The Body of Christ

We, too often, seek to define something in ways that do not do it justice. When we hear the word "church", we think of brick buildings or huge sanctuaries and choirs singing praises to God. Those thoughts come as sort of a pre-programmed response that has been planted in our minds. We put the images with the word "church."

In referring to church, John Wimber use to say that you had two kinds.
1.) Structure in search of life, or
2.) Life in search of structure.
He maintained that most churches were structure related and sought to fill the structure with life. Events were planned. Agenda's were set. People were put in place and the energy of the people was to bring life to those spots. John held that this view was more man driven than God driven.
John held that if a group of people were hungry for God and were chasing Him in their daily lives (in other words searching for life), then this chase would seek out structure. He earnestly believed that the life had to come first. With the life came the ability to adapt and change as God directed. If you were structure oriented then the structure (or the way you do church) would become static and unchangeable. How many times have you heard the phrase when referencing church life, "We've never done it that way before." Almost a battle cry to the stubbornness and hardness that sets in when a church looses the life it so desperately needs. Through my own experience, change is the fuel that runs the kingdom of God. Not change that we can invent, but change as God directs in turning us into the body He desires us to be.

This brings me to the point about the body of Christ. I interact a lot with the body through the different people I have connection with. The body of Christ comes alive for me when the phone rings and it's Seth Barber wanting to share about what is going on at the Grace Recovery Meeting. The body of Christ is when I see Debbie Handy and she pours out her heart concerning what God is doing in Worship and how there seems to be a new season or a freshness to the music. The body of Christ is when Barry Hooks and I sit down and go over scripture and it relates to those in recovery. The body of Christ is when I am walking across the compound and I see John Arrington meeting the needs of those who haven't any means. It is breakfast with Jim Bentley and Bobby Sparks. It is a Thursday morning meeting with Lane Smith. It is a phone call from Donnie George asking me to come to Celebrate Recovery in Centre. The body of Christ is so varied and vast that it seems to evade a definition that comes from the mind of man. Since it is His body.....
I think I'll Jesus define who and what it is!
Thanks for stopping by GREENE STREET today.

God on you.......
mb