God calls Christians to live differently from the rest of the world, but we haven’t always done it in the best ways. Our reputation has suffered over the years because we have come across as being “anti-” so many things. This series is about swimming upstream – going against the current of a culture that has values which contrast with Biblical values. It’s not a protest against secularism or anyone who believes differently. It’s a call to be love and light in the darkness of our world by living the way Jesus lived. We should be different in the way Jesus was different – a different that attracted the sick, poor and hurting instead of repelling them.
It’s no secret that the majority of secular Americans are turned off to the idea of church. As a matter of fact, many Christians are turned off to the idea of church. For many, church has a reputation of being exclusive and judgmental, not a place where anyone and everyone can freely come to worship and fellowship. Even some Christians say they don’t need church because their personal relationship with God is enough for them. They don’t need to hear sermons because they can just read the Bible.
This attitude is reflective of the individualistic society in which we live. In our culture, there is an “every man for himself” attitude. This attitude says that if you want to accomplish something, you’re going to have to do it yourself. Other people are not seen as supporters, but as competitors or obstacles in the way of what we want. In the church, this attitude is what leads people to believe that they don’t “need” to go to church – that they can grow spiritually on their own. They don’t see the church as a spiritual support system. A relationship with God through Jesus Christ only requires faith, not church attendance. So why do we need community?
Despite what our culture tells us, we’re not meant to live life alone. Consider Hebrews 10:24-25, “And let us continue to stir one another up to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” After gathering together we should leave encouraged to love more and do good works. The inference is that if we neglect to meet together, saying we don’t need church, we won’t be stirred up in the ways God wants us to be stirred up. If you ask me, our world needs a lot more love and good works. Acts 2:42-47 gives the earliest account of believers fellowshipping together. The Bible says they gathered together, shared meals and gave to those who were in need among them, and the Lord added to their number every day. This is how church should look – believers meeting together, fellowshipping and stirring each other up to love and good works, so that we can go out into the world and bring more people into community with us.
Our church should be a community of love and fellowship, a place where believers can come to be encouraged and where nonbelievers can come to hear to hear the gospel of God’s grace. We want the image of a judgmental, elitist group of Christians eradicated. As believers we first have to understand that the purpose of church is community, and that the purpose of community is ultimately the advancement of the gospel. Once we get on board, we can bring nonbelievers on board with us. Let’s stir one another up so that we can be the church “out there.”