A Snapshot of a Healthy

The church is a family, comprised of people from all walks of life, saved by the same grace of God through Christ. These people then choose to live and work together for the cause of Christ and the glory of God in unity of purpose. In the closing chapter of Romans, Paul shares his heart to the church. In the first 16 verses, he greets, commends and sends love to the brethren and from the brethren. In so doing he gives us a snapshot of the church.   

THE CHURCH IS THE PEOPLE

He mentions 33 names in 24 verses, two households and there those whose names are not mentioned.  Each of these are quietly and faithfully doing their duty and building relationships. They served, they suffered, and they loved. This is a helpful reminderthat the church is the people, not the programs, building, or necessarily the meetings as helpful as those are. In an ever program-minded society we have to remind ourselves of this truth: the church is the people. 

THE CHURCH IS MADE UP OF ORDINARY PEOPLE 

In the same vein, we also need to remember that the church is made up of ordinary people. It is easy to read the accounts of Scripture and think the people in the Bible were extra-ordinary. But in reality, they were ordinary people doing ordinary things. The church is made up of ordinary people, faithfully and consistently doing ordinary things, in ordinary ways, enabled by the extraordinary grace of God. Dear Christian, do not despise the ordinary.

THE CHURCH IS MADE UP OF DIVERSE PEOPLE

These ordinary people in the church are from different cultural backgrounds, religious influences, and different social economic statutes and in different seasons of life. Pursuing unity does not mean we should all be the same. We need to learn to embrace and appreciate diversity. If we are to build one another up, we definitely need to remember that God does not intend to just call people from our tribe but from all tongues, tribes and nations. Unity is best appreciated in the midst diversity. 

THE CHURCH IS MEANT TO DEEPEN RELATIONSHIPS

As diverse and ordinary people choose to live and work together in Christ, the need to develop genuine, growing relationships is ever urgent. If we are to grow in love, minister to one another through the use of our gifts, exercise hospitality and bear with one another, relationships need to be present. Every Christian needs to be intentional in developing relationships with their church family. 

Our world is individualistic and consumer driven. Therefore, when we think of the church we often think buildings, projects and programs. We also think what this church can offer my family and me. It is easy for the Christian to also be sucked into that mindset. However, we need to remember that the church is made up of ordinary people pursuing meaningful relationships as they worship and serve their Lord.