I have been reading quite a few posts recently about what makes a good church. Certainly, this is a relevant topic worth discussing, so I figured I’d toss in my two cents. Almost everybody has different ideas about what church should be like & what to look for, however, my ideas are probably the best ones (that was sarcasm, just in case you didn’t catch it).
The things that I look for spring from my beliefs about why the church exists & what it is intended to do. I believe that the church exists as the physical representation of Christ on earth. God’s Holy Spirit leads the body to be an ambassador. Therefore, I believe that the church ought to behave in the way that Christ did when He was on earth. So when I am looking at church, I look for characteristics of Christ. So, what are those characteristics? I’m glad you asked.
These are some characteristics that I look for. They aren’t in any particular order of importance. They are all invaluable & none are expendable.
1) He is inclusive- When I read about the life of Jesus, I see Him opening His arms to all people. He didn’t tell people to go away, or keep His love from them. In fact, the only people we see Him being harsh towards are the pharisees. They were not inclusive, they were exclusive. Their faith was a burden to people & in order to have fellowship with them you had to follow the laws that they set forth. Obviously, Jesus was against that mentality & faith.
2) He is a servant- Jesus is constantly serving others. He expresses His love for people by humbling Himself. He treats them with respect even when they don’t deserve it. He touches them when they are untouchable. He loves them through His actions & words. His church should do the same thing in the community it finds itself in.
This one is actually two fold. I think that when joining a church, it will be important for me to find a place where I can give to & serve others. Too many times, people visit churches wondering what they can get out of it. Jesus was a giver, not a consumer.
3) He is a teacher- Jesus served everyone alike, but His followers were given a special kind of service. He was constantly teaching them how to live in His Kingdom. He was always giving new insights into what it meant to be a citizen of that Kingdom, & calling them to a life worthy of sons & daughters of the King. His church should do the same.
These are only 3 of the things that I believe to be nonnegotiable when it comes to church. I could go on, but I’d rather hear your thoughts on this issue. How do you understand church? What is its purpose? What should its characteristics be?
