Whether we want to admit it or not, . . .
Whether we want to admit it or not, the moment we profess
Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior—that is, from the time we first become a
Christian—we also become a member of the Church. Even if we never officially join a
congregation, even if we refuse to identify with a particular denomination,
even if we sit at home on Sunday mornings instead of attending worship, we are
still a member of the Church. Put
another way, membership in the Church is not an option; it is a basic spiritual
fact for those who profess Christ as Lord.
The reason for this is because God never makes private,
secret salvation deals with individual people.
To be sure, God’s relationships with us are personal—even intimate—but
never private. When we become
Christians, we are automatically connected to brothers and sisters in
faith. No Christian is ever an only
child!
Of course, just because we are a family of faith doesn’t
mean that we are always one big happy family.
Let’s face it; siblings tend to squabble. The very first story concerning siblings in
the Bible is the story of Cain and Able—and it’s a murder story! Moreover, their fight was religious in
nature; they were quarreling over which one of them God loved the best. The story of Jacob and Esau comes a few
chapters later, but it, too, is the story of two brothers who can’t seem to get
along. The story of Joseph and his
brothers doesn’t fare any better. Even
Jesus was misunderstood by the members of his own family.
So it shouldn’t be surprising that, in the Church, we are
not always going to be friendly, or for that matter, even nice to one
another. You don’t stop being a sinner
the moment you start believing in Christ.
Professing one’s faith doesn’t suddenly transform a person into a more
engaging conversationalist, or a more enjoyable companion, or a more
inspirational figure. Some Christians
are cranky, others are contentious, and still others (if the truth be told) are
downright rude. But at the same time the
Lord insists that such people are still our brothers and sisters.
I believe the key to living and serving together in a
Christian community is to recognize that the Church is not a club. In a club the members decide who can or
cannot join. However, in the Church,
it’s not the members who decide who’s in or out. Jesus Christ is the One who makes that
call. As he told his disciples, “You did
not choose me; I chose you!”
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