“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful” (Colossians 3:15 NIV).
Once upon a time there was a perfect church. The choir never sang a wrong note and the music minister picked songs that everyone liked to sing. Church members eagerly volunteered to teach Sunday school and serve on committees; the pastor’s sermon was the right length, just in time for everyone to get to their favorite restaurants before the other churches got out. There were no disagreements over the color of the carpet, no critical comments made about the minister over Sunday dinner, no disputes among members about the budget, no negative opinions about the music.
How many members in this church? None.
If you are looking for a perfect church, you will have to wait until you join the one in heaven. We are all sinners saved by grace, but we still struggle with our own list of faults; at least one or two of those faults are bound to drive another sinner crazy. I know of some people who have given up on the local church and quit going altogether because of a string of disappointments in the parishioners or preachers they have encountered. It’s easier to focus on what people do wrong than to think of a way to encourage them to do right.
Think about the church you attend. Is it perfect? Of course not, because it is made up of imperfect people who make mistakes, behave selfishly or thoughtlessly, fail to share responsibilities fairly, don’t show up when they said they would, complain or gossip about others—I could go on, couldn’t I? But I’m certain that there are also some members who show up to help whenever they can, those that have worked in the nursery or taught Sunday school for decades, others who give sacrificially when the need arises, and some who write notes of encouragement to their Bible study leader or to the lady who sang a solo last week. I know this is true because I have seen these kinds of people in my church, too. And I have received cards of encouragement from other church members, an act of love for which I am grateful.
And I am very, very thankful for my church and for other churches who strive to follow the Father’s heart in ministering to our world. You see, I don’t think of the church as a group of buildings or different types of worship—I think of the body of Christ, followers of Jesus: “The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we are share the same Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:12-13 NLT).
The big toe and pinky finger are right where they are supposed to be on our bodies. So do we have a position designed by the Lord. All those in the body of Christ share the same heritage of being sinners saved by grace, and as such, we are sisters and brothers in Christ.
Of course, we don’t always act like sisters and brothers in Christ because we still live in a faulty world. We often squabble, nitpick, and act like spoiled brats who insist on getting our way, and unfortunately the attention of the rest of the world is drawn to the negative behavior they see. At our worst, we are far more objectionable than nonbelievers who do not have the example of Jesus and guidance of the Holy Spirit. But at our best, the Holy Spirit flows through us to show our communities the character of Christ. Through humble prayer and submission to His will, God can change us. As members of local churches, the body of Christ in miniature, we should minister in love with one another, as the Apostle Paul urges: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful” (Colossians 3:15 NIV). Are you living in harmony with your church family members? Are you thankful for your sisters and brothers in Christ in your community?
What should we do to be at peace with the people in our church and with those in other churches? The writer of Hebrews suggest that we “ . . . think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. . . . encourage one another . . . .” (Heb. 10:24- 25 NLT). I am thankful for a church family that inspires me to follow Jesus, especially the members who serve as godly examples. I am grateful to my sisters in Christ who put up with my weekly teaching even when my ideas go sideways or when I ask them to read aloud a passage with a lot of Old Testament names in it. Encouraging other Christians is just what the Lord wants us to do. By cheering on each other, we are strengthening our local church—sort of a spiritual remodeling that does not require a building program or fundraising campaign. We learn to love one another by becoming more like Christ.
I don’t know about you, but I love my church, warts and all. It’s not perfect, but then neither am I. I fit right in. Here’s a prayer to help you be thankful for your church family:
“Lord, thank You for our churches. We are grateful for opportunities to worship, grow, serve, and love one another in our local congregation. Help us to work together in harmony with the Holy Spirit so that nonbelievers will be drawn to faith because of how we love each other and our community. We ask this in the name of Jesus, Amen.”
I’ll be praying for you—and your church family.
