A certain gentleman named Joe attended a church in town for a couple of years after his conversion at the age of 42. Then for some reason which no one could figure out, he stopped going. After about 6 months of this the pastor called up and arranged to visit Joe in his home. Joe greeted the pastor with warmth at the door and invited him into the living room, where he had two comfortable armchairs in front of the fireplace. They chatted amiably for about half an hour about the weather, golf and other such things until the pastor finally asked, "So Joe, why haven't you been at church for a while? I haven't seen you for about 6 months now." "Oh well, you know, pastor, I've discovered that I can do everything we do at church right here," Joe replied cheerfully. "I just pop out my hymnal and sing a few songs, watch the pastors on TV, even listen to your sermons on the radio. Its just like church, you know, but without all that hassle of people and de-icing your car. So I don't really need to go, see."
The pastor took this in with a thoughtful expression while Joe grinned at him. Then he reached over for the fire tongs, picked up a log from the center of the flames, and placed it on the hearth. Both he and Joe sat in silence, watching as the log slowly died out. Finally the pastor said, "Joe, that's what happens to each one of us when we separate ourselves from the body of Christ."
It's a body thing, really. The "church" is more than just a service we attend faithfully every Sunday. Its more than just a Bible study during the week, or that prayer partner you just can't get together with. It's more than a liturgy or a doctrinal statement or even a crowd of hypocrites. Its a living, breathing organism that grows, stumbles, serves, praises, fails, but above all it edifies. That's because the people who make up the church are in a dynamic new relationship, with God and with each other. It is together that we are God's people.
I think that's what Paul was getting at in I Corinthians 13. I can legitimately apply that passage to how I personally love individuals I am friends & family with, or dating, or married to, whatever. But when you apply it to how we are to relate to our fellow believers, suddenly your whole picture of the "church" changes. People who willingly choose to forgive when somebody gossips or lies to them? People who willingly choose not to gossip or complain because they want to build someone up to their face AND behind their backs? People who remember that their fellow believers are "dust", just like their Lord does? All of a sudden its a lot easier to be a sinner saved by grace, when people can love each other like that.
And that is so important to strive for, because once you are saved you are irrevocably tied to the imperfect people of God. Did you know that? We don't really have a choice in the matter. We can't choose our fellow believers (that's God's prerogative), and we are intimately tied together in such a way that when we hurt "the Body", we actually hurt ourselves. Its more than just Christ's reputation at stake when we choose not to love: its our own spiritual well-being, because God has designed the church in such a way that each person needs everyone else. By being in relationships with each other, especially in unifying to come before God's throne in worship and humility, we fuel the fire of our passion for Christ and His work. That's why Christ prays so long for unity among His followers (John 17). That's why Paul says that it is only together that we are made perfect.
Joe, by the way, got a clue. And as far as I know, he hasn't missed a Sunday since.
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