this time with all of you in worship on Sunday mornings! This is a time and a place where we as Christ’s church get to fully and freely act like Christ’s church. It doesn’t matter whether we’re young or old, rich or poor, black or white, sick or healthy, or somewhere in between – right here every Sunday morning we are united together by the love of Christ restored and renewed in the peace that only his life and his love can bring to our hearts.
But how is that blessing maintained and encouraged to grow? After all – human beings by nature aren’t peaceful people. By nature we love to create divisions and raise disagreements. By nature we’re people who love to get our own way and could care very little about what somebody else thinks or feels. By nature we love to think we’re right and everybody else is all wet. So how exactly can we hope to overcome that unity-breaking, peace-destroying attitude that lives deep within each one of us?
The answer is found in the second blessing that God offers us through this Christian congregation. Paul points us to the answer when he says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom” (Colossians 3:16). That’s exactly what we do as we gather as a congregation each Sunday. We gather around the richness of Christ’s Word that continues to build us up as his people. That begins as Jesus leads us to confess the sinfulness that he’s found lurking within each one of us. Though we are filled with sorrow over our sins Christ comforts us as he reveals the treasures of his glorious gospel – the good news that his own blood cleanses us of all our unrighteousness. That’s the reassurance Christ gives us as we partake of his body and blood together with the bread and wine in the Lord’s Supper. That’s why each Sunday we teach and admonish one another using Christ’s own word as we meditate deeply on its truths and apply it to our lives both as a congregation and to our lives as individuals.
As Christ’s wisdom guides us into a deeper, closer relationship with him we can’t help but respond with thanksgiving. That’s the other part of worship. That’s why we join together as a congregation to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. That’s what we’re doing as we bring our generous offerings to our gracious Savior who has given us all that we have and promises to provide all that we need. With faith-filled hearts we respond to God’s goodness by bringing our prayers before his gracious throne with the confidence that he will hear and answer us. But it goes even further than that! The Apostle Paul says clearly that our worship doesn’t end at the church door. As we part company our worship continues as we offer our lives in whatever we say and do as an expression of our thankfulness to our gracious God and Lord.
Martin Luther understood all of the blessings and benefits that God bestows upon his people through the Christian church. In fact his understanding of these truths led him to say, “Apart from the church, salvation is impossible.” Luther wasn’t preaching that the church as an institution provides eternal life; only God can do that. Rather Luther was emphasizing the truth that any believer will surely recognize the blessings God bestows through the Christian congregation and therefore will seek to be actively involved where God’s true Word and sacraments are found.
As your pastor I’ve been deeply troubled this past summer as I’ve watched what I would call a “vacation” mentality set in upon our congregation. I’m not talking about the opportunity many have during the summer to take some time to travel for sightseeing or to visit family and friends. I’m talking about an attitude that puts our relationship with God on the shelf for summer break – waiting to be dusted off again once the school year starts. Perhaps even more startling than watching this summertime apathy set in has been listening to an often-repeated excuse that people just need a break during the summer.
Understand the trade-off that’s being made – the health and well-being of your relationship with God is strained for a paltry hour or two of extra physical rest. The health of this congregation suffers as its members stray into inactivity whether that’s for one week, one month, or for an entire summer. It strikes me as strange that people would want to take a break from the all of the blessings that God offers them through this Christian congregation.
The recent horrific phenomenon of irresponsible parents leaving their children locked in sweltering vehicles on a hot summer’s day pales in comparison to Christians who are content to keep their faith locked outside of the church where it is left to suffocate without the Word of Christ and causes the body of Christ to suffer without its presence. Don’t we all have to admit that we’ve been thankless and irresponsible with this incredible gift our God has given us at one time or another?
Be thankful that our God through this Christian congregation calls us back into his presence by pinpointing this dangerous behavior and nailing it to Jesus’ cross on Calvary. Rejoice that our God calls us back into his presence through this Christian congregation where he reveals his incredible love for us that punished Jesus for our thanklessness. Be glad that our God welcomes us back into his presence as he revives our souls with the ongoing transfusion of the righteous blood of his Son that washes away our every guilty stain. Be thankful for the blessings that he continues to pour out on you through this Christian congregation.
Is church really that big a deal? Maybe the better question to ask is this one: How much poorer would my life be if this Christian congregation weren’t here today? As you consider that question – it’s my prayer that our God would lead us all to faithfully and thankfully support this congregation with our time, our talents, and our offerings because he continues to enrich our lives through it with the richness of his love poured out on us through his Son, Jesus Christ. May God grant it for his glory and our benefit! Amen.
