I remember lacing my fingers together into a giant fist as a little girl and saying a little rhyme. “Here’s the church, here’s the steeple” (stick index fingers up to make a steeple). “Open the doors and see all the people” (we would move our thumbs and wiggle our little fingers). “Close the doors and hear them pray” (close your thumbs and lean in to listen). “Open the doors and they all walk away” (break your hands apart and wiggle fingers as the “people” walk away). When you think about “going to church”, what comes to mind? Do you picture a place or an activity? Do you see the faces of people? I think many times when we even hear the word church we automatically default to an image of a building. We may even think of the activities that happen inside that building like the elements of a service…the things that happen on the platform…singing…preaching…praying. Is that all that is meant by church?
For many the last couple of weeks have forced us to think differently about what the word “church” really means. Church is so much more than a building. It is even more that the things we do inside those buildings. The The Apostle Paul describes the church as The Body of Christ. He goes on to clarify that the church is people. Specifically people who believe in Christ and have received salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. We see an incredible picture of the Church as a community of believers in the book of Acts
All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to the breaking of bread and to prayer, all the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts. Praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. - Acts 2:42-47
The early church was drawn together to connect more than once a week. This connection was ongoing and was formed around relationships. We are no different today. As the body of Christ we have that same need to connect to others within the body of believers known as the Church. Right now many of us are feeling cutoff and isolated from the daily interactions we are used to having. This can be frustrating and even depressing. This current isolation has caused us to get creative with how we connect to others in the church when we can’t come together at the church. Thankfully we live in the world of global connection. We live in a world with Facebook, Instagram and FaceTime. We may not be able to physically sit across the table or beside one another, but that doesn’t have to keep us from connecting with the Church.
We have online services where you can watch and comment. More importantly we can worship and grow together. We can be real…share our struggles…encourage and pray for one another. Instead of sending a text, pick up the phone and call, or come face to face through FaceTime or video messenger.
Facebook small groups are not limited to 10 people or less. We have started groups for everyone and would love to connect with you online. You are sure to find the Church…people who are navigating these uncertain times and focusing on Christ. We are encouraging one another and sharing what we have with each other. We are still the church…we still care for one another…we still pray for one another and we still join together to worship and grow in Christ.
What are ways you are staying connected to the Body of Christ?