The Church
The body of Christ throughout the world with a capital “C”
or
Your own family of local believers with a lower case “c”.
or
Your own family of local believers with a lower case “c”.
In Matthew 16:18, Jesus talks about the church and how He
will build them up. This is the only place that Jesus uses the word church in
this context. The Greek word is Ekkesia, which means, “called out ones” or
“called together“.
will build them up. This is the only place that Jesus uses the word church in
this context. The Greek word is Ekkesia, which means, “called out ones” or
“called together“.
I am struck by this because all I think of is the American
church today which is sometimes all about competition. Who can be the better
church, who has the right doctrine, or why you should come to my church rather
than the others.
church today which is sometimes all about competition. Who can be the better
church, who has the right doctrine, or why you should come to my church rather
than the others.
I have felt so lethargic lately. In my own life and in the
lives of the believers around me. All we do sometimes is care about our own
lives and argue about who is right or wrong. I am so guilty of this.
lives of the believers around me. All we do sometimes is care about our own
lives and argue about who is right or wrong. I am so guilty of this.
Where is this love?
Where is the passion to be believers who are called out together?
Why can’t we Americans get off our couch?
Why can’t we be filled with the passion of Jesus and be
reckless followers for the kingdom?
Where is the passion to be believers who are called out together?
Why can’t we Americans get off our couch?
Why can’t we be filled with the passion of Jesus and be
reckless followers for the kingdom?
I remember going 
to church in Romania and Mexico.
to church in Romania and Mexico. How they take their faith with such importance.
How they live lives of devotion to Christ and to others.
How they accept us even thought they didn’t even know us.
How they desire to share with others the love and freedom of
Christ.
I have become so
frustrated with church in America.
frustrated with church in America.
I read this quote from an Alumni racer a few
months ago that hit home for me:
months ago that hit home for me:
“I may not agree with some of the ways we
Americans do things, our attitudes, or our paradigms, and it may annoy the mess
out of me at times and make me want to call down the fire of heaven… but if I
can love orphans in Africa and the girls in the bars in Thailand but somehow
have less love for those of us caught in western trappings, then there is a
problem.
Americans do things, our attitudes, or our paradigms, and it may annoy the mess
out of me at times and make me want to call down the fire of heaven… but if I
can love orphans in Africa and the girls in the bars in Thailand but somehow
have less love for those of us caught in western trappings, then there is a
problem.
The truth is, there is a spiritual climate over America, just as there is one
in Africa, as there is in India, as there is in Asia. And we are not fighting
wars here between flesh and blood, but against the rulers and authorities of
hell.
Love covers a multitude of things…” Kimberly Daniels
Love, Love V
