As a young Christian, I expected everyone in church to treat me the way Jesus did. I expected them to be perfect toward me while I was allowed to make mistakes. I must have thought I was the only new Christian, and they were all mature and perfected. I was so stunned the first time someone let me down. I expected them to be filled with grace and mercy and to display Christlike patience toward me as I began my walk with Jesus. I quickly learned the church building was filled with fallible people on a journey toward Christlikeness, all at different levels of maturity.
As I grew in Christ and in the knowledge of Him through His word and experiences of obedience, I began to understand one universal truth. The church is not a building or a group of titled believers. The church is me and everyone who calls on the name of Jesus in sincerity and truth. Paul said it best, “[The church] is many members, but one body. You are the body of Christ, and members individually” (1 Corinthians 12:20, 27 WEB). The church is the people, not the building or leadership team.
It is the same today. Many people look to others, or to titled people in the building, to meet their needs. They have not yet learned they, too, are the church. I suppose this is a natural progression of maturing in Christ, but it must be a progression. We must get past the point where we believe the church in the building exists to supply all of our spiritual needs.
The question is, if I am the church, what is required of me? If I am the church, to whom am I sent? If I am the church, I must understand I am blessed with every spiritual blessing and equipped for every good work (Ephesians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 9:8). Not only is my need supplied, but I am granted an overflow to give away.
Considering this truth, let’s look to the Holiday Season, which is now upon us. What if we walked into every scenario with the understanding, ”I am the church.” How would our mindset and expectations change? What would it look like to walk in with an attitude of overflow?
Instead of entering the church building or a holiday dinner with family seeking to meet our needs, we should seek to meet the needs of those around us. What if instead of preparing our defense and battle strategies this Holiday Season, we determined to treat each one as Jesus treats us? What if we determine to make sure every person we come into contact with walks away knowing they are loved and accepted—just as they are? What if we love them as ambassadors for Christ and let the kindness of Jesus flow through us, “knowing that the kindness of God leads [them] to repentance” (2 Corinthians 5:20; Romans 2:4 NASB)?
“Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do. Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful” (Colossians 3:12-15 WEB).