My Dear Grandchildren,
Time for another letter. I hope you’re ready. This one is going to be about the Church.
So, definitions, right? What’s the Church? We could say that it’s a group of people with some common goals. That would be true, but that’s also true of a bunch of gamers at Gencon. (Right, Malachi?) What if we add the word ‘religious’, a group of people with some common religious goals? That would also be true. But that would include Mormons. We could get more precise and say that the Church is a group of people with common Christian goals. That would be true and would exclude lots of other kinds of groups. But, believe it or not, it would still be misleading. And that’s because that definition isn’t focusing on the heart of what the Church actually is. All of those definitions are simply ways to look at some external fact about the Church. It’s considering the Church merely as a social institution. And that would be an incomplete definition. And incomplete definitions can be as dangerous as incorrect definitions.
Time for another letter. I hope you’re ready. This one is going to be about the Church.
So, definitions, right? What’s the Church? We could say that it’s a group of people with some common goals. That would be true, but that’s also true of a bunch of gamers at Gencon. (Right, Malachi?) What if we add the word ‘religious’, a group of people with some common religious goals? That would also be true. But that would include Mormons. We could get more precise and say that the Church is a group of people with common Christian goals. That would be true and would exclude lots of other kinds of groups. But, believe it or not, it would still be misleading. And that’s because that definition isn’t focusing on the heart of what the Church actually is. All of those definitions are simply ways to look at some external fact about the Church. It’s considering the Church merely as a social institution. And that would be an incomplete definition. And incomplete definitions can be as dangerous as incorrect definitions.
Here’s one way that the Bible defines the Church. The Church is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Paul taught this.
Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16
Now, it’s important to understand that the ‘you’ here is plural while the word ‘temple’ is singular. (Grammar!) That means all the Christians together are the one temple of the Holy Spirit. (Elsewhere - 1 Corinthians 6.19 - Paul also teaches that each Christian is a temple of the Holy Spirit. But that’s for another time.) So, the Church - and I hope that it’s clear that I’m not talking about some building but rather Christians together - the Church is where the Spirit of God lives. And that’s so much more important than merely being some social institution.
So, what does this mean? How should we understand the Church since it is filled with the presence of the Spirit? Here’s something that I think is important. The Spirit’s presence makes the Church a place of magic.
Now, I know that I’m not supposed to use the word ‘magic’ when talking about biblical topics. I’m sure that someone important is going to tell me that I should use some theological word to describe the Church. (Of course, no one like that will know - unless you tell them!) But saying that the Church is a place of magic makes so much sense to me. And I say that because the Church is where the Spirit changes people. It’s the place where the Spirit makes people more human, more like what we’re supposed to be like. And seeing the changes in people’s lives because of what the Spirit does - well, I think that the word ‘magic’ fits perfectly. This isn’t about any hocus pocus stuff, notions that people commonly associate with ‘magic’. It’s about the supernatural power of the Spirit transforming lives. It’s amazing! It’s magical!
Now, that’s so very different from seeing the Church simply as a place that is filled with words. Some of those words are sung, other words are prayed and still others are used to teach. Words! Words! Words! Now, of course, the Church really is a place filled with words. And that’s good, at least when it’s filled with God’s words. But there’s a difference between seeing the words as just things that people are saying (and who are being very careful to say them in just the right way) and seeing those words as some of the tools that the Spirit is using to do His transforming magic. In fact, there’s a huge difference between the two.
But think about it. Isn’t this what Jesus has come to do? There’s lots of talk (words!) about sin and how Jesus has come to free us from our sins (good words!!). But what does that mean? Doesn’t it mean that He has come to change us so that we would become pure and perfect and amazing like Adam and Eve before God cursed them for their sin? Imagine: good attitudes, pure happiness, enjoying whatever it is that you’re doing (including chores!). And never any troubling feelings, or fears of what might happen, or pain or tears (except tears of overflowing joy). That’s why Jesus has come. And that’s why He sent the Spirit to live among all the Christians together. The Spirit is tirelessly working to see to it that Jesus’ goal for each of us - becoming real humans as originally intended - is achieved. And seeing Him at work is magical. This is so much more than being just another social institution where words are said out of mere habit.
So, what have I done? I’ve given you different words[!] to understand in a new way - in a better way? - something that you are already pretty familiar with, the Church.
There’s more to say about the Church, and I expect to get to some of that in my next letter to you. (This one is so short! I’m letting you off easy this time! Next time a tome!!)
As always, with my love,
Grandpa B
So, what does this mean? How should we understand the Church since it is filled with the presence of the Spirit? Here’s something that I think is important. The Spirit’s presence makes the Church a place of magic.
Now, I know that I’m not supposed to use the word ‘magic’ when talking about biblical topics. I’m sure that someone important is going to tell me that I should use some theological word to describe the Church. (Of course, no one like that will know - unless you tell them!) But saying that the Church is a place of magic makes so much sense to me. And I say that because the Church is where the Spirit changes people. It’s the place where the Spirit makes people more human, more like what we’re supposed to be like. And seeing the changes in people’s lives because of what the Spirit does - well, I think that the word ‘magic’ fits perfectly. This isn’t about any hocus pocus stuff, notions that people commonly associate with ‘magic’. It’s about the supernatural power of the Spirit transforming lives. It’s amazing! It’s magical!
Now, that’s so very different from seeing the Church simply as a place that is filled with words. Some of those words are sung, other words are prayed and still others are used to teach. Words! Words! Words! Now, of course, the Church really is a place filled with words. And that’s good, at least when it’s filled with God’s words. But there’s a difference between seeing the words as just things that people are saying (and who are being very careful to say them in just the right way) and seeing those words as some of the tools that the Spirit is using to do His transforming magic. In fact, there’s a huge difference between the two.
But think about it. Isn’t this what Jesus has come to do? There’s lots of talk (words!) about sin and how Jesus has come to free us from our sins (good words!!). But what does that mean? Doesn’t it mean that He has come to change us so that we would become pure and perfect and amazing like Adam and Eve before God cursed them for their sin? Imagine: good attitudes, pure happiness, enjoying whatever it is that you’re doing (including chores!). And never any troubling feelings, or fears of what might happen, or pain or tears (except tears of overflowing joy). That’s why Jesus has come. And that’s why He sent the Spirit to live among all the Christians together. The Spirit is tirelessly working to see to it that Jesus’ goal for each of us - becoming real humans as originally intended - is achieved. And seeing Him at work is magical. This is so much more than being just another social institution where words are said out of mere habit.
So, what have I done? I’ve given you different words[!] to understand in a new way - in a better way? - something that you are already pretty familiar with, the Church.
There’s more to say about the Church, and I expect to get to some of that in my next letter to you. (This one is so short! I’m letting you off easy this time! Next time a tome!!)
As always, with my love,
Grandpa B
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