the local church

         I am beginning to see how incredibly important it is that in every confrontation I have with someone, whether verbal or just noting something about them, I must also confront my own brokenness. It is my tendency to point out the brokenness of every single other person I encounter just to take the attention off of my own. It is only when I am resting in Jesus's ever powerful love for me that I can confront my brokenness first and then address the struggles that others may be facing. 

       My pastor today urged us to move away from any level of legalism and our natural tendency to create our own rights and wrongs where the bible has not made that clear, while also ignoring the actual truths that just aren't convenient or comfortable. He said we have to stop seeing things as good and bad and starting looking at whether engaging in them is running towards or from Jesus.  None of creation is inherently bad, things become bad when we warp them. Or, every terrible thing is rooted in something beautiful and godly gone wrong. Tyler (my pastor) asked if we're not engaging in anything of our culture: TV, alcohol, sports, various forms of leisure, etc. how we can we relate and love unbelievers, doubters and skeptics well? How can we learn what our culture values, what they are thinking, and how we can minister to them? For example, I have a tendency to harvest a hardness towards drinking alcohol in my heart that is not biblical. He said there is absolutely nothing wrong with him going with his neighbors to have a beer at Raleigh Times. That is the best way to engage with his neighbors because that is what they enjoy. He said he has no desire to get drunk or let alcohol gain any control over his mind or actions. To not do that with his neighbors would be to refuse to engage with them. He also said that when we make things right or wrong that are not clear cut such as drinking, we lose our credibility to stand and say things are absolutely wrong such as the porn industry. 

      Being a part of a church where everything is centered entirely on making much of Jesus, where every decision is saturated in prayer and scripturally founded, where deep community is inherent not optional has been beyond huge for my walk with Jesus. Its redeeming my vision of marriage, sin, and constantly revealing my own brokenness and terribly skewed thoughts while showering me with the love and forgiveness and beauty of Christ who loves me in the midst of my brokenness. The New Testament life is livable in and through the body of Christ. I would argue though that its possible only in a local church that belongs entirely to Christ. I used to think going to church wasn't really that important. That it was good to do but you can follow Jesus with or without church. Now, there is no doubt that salvation is not through church membership or attendance or anything else we do, but through Christ and what he did. Yet, not being engaged in the local church fully goes directly against the way Jesus lived and God called us to live and directly against Scripture. As a triune God, he is inherently communal, as are we as his creation. Real community is found in Christ and Jesus chose the church to be his bride and his body. Nothing else. We cant really be part of the bride or the body without the local church. And it is probably the greatest thing we will ever have the chance to be a part of  in our lives. Actually, Jesus and following him in community is the undeniably the greatest thing. And the way people will know we belong to him.