What is the church?

A building.

A collection of wood, brick, mortar, and highly trafficked carpets.

We gather together to worship corporately, align in direction, and sharpen iron.

When we say “go to church” we’re missing a piece of the puzzle.

The church isn’t a place.

I am the church.

You are the church.

Together we are the church body. 

Living. Moving. Being.

The wandering souls around you–they can and should connect with the church every single day. 

They are being ministered to–by you.

“Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant…”
– 2 Corinthians‬ ‭3:5-6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

You are a minister (or pastor if that’s comfier).

Say it over yourself.

I am a pastor.

This mindset will change things when you walk into work today.

Whether they know it or not, you’re covering them in prayers. For their marriages, their finances, and their souls.

And you’re modeling the good news to them every day as their pastor. It shows up in your reactions, your work ethic, and your every day demeanor.

Be careful. 

Pastoring doesn’t (necessarily) mean preaching.

Jesus had personal encounters with people far more often than he preached.

Pastoring also doesn’t mean Bible thumping.
(Bear with me for a second)

When Jesus used scripture as a tool for argument it was directed at one group in particular–religious leaders. The One that all the scriptures point at was standing in front of them. They of all people should have gotten it, but they didn’t. 

He knew the word. He was the Word. He just didn’t start his approach to a lost soul with Christian-ese. 

I fear we lose our relevance with the world when we speak our own insider language.

It is possible to be relevant and without compromise.

Be the church this week.

At work. The store. School.

Be relevant without compromise.

Be Jesus.

Be the church.

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Sidebar:

I’m not hating on the church building or our time of weekly gathering. On the contrary, I believe it’s a vital part of the body.

Let me explain it this way: I manage a team of 15 at an ad agency and we start every week with a meeting on Monday morning. I noticed very early on that if we’re not connecting as a team and getting clear on expectations, the week feels “off”. So we meet first thing Monday.

My point here is: we meet for a couple of hours once a week, but that doesn’t mean we don’t do work the rest of the time.

(See what I’m driving at?)

I’ll talk more about the gathering next time.