RECOGNIZING THE BODY

Our small group visited a church that my family and I had helped to plant some years ago. The church has gone through tough times in the nine years since we left, and we wanted to encourage them by our attendance and contributions.

What I sensed from the church was mostly discouraging to me. Only two people we knew were still there this morning. Everyone else has left, for one reason or another, over the years. Now, I don't know who is at fault here, and I don't really want to know the negative stories of what has transpired in the last few years, but one thing is certain: divisions have arisen among brothers and sisters in Jesus, and that is wrong.

Somehow, somewhere along the way someone chose to love his or her ideals more than the unity of the body. And so, when the Lord's Supper has been taken, someone has stopped recognizing the body. Oh, they probably say the right words, and perhaps they think pious thoughts about Jesus and His sacrifice. But they have forgotten that the body of Christ is embodied in the living church today. And so splits and power struggles have reigned instead of a spirit of love and unity.

Again, I emphasize that I don't know and I don't care who was "right" and who was "wrong" in the battles. In truth, no one was "right." I fear that the enemy has won another battle over the church. Jesus promised that the gates of hell could not prevail against His church, and that may be true on a large scale, but hell is winning far too many local skirmishes. Satan is like a terrorist, shooting at small groups of believers, even though he cannot win the war.

"LORD, I thank You that when we praise You with united voice, the enemy flees. I thank You for building Your church and inhabiting Your people. Heal us and restore us to what we are. In the name of Jesus I ask it. Amen."