Hey #JustWrite!! Can you believe we made it to the half mark of 2019? In spite of the trials and challenges we all have faced thus far, let's all be thankful we made it. Now, this month we are talking about the church. There's a lot I can say about this topic but for the sake of your eyes and my words, lol I will keep it brief. I don't know about you but I've been having conversations about the church for awhile. I can remember being in the church briefly as a child before my parents' divorce. Afterwards, I didn't return to church until I was a teen and I didn't fully submit to a church home until after my relocation to Atlanta at 24. From that moment, I experienced many moments of community, fellowship, growth (prayer life and study), and what some would call 'church culture' (how a church functions). But as the years came and many church visits later, my spirit desired more than just the appearance of church and emotionalism. I needed to know that the next church I submit to would be founded upon the solid foundation and hope of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, a church that utilizes church discipline to settle matters and provide an army of accountability. This month marks a year that I've been submitted and committed to my church home, the mission, but most importantly the mission of Jesus Christ. No church is perfect but I know for believers and non-believers, many American churches today are not resembling the church described in the book of Acts. I know for years my spirit grieved and longed for something more than what was presented. Let's define the word 'church'.
According to Google, a 'church' is simply a "building used for public Christian worship." Some synonyms are "house of God, the Lord's house, house of prayer". Notice the reverence for God and the power of prayer? Sadly, many churches don't reflect those elements which pushes people away or causes them to have a different view of the church. Have you all ever noticed how an institution, particularly a school would start off with it's focus on the mission statement but then somewhere down the line, the reputation was tainted. All of a sudden people were not drawn to that institution and there's a negative connotation. I've always believed that it's not the institution itself that is harmful but it is the people within that building that can bring an institution down. Church is an institution that has suffered because of the many do's and don'ts of the church people, namely from so-called 'church culture' that has nothing to do with God. There is no emphasis on who God is and what He wants us to do. It' s the opposite. It's all about who we are and what God can do for us. Church in a biblical context means an assembly or gathering of believers. When I think of church, I think of our assembling together, the body of Christ, the bride of Christ. Once again I've noted two things: community and Christ. It's important that we all understand that without community and Christ our churches will continue to crumble and will no longer be a place for refuge. In order for church to become better and effective, we have to put the focus back on God's Word, our Savior Jesus Christ, and our mission as believers. If we don't then the generations now and after us will continue to suffer and the world will continue to win the media and other propaganda. This point leads me to reiterate our responsibilities as scribes and change agents. We are held accountable for what we publish in the literary world and whether it points others back to Christ. Let's be the change we want to see.
In His service,
Lequvia Ousley
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