So just to be clear, these morning epiphanies aren’t necessarily a usual occurrence for me although i surely wouldn’t complain if they were… It’s going to sound cliche and incredibly cheesy but i am going to share it just how it happened.
I was in between asleep and fully coherent and i don’t even remember thinking about anything particular but just out of nowhere i thought about church, my own specific Christ Fellowship Church. I suddenly realized that the church (little “c”, as in the institution) along with all of its programs ect. is supposed to be a tool in the Church’s (big “C”, as in the body of Christ made up of many members) hands. So obviously this is common knowledge or at least it should be, but as i began to narrow my thoughts down to the individual programs or “ministries” in which the leadership of the church is constantly pushing new and fresh recruits and never ending demands for shallow excellence as manifested in their showing up on time or how enthusiastic they appear to be when they finally get there.
No matter how much we would like to believe that this is the right way or the only way, this mindset is diametrically opposed to reality. The reality that is we the people are the church! Everything else, the programs, ministries, land, buildings, and yes even the money are simply the tools or instruments. Yes i know what you’re thinking, “wow caleb you are just figuring this out?!?” and don’t get me wrong i thought i did know this… But if i really understood this reality then why am i still playing the part of the tool in the iron fist of the institution?
I guess i just realized that it’s well past time for the many members to breakout and take up our tools and build the Kingdom of which Jesus is the head, not the pastors or the ministry leaders or not even the volunteer coordinators.
Seek first the Kingdom! Amen.