What Benefit the Church?

What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision?  Much in every way! First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God.  What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar. As it is written: “So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.” (Romans 3:1-4) 

          Yesterday, the conclusion was that religious ritual doesn’t make the grade with God. Circumcision, baptism, and even synagogue/church attendance is not what makes one a Jew or a Christian. Some people understand this and their response is “Great! No more church.” I understand the response. At some point in elementary school, I decided that if my parents didn’t go to church, I didn’t need to either. I was one of those loner kids. I participated in activities but didn’t have any friends. It was easy to walk away. I didn’t return to church until I went to college. 

          Paul says the problem with walking away from Judaism (and I would add from Christianity) is that God communicates to them and through them. He has given His Word through the Jews and through the Church. Of course, now we have the Bible, so why do we need the church? Have you ever noticed toward which parts of Scripture you gravitate? I know some people who have a “red letter” approach. If Jesus didn’t say it, it doesn’t much matter. Some like the New Testament. That’s the new covenant, what does anything else matter? Others love the stories of the Old Testament. For some, the prophecies are exciting. I try to be more inclusive, but I lean toward the epistles for their combination of theology and practical counsel. At church, these leanings come together. One hears from parts of the Word that we might not explore. We also hear from people whose experience of the Word is greater, either through their studies or through their experiences. 

          When one retreats from the Church, either to self or a small group of friends, one tends to lose objectivity. “Church” becomes more of a friendly ritual than a place where one can either heal or learn. God’s Word tends to get watered down or abandoned. The Jews and the Church were entrusted with the Word, and the Word instructs clearly about how those entrusted with the Word are to treat the Word and others. If you hate the way God has said things are to be done – if you walk away from the mechanism He has put in place, how can you be in God’s will? If you think yourself better than “all those arrogant folks” you’ve become one.

          Even keeping abreast of religious literature and watching videos of a religious nature isn’t enough because those things don’t involve interacting with others, and it is through others that God works. Andy Stanley asked in a video sermon I saw recently what one calls a limb that is amputated from its body. His answer was “Gross.” My answer is “Dead.” Someone who is dead but keeps walking around is a zombie. That’s not the sort of example I think any of us want to follow.

          The Church is to be honored. When she is wrong, that wrong needs to be addressed, but she is Christ’s bride. Those who hate her aren’t going to like Heaven, because the Bride and Bridegroom love one another, and the Father loves them both. I’ve had people tell me they want nothing to do with me ever again. Then they try to claim that they don’t hate me. I don’t buy it, and I don’t think God buys it when we  try to claim we love Him, or even love the Church, when we want nothing to do with the Church.