My New Definition of Church

Thankfully I am a part of a community called “The Gathering Place.”  Our two pastors are free, immersed in His Holy Word, lovingly teach us the truth of being free in Christ and more importantly have shared with us that showing love to others is the only way we can truly feel “spiritual oneness” with our Lord and Savior.  I am sharing a few thoughts today about my “new” definition of “church” and praying that I will make every effort to honor that definition each day for the rest of my life.         

Imagine for just a moment something more than the traditional idea of what church has meant to us in the past.  More than just a set schedule of days that we gather together to fellowship, learn and worship.  Church doesn’t have to be confined to a building and four walls, a song service and a message from the word.  We can consume the “bread of hope” and “drink of the living water of life” no matter where we are in this world.  The devotion our God of the universe deserves is much more than can be accomplished within the confines of a church building.  He is the vine and we are His branches, for those that find Him will find life.  If we would only be still and listen, we would hear his spirit speak softly in our hearts nudging us to share His love with others as we go through our daily routines and as we travel through this challenging, changing but completely breath-taking journey of life.  I’m not implying that we should close the doors of the church or discontinue our weekly scheduled times that we come together to worship as a community, but what if we could change the way that we express our love for God and how we share Jesus in our daily lives.  Jesus gave us a better way to experience the joys of life, a way to be free and unburdened with the trials that each of us will surely encounter along the way.  If we could take this gift and reach out to others with a love that is compassionate, understanding and forgiving, miraculous changes would occur in our life and in the lives of others who have suffered through pain, rejection and a lonely heart.  What if we share with others something that God has given to us.  Absolute freedom is available to all of God’s children and He desires for us to go out into the world to comfort, encourage and love in His name.  God is the only true constant in this life and beyond and His faithfulness is unwavering.   It is easy to feel as though we are small, common and unnoticed, but to God we are all important extraordinary individuals who He created in His image.  He not only created us but He redeems us daily and our work here in this life will never be complete until He comes for us on that glorious day. As we strive to walk in obedience to Him, He will open our eyes to see and our ears to hear of those who need unconditional love and whispers of the truth that will reassure them as they search, seek and ultimately secure a reunion with their Heavenly Father.  Even in the midst of our busy daily lives, we can have “church” outside the doors of a building by involving ourselves in and sharing our heart with the world around us.  We can look for the moments that we can be a light to someone that feels as though all they can see is darkness, or an encouragement to someone that has been through one storm after another with no end in sight.  So maybe we should put aside our old definition of “church” and embrace the example of love and of “the church” that Jesus revealed to us long ago.  Motivated by God’s spirit we must be an example in life, in love, in faith and in purity.  We must show others that we believe in their dreams, that we want to share in the joyous moments.  We should be available to provide a shoulder to lean on when the circumstances are so big that an answered prayer seems impossible and quietly listen with our heart when hope is so small that it cannot be seen in the future.  We can trust in His strength and wisdom as we bear one another’s burdens and through His love share the hope of Jesus.  “Church” is so much more; we can walk with and serve the Lord anytime and anywhere and not just when we visit a structure that has been designated as a place of worship. Let us seize every “moment” and “situation” to serve Him.  God is boundless and our praise and worship should be vast and beyond the walls of a church building.  My prayer is that I will remember to experience, enjoy and embrace “church” every day and to trust that He and His love will be “more than enough” in my life and in my new definition of “church.”