Our Tuesday Bible Study has been focusing on the Gospel of Matthew. This is the year of Matthew, in our Sunday readings. One of the things interesting about Matthew is to note that it alone speaks of "church." While others assume a collection of followers, Matthew is the one who acknowledges that in order to carry out and continue the ministry of Jesus, we are going to have to organize.
Some "churches" have a formal statement of what it means to "be the Church." These would typically include sections which explain why this particular church is The Church. We don't have such a statement, in our church. We view the organization which brings followers of Jesus together as essential structure, but never as a divine one. The church to which we belong is a human creation, with human weaknesses.
I get frustrated with the church. I get irritated when the church makes stupid statements or fails to move in the direction I believe it should be moving. But I am grateful for the ability to separate the church of which I am a member from The Church. The Church is that collection of individuals, known only to God, in which all the faithful from any number of differing traditions, is bound into what is truly the Only Holy catholic Church. I hope that my participation in a particular church will better prepare me for my membership in that Church. When I no longer feel it does, I will make some changes. But I remain involved in my church because it is my best hope of being in regular contact with fellow members of The Church.
Pastor Chris
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