I've been thinking for the past few weeks about the nature of the Church. Usually when I think about the nature of the Church, I am verbalizing historic affirmations such as the Apostle's Creed, "I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church," or the Nicene Creed that there is "one, holy, catholic, apostolic church," or the opinion of the Reformers that the church is where the Word of God is proclaimed and the sacraments duly administered. Now, I think I somewhat understand how to articulate these expressions of the nature of the church, but that doesn't really do anything to help me really understand what this thing called the Church is really about.
When I think about my experience with the church it is often negative. I've met too many cranky, selfish, hypocritical people in the church that it is hard to overlook the bad apples. Of course, I've met amazing people, but the bad ones really stand out. I've also seen the church from the inside out. I understand the business of the church and what makes the local church run. The business meetings, the finance reports, the budget concerns. I heard one friend say that after he worked in the church he "saw how the sausage was really made, and it just didn't taste as good after that!"
When I think like this it is easy to start asking the question why. Why am I investing my life in this? Why am I spending my time and energy in a way that is often met with criticism and fear? Why spin my wheels like this?
The answer is because when it comes to the church, I am a hopeless optimist. I've heard someone say that when the church gets it right, it is like nothing that has ever existed. She is beautiful and radiant. She shows love and concern like nothing else. She is inclusive to the point that people who should never have come together now have deep relationship and concern for one another. She is also enduring. When she dies out in one place, she flourishes in another. She is always growing and always going. She is the refuge for both the vile and the saint. And I have tremendous hope for what she can become. The only hope I have for the world comes through her at the local level. And I am absolutely committed to investing my life in service of her, the beautiful bride of our Christ.
