What is church? What is the purpose
of the Church?
Why do people need a church?
I have met many people who tell me they
don't need a church, they can do it on their own. They believe in
God and that is enough. But is it?
Let's hear the story in Nehemiah this
week.
All the people are gathered at the
Water Gate – a place where all are welcome, and no one is excluded.
The people ask Ezra to to bring the book of the law of Moses which
the Lord had given. They were asking Ezra to be their representative
in reading and interpreting the Torah. It wasn't that he did it
because it was his job – technically his job was in the temple not
on the street. His job was inside walls in areas that not everyone
could access, yet they asked him to read it to them and he did. He
read and read and read to all the men and the women and the children.
In the temple only the men would hear. They stood much like we do
when we listen to the gospel, they bent their heads to the ground in
a humble way showing they were ready to listen. Ezra read, and
interpreted what they read so people could understand it. Even then
they found it helpful to read together, to be together and to listen
with open hearts. Even then they needed help hearing a message from
God in the readings that was meant for them right in that moment. I
am willing to bet just like today that everyone who walked away from
that reading and sermons got something a little different out of it!
The people responded. They didn't just
hear the word and leave. They cried and I imagine there were prayers
too. This is what we do as well. We listen to the word, we have
someone interpret the word and then we respond with our prayers and
offerings. This is the model for the church. Then Ezra dismissed
them, telling them not to cry because they were so moved by the
readings of the Law, but that this day is holy to the Lord our God.
Rejoice in it. Go and eat and drink and share with those who do not
have any. He tells them do not be grieved for the joy of the Lord is
your strength.
I think that this story is the story of
the church. The church is not a building, it is not a place that
only a few can come, it is the wide open world. It is inviting all
to come and hear and see God. What does it mean to you that you are
a Christian? If we do not understand how different our lives our
with God then how are we to share that with others. The people
hearing the word knew that it was meant for them. That their lives
were different from then on. They were in a hard time, they did not
have much joy or strength left to go on, and yet Ezra reminds them
that the Lord is your strength.
Isn't that true for us today. The Lord
is our strength. Hearing, reading, and coming together as a church
reminds us of that. It helps us to help one another when we stray
from the path. It does not have to be in a building, it has to be
together with all people welcome. Do you think that the people would
have had the same response if they had read the scrolls by
themselves. If they didn't read and just thought about God? It
brings us back to those important questions that you have to answer.
What is church?
What is the purpose of the Church?
Why do people need a church?
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