The Church is Not Dead (Despite How it Looks Right Now)

Like the photo of a wrecking ball, smashing the walls of a Chinese Church. I saw the destruction coming. I felt the event happening.

No, there was no steal ball, no dust and smoke, no rubble or physical substance left lifeless along the earth. But destruction happened, nonetheless.

Loss. Internal scars that crushed even the most proud church goer.

In Italy, a church lie open. Covered in black soot. Destroyed, thousands of years of artifacts. A whole history of people who once came to establish their mark on this earth.

The roof now blown open.

No pews. No singing. No formal ritual to exhonerate Jesus.

Today, I see Christ followers, standing in the middle of broken buildings, open skies  and walls blown right off of their understanding.

And they question, “How did the place I attend go up in smoke and ash?”

A group of people followed an earthly shepherd. But some shepherds only took care of themselves. They dressed well. Ate well. Yet, failed to strengthen the hurt or the broken. (Ezekial 34)

The shepherd mentioned in Scripture did not tend the sheep. So, the sheep were scattered.

And I am wondering if today, how many are scattered and wandering? Standing in what feels like ash? Sensing division and yet, just don’t know where to go?

How many have seen shepherds bend and bow? Tend their own souls, yet lose their flock? How many sheep are wandering in the distance without instruction?

But God whispers to those wandering sheep…

“As the shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look over my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.” (Ezekial 34:12)

It may appear that God has abandoned us. However, the church was never meant to be confined to a building.

The power of God didn’t rest solely in temples since Jesus coming…

White robes, afluent titles, high positions, laws and commandments, didn’t rescue broken people…

In fact, the Pharisees spent years laboring, only to create one convert.

Jesus came and blew all religious thinking away.

He swept the land with grace. His light and love was like a magnet to the needy. He didn’t push people away. He didn’t divide them amidst religious organizations…

Jesus had no “religious club”, no membership card, no obligation we must perform before falling into His arms of grace.

He was love and peace. He is welcoming and approachable. He takes the worst adulterer and kneels alongside her before drawing in the sand.

And I have been to churches that escort out the filthy. They give prefered seating to those who have titles and positions, the pompous and self-indulgent.

Yet, my Jesus, my guess is, He wouldn’t run to the front of the church and demand the most impressive seat. My Savior would comb the most broken, be found with the contrite and the most humble.

And yet, as I see so many churches imploding their organizations, breaking their own rules, leaning towards political favoritism just to please the crowds…

My Jesus, He was humble. He didn’t lean on trendy or complicated theological explanations. He saw the heart, and drew towards the wanting, the needy.

Finding beauty which was unseen…

Longing for transformation and relationship.

We cannot fix what we don’t acknowledge is broken.

And yet, I see it….

Churches exploding from complication, dividing from prideful feelings, promoting a title or brand, instead of leaning on the power and name of Jesus.

It’s holy week.

A few days ago, the people waved their palm trees.

Today they will cry, “Crucify him”.

How can we turn so fast? How does a people love one thing one moment and hate it another?

Why is it, our own hearts find value in so many meaningless things? Don’t we recognize His grace and the power that on Sunday will have rose Him from the grave?

And I wonder as churches continue exploding, buildings are flipped upside down, and the seven churches in Revelation are given warnings on how to change…

Will we bend our ear? Will we seek humility? Will we turn from our wicked ways? And find a home for our most devout worship, in the man of Jesus…

Not a system, religious title, or some brick building?

Will we come and fall upon our faces in desperation, like the woman who had clearly sinned? Recognizing the stones about to be thrown, yet desperately crying out to Him?

Will we see the compassion in His eyes? Not just in a brand, a title, a position, or a movement?

Will we take His hand and rise? Rise from the dirt we are sitting in, the pain we’ve been thrust straight into?

And will we go and sin no more? Give up our lives looking for love in anything other than Jesus?

Bricks fall. Buildings crumble. Yet, it is Holy Week, and nothing can stop the church.

God’s people are still moving in power and grace.

My daughter was healed a few weeks ago. My own heart found reconcilliation on the carpet floor, in my bedroom, last evening.

Jesus is not far off. He is near.

The church is alive. People are being activated into their callings, despite how it looks from a physical standpoint.

Will we be the church? Will we show the world that we are more than some well-dressed pious statues, standing apart from others, coldly pointing fingers?

Will we get inside the ring, join the heroes of the faith who spoke with boldness and lived without fear?

The church is alive. But, it may not rest in some ten page church doctrine, gold statue, or strict mandates, bound by ancient walls.

We move, now, in this hour….in this season; not by might, or power, but by the Spirit, says the Lord.

His Spirit led a man straight unto His death. But His Spirit also rose Jesus from the grave.

He is alive. And He still reigns today.

Yes, the church is not dead, despite the organizations falling all around us.

God’s people, come alive.

It’s time to look straight into the eyes of Jesus….

His name will lead us home.