Hint: His church is so much bigger than most people believe.
Many of us were taught that the church meets in buildings every Sunday (or Saturday) morning, and if you want to be part of his church, you must attend one and be committed to its program. And yet, many of those programs never deliver on the promises they make. Instead of rich, open, and honest community, many institutions gather around a charismatic personality or worn-out traditions. They can be riddled with expectations, pretense, gossip, and performance dynamics that will exhaust the most conscientious followers of Christ.
His church is not a meeting in a specific building or submitting to a pastor whose vision you’re supposed to serve. His church permeates the entire globe as the family of people learning to follow him by loving well. Of course, some of those go to Sunday morning institutions, but many of them do not. They are not lone rangers but those who have learned that the church’s wealth is experienced in a growing network of friendships with other Christ-followers who are willing to go and do whatever he asks of them.
You’ll find that church not by seeking out a group of like-minded people, or those that share your same preferences. You’ll find it by loving the next person God puts in front of you and seeing where those relationships lead you. Remember, it is the Spirit’s responsibility to place you in the family exactly as he desires. It’s far more about friends and friends of friends than it is about going to a meeting.
Wayne has provided a host of resources to help you think of Jesus church as he sees her, and that will help you discover her life with greater ease.
Wayne’s Books
Key Articles
- Why I Don’t Go To Church Anymore
- Why House Church Isn’t the Answer
- We Already Have a Shepherd!
- Living in the Relational Church
Wayne’s Podcasts
For a Deeper Dive
Read through the Relational Church Series listed at the bottom of this page. You can also use the search windows at the top of Lifestream,org and TheGodJourney.com for topics that specifically interest you such as, “leadership,” “church,” “tithing,” “abuse,” “relational Christianity,” etc.
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