Where do you go to church???

My lovely wife and I met for lunch last Thursday. We don't get the opportunity to do that much with her teaching, so each time we get the chance we love to go together. As we were waiting for our food to arrive we saw one of Amanda's old high school classmates and friends. Once we finished chatting and making small talk Amanda asked a question. It is a question I have asked many times and one that I am sure you have asked too, but never have I received a response like this one. Her question was, "Where do you go to church?" His response with out a single thought was, "We are the church!" He was not being arrogant or rude, but he was simply stating the fact, WE ARE THE CHURCH!!! I have been thinking about his response all weekend and you know it is so true!

As a minister, I cannot count the times when someone has said..."You cannot say that, you're in church" or "I cannot believe they would allow that group to meet at the church" or maybe you've heard this one, "You are not supposed to do that, this is church!" I have had these conversations with teens and it is often times hard for them, and some adults for that matter to understand that church isn't a place we go or something we do- but it is simply who we are! We are the church! As I was preparing for class this morning I was reading in the book of Acts and not once did I find the phrase "a church" or "go to church", but I did find this one more than once "the church".

"So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together..." Acts 15:30 (emphasis added)

I know the church gathers in different places and meets all around the world, but the most awesome thing about that God wants us to be one body! I hope that the place where you gather with the church is a blessing to you, I know that I am blessed with a great group to gather with. But I also hope the next time someone asks me me this question I can say, WE ARE THE CHURCH! I believe that God intends for us to be unified, no matter where you gather!

If you know me, you know how important I think it is to gather with the body. I believe God has commanded us to do so. But, I am also sensitive to the fact that lines can be drawn and sides can be taken if we see the place we meet or the thing we do, to be church. Rather than the church being who we are!

Just Thinking-