Who Are The Church?

            Have you ever heard the expression, “who died and left you in charge?”  Well, in a way, we could all answer, “Jesus Christ did!”  Think about it.  While in human form, Jesus taught and ministered to His flock on earth.  But when He ascended, the great commission was given to those of us left here to carry out His mission.  We are called to be Christ on earth, here and now, in this place.  We often speak about the church in ways that refer to a building, or in what we do in that building, as in, “I’m going to church.”  When we get our brains moving and focused, we will refer to the Church as the universal body of believers in Christ.  But both “definitions” fall short of and clearly miss the mark, or give us a chance to “cop out.”

            Yes the church is a building where we go to worship Christ.  And the Church is the body of all believers in Christ, past, present and future.  But the Church on earth, here and now in this place is only what we make it with our prayers and actions.  Often we hear people ask “How could God let things like that happen?” or “Where is God in what is taking place these days?”  Well, just as Jesus taught that “whatever we do to the least of these, His brethren, you do to Him,” His and other New Testament teachings make it clear that we are to be Christ to our neighbor.

            “The Church is not a building, the Church is not a steeple, the Church is not a resting place, the Church is the people!”  The old children’s Sunday school song says it well, but we have to take it more seriously than being just a cute, children’s song.  In a way Jesus did die and leave us in charge.  Of course, He is truly in charge of all, but with His Holy Spirit working through us, He has called us here and now to carry on His mission.

            Who are the Church?  You are the Church!  I am the Church!  We are the Church, together!  But the Church in the world today, is no more than what we choose to make it by our presence and our actions.  Go forth and be the Church of Christ to your neighbor and the world and let’s see just what Christ can make happen!  After all, He has us here for a reason; each of us.