The beauty of living as God's church
Reflections from meeting the church and being a part of the church
Between 19 February 2017 and 19 May 2018, I was exposed to what life was like within a Christian community. I was a guest at most. I wasn’t a Christian, I didn’t believe what they believed. But at the end of that period, on that very Saturday evening itself, I eventually came to terms and realised two key things about the Christians at Hunter Bible Church:
They love Jesus.
They love each other.
No, this isn’t simply the kind of love that we hear about on social media or watch in romantic movies. It was a genuine and infectious love that was transcendental. It was raw, and it was real.
Why are they sharing their lives as if they actually cared? Why are they conducting themselves with such grace, generosity, and compassion? What is it about the church that makes them so unique and fundamentally different to other religions and the rest of the secular world?
Throughout those 15 months, I had a burning curiosity and was consistently stirred with wonder. I couldn’t stop asking questions of them, of myself, of the world, of God. I wanted to understand what it is that made them so loving, so hopeful. I needed to know why. I wanted to share in that same love and hope.
The answer was simple.
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 2:13
The church is united in Christ because of His sacrifice on the cross for the forgiveness of sins. The church is a gathering of forgiven sinners. The church is filled with bad people forgiven by Jesus! The main undercurrent is the gospel. The church gathers to hear, remember, exhort, pray in light of, love and serve because of the gospel. This was mind-blowing! I was never involved or even close to a church growing up, and so had multiple misconceptions about the church:
The church/Christianity isn’t a Western, English-speaking religion. It’s not an exclusive movement for the elite or boastful. Jesus himself was born in Bethlehem in atrocious conditions, and died a gruesome death in Jerusalem. Both of these locations are in present-day Israel, the Middle East. It was not the Western world, and they didn’t speak English. The Bible was originally written in Hebrew and Greek, and have since been translated into thousands of other languages across diverse people groups throughout the world. It’s global, it’s universal, it’s for all people.
Family lineage or cultural influences have no bearings on who is a part of the church. I’ve met dozens and dozens of Christians who are the only genuine believers of their families (some would call them first-generation Christians). I’ve heard dozens and dozens of stories from people who decided to trust in Jesus despite their cultural surroundings which are heavily against Christianity. Christians aren’t Christians because of their family heritage or cultural backgrounds, it’s because they trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of sins. It’s cross-cultural, it’s personal.
The church isn’t a building, it’s a gathering of believers worshipping God. Buildings will fade and perish, the gathering of God’s people is eternal. The word “church” itself comes from a Greek word that means “gathering”. But it’s more magnificent than just a gathering! It’s not even just an “event”, it’s a community of sinners that are reconciled to God through the death of Jesus. What brings the church together isn’t a common secular interest. It’s a people of God united in Christ, it's relational, it’s eschatological (apocalyptic, end-times), it’s a heavenly reality!
No matter your spirituality or beliefs, Christianity or not, can I invite you to take a moment to consider: What does the church mean to you? Moreover, are there any false assumptions or misconceptions about the church you have that is stopping you from turning to Christ and being a part of His church?
My experience of church has been positive through and through. I’m in love with God’s church, both local and global. I look forward to gathering with my brothers and sisters in Christ. I love serving the church, it is an absolute privilege and joy. I love reading God’s word with them, as we grow in maturity and disciple one another. I love singing praises to God together, it is such a delight! I love that in all our differences as regular human beings, we are profoundly united by the one thing that truly matters, Christ. I love that in Christ alone, we have a hope beyond death.
Of course, the church isn’t always rainbows and butterflies. I’ve heard and experienced myself many unpleasant memories within the church. But that’s where the wonderful reality of forgiveness and repentance comes into focus and fruition, and where we’re reminded to look forward to the eschatological reality where there will be no more sins and suffering because of Christ. Jesus loves the church, he gave his life for us!
The New Testament in the Bible says many great things about the church, but it’s easy to glance over all the passages that speak about the difficult things within church life. Karl brings this truth into the spotlight,
God never promised that his church, on this side of Jesus’ return, will be perfect. The church is united but divided, holy yet full of sinners, universal but fighting turf wars, faithful but at times heretical.
For all the hurt one might have experienced from the church and how far from ideal the church is on this side of eternity, the church is a group of sinful people reconciled by the life-giving death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The church loves, because Jesus loved us first (1 John 4:19).
I was a part of Hunter Bible Church in Newcastle from 2018 until 2022. I'm writing this blog post off the back of finishing Karl Deenick’s book, Gathered Together, and had just enjoyed an amazing weekend away with my church. Hence the inspiration for what I’ve shared here.
Jason
I love your writing. It's fresh, like a youthful, mountain stream (probably in the tropics).