How Deeply Do You Love the Local Church?

Some time ago, I was visiting a small congregation nearby for an event. The fellowship was sweet, as I knew a fairly large number of the people who were present. Following the event, we stood around and talked for a long time.

One of those who was present was an older gentleman who I would guess to be in his early 70s. He is a true “gentle” man, and a person I admire. The place where this event was occurring was his home congregation, and he walked up to me, shook my hand, and thanked me for coming.

Then, a few tears began to moisten his eyes. Honestly, I didn’t know what was happening, but what he said next caused me to think very deeply. I don’t remember his words verbatim, but here is something very close to what he told me:

We had such a good crowd today. It reminded me of the old days, when this room was full every week.

I didn’t know how to respond, but I said something like, “It certainly has been a good day, hasn’t it?”

His response, still with a few tears in his eyes, was remarkable. This gentle older man looked at me with a determination that is too rarely seen, and he said, “I think we’re going to do that again.”

Wow!

I love that there were tears welling up in his eyes for both statements, both one of sadness and one of strength.

It made me think about how deeply I love the local church. And it made me think about how much I want it not just to “stay the way it is,” but to grow and prosper. I want the congregation where I work, worship, and serve to be a shining light that the community cannot miss and that glorifies God throughout the world.

God loves local congregations. If He did not, there would not be so much of the New Testament written specifically to certain congregations (Corinth, Philippi, Ephesus, et. al.). Jesus would not have had John write seven short letters to seven specific churches to point out both their triumphs and their failures (Revelation 2-3).

But sometimes it can be easy to love just the “comfort” of a local congregation and to not love it the same way Christ does. No doubt, the local congregation should be a family, and with that atmosphere comes a level of comfort.

To truly love the local church as deeply as Christ does, though, I must work for it! I must help it grow! I must talk it up and not run it down! I must show others how wonderful it is! I must want others to be part of it! I must be active in it!

Are you just remembering the good ol’ days with a few tears, or are there still some tears that well up in your eyes when you think and dream about what could still be yet to come? The answer to that question may be enough to show how hard you will work and fight for the local church.

“For Christ and the church” be our earnest prayer,

Let us follow HIs banner, the cross daily bear;

Let us yield, wholly yield, to the gospel’s pow’r,

And serve faithfully ev’ry day, ev’ry hour.

(E.E. Hewitt)

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AUTHOR: Adam Faughn