I had a late night conversation with my daughter a few days ago. After filling her in on the latest Christian hubbub in social media, she asked me, "Is this what the church is really like? Because if it is, it's depressing."
True. If this is the only side people see, it looks like we aren't doing "They will know that we are Christians by our love" very well. But there is another side, and this is what I told her:
- Jesus said that He will build His church and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it. Matt. 16:18
- God has given us a preview of the glorious church in heaven around the throne. Fully sanctified, every earthly barrier torn down forever, and praising Him for our salvation with one voice. Rev. 7:9-12
- Our sanctification isn't left up to ourselves. The Holy Spirit is at work to purify and renew all God's people. Phil. 1:6
- God is able to deliver us from error. Just look at the Trinity debate. Many of us were wrong about the Trinity as Christians. And when we least expected it, we were jolted awake to see that a right understanding of God matters. This is the foundation of the Christian life and how we deal with one another, but it is more than just intellectual. It leads to worship.
- God uses the local church even in its imperfect state. We need the ordinary means of grace. We need community to help us in our struggles and to share our joys. All the while, He is the one really holding us together.
I agree with my daughter that it can be discouraging at times, but maybe I need to refocus and make sure my eyes are looking in the right direction. It's not instantaneous and requires patient endurance from all of us. But warts and all, the Church, universal and local, is beautiful because her Lord is transforming her to be like Him.
True. If this is the only side people see, it looks like we aren't doing "They will know that we are Christians by our love" very well. But there is another side, and this is what I told her:
- Jesus said that He will build His church and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it. Matt. 16:18
- God has given us a preview of the glorious church in heaven around the throne. Fully sanctified, every earthly barrier torn down forever, and praising Him for our salvation with one voice. Rev. 7:9-12
- Our sanctification isn't left up to ourselves. The Holy Spirit is at work to purify and renew all God's people. Phil. 1:6
- God is able to deliver us from error. Just look at the Trinity debate. Many of us were wrong about the Trinity as Christians. And when we least expected it, we were jolted awake to see that a right understanding of God matters. This is the foundation of the Christian life and how we deal with one another, but it is more than just intellectual. It leads to worship.
- God uses the local church even in its imperfect state. We need the ordinary means of grace. We need community to help us in our struggles and to share our joys. All the while, He is the one really holding us together.
I agree with my daughter that it can be discouraging at times, but maybe I need to refocus and make sure my eyes are looking in the right direction. It's not instantaneous and requires patient endurance from all of us. But warts and all, the Church, universal and local, is beautiful because her Lord is transforming her to be like Him.
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