Going vs. Being

A student recently wrote on facebook, "Are you more concerned about going to church, or being the church?" Another student replied, "I don't say this with any pretenses, simply, and ironically, as the devil's advocate: aren't lines such as "Are you more concerned about going to church, or being the church?" more of what you described as doing things the stereotypical "Christian" way?" So I thought I would respond.

One of the problems with the " stereotypical Christian way" is that we have defined it and regulated it and I do not think it is the way of Jesus. I think what Rachel is getting at is not an action (doing something) as much as an attitude that leads to action. "Going to church" is about something we do. "Being the church" is about who we are.

But it is by our actions that we identify who we really are or what we value. Being the church has more to do with being the true expression of Jesus Christ regardless to what the "stereotypical Christians" say is ok or not. Jesus definitely did not follow the "stereotypical" jewish way. Being the church has more to do with submission to the Spirit of God, dying to ourselves so that Christ may live and valuing all humans as Gods creation. I am convinced that Jesus would not fit into most of our churches.

There are many people that believe that by going to church they are the church. That simply is not true. What we need to realize is that on any given Sunday the buildings people call "churches" are filled with people who either follow Christ and those who do not. Those who follow Christ are the church.

More importantly, Jesus clearly called people to be His disciple not to attend a service in a building. Either were are a disciple of Jesus or not. Those who are His disciples make up His church. So what we really need to ask ourselves is are we a disciple of Jesus. What this means is do we allow Jesus to empower and direct every area of our lives. It is about allowing Jesus to speak into and direct everything about ourselves. It's about obedience to Him in everything regardless to what common opinion thinks.

With that said, "Being the church" means we are a group of people who place ourselves under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and worship Him as Savior, Creator, Provider and King. We worship Him and Him alone. We place all our worth in Him for His sake and allow Him to direct everything we are and do. And that doesn't just happen on the one day each week we attend a service in a building we wrongfully call a church.

John Quincy Adams said, "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." I hope I have inspired you to at least think.