The Church

Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."  Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.  And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this Rock I will build My church, and the gates of hades shall not prevail against it."
Matthew 16: 16-18 NKJV

I think I've lost count of how many churches there are these days.  From Catholics to Protestants, we've somehow managed to introduce a congregation for almost every belief system.  I often run into more than a few people from my "former" church who ask which church I'm currently attending.  My usual response is to smile and tell them honestly, "Wherever God leads me."  In all honesty, I believe that we've made Gods house into something it was never meant to be.  However, that's a topic for another day.  One of the reasons that I tell my friends that I go to wherever my Lord leads is because it's true.  We seem to have this mistaken idea that God is embedded in a building, but nothing could be farther from the truth.

"However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says: 'Heaven is My throne, and the earth is my footstool.  What house will you build for me?  Says the LORD.  Or what is the place of my rest?  Has not my hand made all these things?'
Acts 7: 48-50 NKJV

See, what we view as "Church" is not our Lords physical dwelling place.  For if all things were created by his spoken word, then our Lords presence may be manifested through anything he created.  No, as Jesus introduced to Peter in Matthew 16:18, Peter would be instrumental in building Christs church.  In fact, Jesus refered to this as "My" church!  Indeed, when I think of the word Church these days, I think of the congregation of Jesus.  For Jesus himself is the head of the church!  This is not about which building one chooses to worship in every Sunday, it goes far beyond that.  No, the church that Jesus is the head of is an entire world of his followers.  There are no special congregations or  buildings, there is only Christ Jesus.  Jesus IS the church!  Many a pastor may try to explain that their congregation is a most accepting, loving and welcoming group.  However, no man made congregation will ever be as welcoming as the loving arms of our Lord and savior when he welcomes you into His church.

~Scott~