Church or Christ?

When introducing people to Christianity, there is a strong temptation to ask them, "Why don't you come to church?" instead of what the question should be, "Why don't you come to Christ?"

Of course it is incredibly sad to see churches by-passed and marginalised. What an influence they could have for good if more people openly supported them! They were once the glue that held society together. They contributed in a healthy way to the rhythm of life. I remember my father telling me that he knew when to come in for his morning coffee by the ringing of the church bell. In my own life there was a time when the church stream I was part of laid on insurance, holiday centres, leisure activities, endless ways to meet other people. It offered care homes for the elderly, housing and some financial support for those of its workers who were in need, safe spaces for youth to enjoy recreational activities, adventure holidays for various age groups … you could practically live your life by availing yourself of facilities supplied by the church.

The church is undoubtedly of the utmost importance. It is one of God’s appointed ways of carrying on the work of the Lord Jesus now that He has risen and ascended into heaven. Jesus was well aware of what would happen to Him at the close of His earthly ministry, and had a thoroughly thought through strategy for continuing His service in the world following His death. A central plank of that strategy was the re-equipping of His circle of followers to form the nucleus of a new People of God. The very first church apparently understood that that core should consist of twelve “apostles”, consciously modelled on the twelve tribes of Israel, the old established People of God. (Arguments rage back and forth as to whether the church has entirely replaced Israel as the chosen people.) So, when the traitor disciple Judas Iscariot died, leaving a gap, moves were quickly made to fill his place. It was not long before the church was swelling dramatically in numbers, a sign of God’s endorsement.

The church, of course, is made up of fallible human beings. There have been many low points in its history. Yet whenever it seems irreversibly bruised, battered and completely discredited, it always manages to take on second wind and emerge again. That is because it is central to God’s purposes and He will not be defeated.

You can’t see the risen Christ but you can see the church down the road. So isn’t it natural to invite an outsider to “come to church”? There you hope she will meet people whose company is good for her and will find herself exposed to good preaching. Maybe then she will become a habitual attender. You could say that person has moved from being an enquirer to an insider, a regular “Christian”.

It is easy to forget that becoming a Christian is actually not about joining a church, important though that step is. It is about meeting a Person. Jesus once declared,

“If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him” (John 14:23 ESV).

A faithful Christian once told me the story of a keen believer who was working with a man who still did not know Christ – we’ll call that man Fred. The faithful Christian tried every angle he could think of, but somehow Fred still did not get it. Finally he told the puzzled unbeliever, “Fred, it’s like this. Jesus, meet Fred. Fred, meet Jesus”. That did the trick. The Person Jesus was introduced to the person Fred, and Fred came through.

Liberation Day

A month ago I wrote about the wartime German occupation of my native Channel Islands. Today is celebrated there as a public holiday. It is the anniversary of Liberation – 9 May 1945, the day after VE (Victory in Europe) Day. I found myself thinking about what liberation meant for my fellow Channel Islanders (at least, those who were alive at the time), and what it means for Christians.

It is hard for those of us who weren’t there to enter into the spirit of that amazing day. Islanders and occupiers alike gradually came to realise that the last days of the Second World War were at hand. The occupiers made themselves scarce. The islanders found flags and decorations from somewhere that would allow them to put on at least some sort of celebration and welcome for their liberators. There was a day’s delay while the Nazi authorities grandstanded. Then finally the time came, the troops and transports landed, and joy was unbounded. Those islanders who still had wireless sets listened to speeches and announcements which brought it home to them that it was all true and not a dream. A few days later the Nazi troops who had once manned the concrete bunkers and strutted around the islands were herded onto transport ships, with a few spectators to wish them good riddance.

Then the realisation of the road ahead set in. Those who had perhaps been too friendly to the invaders had much to fear. And the islands did not become well-stocked again overnight. Even when I was born, eight years later, some items were still on ration. As on the mainland, austerity would be the watchword for many years to come. Island life had to be remade from the top down. Coming to terms with a difficult legacy was something that had to be worked at. The military stayed around for quite a while as a reassuring presence, giving assistance where needed. And gradually normality and even prosperity returned to the islands.

Liberation for Christians is freedom from occupation by sin. As the liberation of the Channel Islands depended on troops from over the water, so that of the sinner can only come from outside forces. Ephesians 2:4-9 includes these words:

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus ... And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God” (ESV)

Sin is an old, dead, unsavoury smog that weighs heavily on us, oppresses us, clings to us. Whoever accepts the lordship of Jesus Christ lets in a wonderful liberating army that banishes the murk and gives freedom to look ahead and breathe. The joy of someone who has found that out for him- or herself is wonderful to behold. But now there is a life to be remade – and our spiritual liberator can help there too. Look down at the tenth verse of Ephesians 2:

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

The freedom we have won is not the freedom of anarchy. Having been liberated, it is incumbent on us to live the rest of our lives to the glory of God. What is so breathtaking is that the God who provides a Saviour also prepares in advance for us good works that we can do to glorify Him and thank Him!

If you’ve met your Liberator, may God bless you in your wonderful new adventure. May you have the joy and satisfaction of finding the work He has freed you to carry out.

Long my imprisoned spirit lay

fast bound in sin and nature's night;

Thine eye diffused a quickening ray -

I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;

my chains fell off, my heart was free,

I rose, went forth, and followed Thee. 

                                            - Charles Wesley, 1707-88