I'm traveling again this weekend. And I'll be going to yet another church on Sunday. This will be the 6th different church in the span of 2 months that I've been to. My spiritual center of gravity is constantly shifting. I know that church is important to one's spiritual growth - it's where you meet people who will mentor you and uplift you, it's where you do the same for others, it's where you are fed and encouraged and admonished and taught. Of course it's not the only place that those things can happen; but the fact remains that church is an essential part of one's spiritual well-being.
So I can't help but wonder what all of this church-hopping will do for my spiritual life. So often these days, I don't feel like church is stretching me, but simply stretching me out. But sometimes life gets crazy like that. During those times, it's important to remember what the Bible means by the word "church."
There are 2 types of churches in the Bible. One is a tangible church, a brick-and-mortar church, a "little c" church. It's the local congregation that you call home - or sometimes, as in my case right now, that you lack.
But the church is more than that. The church, in all of it's essence, is a "big C" Church. This is the community of Christian believers all over the world, throughout history - everyone who has ever accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. This is the real church. And what a comfort to know that, even if you may not have a real home church to lean on, you will always have a Church to lean on. God's Church is timeless, unchanging, and everywhere. Something to keep in mind the next time you find that your circumstances have left you church-hopping.
So I can't help but wonder what all of this church-hopping will do for my spiritual life. So often these days, I don't feel like church is stretching me, but simply stretching me out. But sometimes life gets crazy like that. During those times, it's important to remember what the Bible means by the word "church."
There are 2 types of churches in the Bible. One is a tangible church, a brick-and-mortar church, a "little c" church. It's the local congregation that you call home - or sometimes, as in my case right now, that you lack.
But the church is more than that. The church, in all of it's essence, is a "big C" Church. This is the community of Christian believers all over the world, throughout history - everyone who has ever accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. This is the real church. And what a comfort to know that, even if you may not have a real home church to lean on, you will always have a Church to lean on. God's Church is timeless, unchanging, and everywhere. Something to keep in mind the next time you find that your circumstances have left you church-hopping.
Ephesians 1:18-23
18 I pray that the eyes of
your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to
which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his
holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21
far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name
that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to
come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. 
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