There is a lot of negative sentiment in our society about the “institutional church.” Why be a part of an institution – the church, with all its flaws and its demands for money and time – when you can just believe and be nice to people on your own?
In our Bicentennial Celebration Sunday worship service, our District Superintendent, Rev. Ed Peterson, told an inspiring story which illustrates why the church is so valuable.
He told about a little boy who was born to mentally handicapped parents, and what a challenge it was for the parents to raise and provide for their child. But soon after the boy was born, the parents began going to a United Methodist Church that was within walking distance of their home. As the boy went to the crib room and then Sunday School and worship, the members of the church quickly responded to the special needs of these parents and their child. The church became a larger family – providing transforming care and support, and profoundly impacting who the boy is today.
It happened first of all because individual Christians recognized a need and responded with compassion. But it also happened only because there was an Education committee that had organized a Sunday School and nursery, and there were teams of nursery caregivers and teachers, and there was meaningful worship, and there was a building in which it could all take place. Transforming ministry happened because there was an institution – an organized church.
The church is nothing other than Christians organized to be the body of Christ. Because we are all imperfect, the church will always have flaws and shortcomings. But there is a reason that Jesus said, “Where two or three are gathered together, there I am among you.” It is when we come together in the church that Christ can truly and powerfully be at work, in and through our lives.
Sunday’s Scripture Reading:
Ephesians 4:1–16
