Core Values: The Local Church
The Local Church: “We are committed to partnering with and supporting the ministries of the local church.”
I love the local church. This was modeled to me as a child. My family were the first to arrive on Sunday morning for services and the last ones to leave as we visited our friends. We were involved in mid-week programs both for children and adults. Anytime there was work to be done we contributed. I remember mowing lawns, doing renovations, installing sound systems.
This foundation propelled me into adulthood. One of the first things my wife and I did after we were married was find a church. We had moved to a new and unfamiliar city and did not have any connections. Finding a church home became a priority. A local church greeted us warmly and gave us a place to belong and serve.
Two years later God called us into pastoral ministry. God strengthened my faith in tremendous ways as I grew in my gifts and developed a heart for the gospel in the community where we lived. Our roots grew deep into that community. Our whole family were established in the gospel by the worship and fellowship. I have to say it was one of the most difficult decisions of our lives to leave that church home after 15 years and make our way to Millar.
I do not want to leave the impression that being a part of the local church was always easy. Belonging to a local church is one of the most complicated and bumpy rides we experience as believers. There have been congregational meetings where I have been criticized, elder’s meetings filled with tension, and times of general division between leaders and congregation.
Yet none of this has diminished my attachment and love for what God has put together under Christ. I was once accused in class of looking at the church with rather “rose colored” lenses, that I was a bit naïve and maybe didn’t really have a realistic picture of the church. Upon reflection I realized that I do have a very gracious view of the church. But I am not naïve in this, rather I am biblical. Christ loves the church and lays down his life for it (Eph 5:25). Christ’s love is not dependent upon the church’s perfection. Christ is the one perfecting the church, to make her holy, pure, a glorious church (Eph 5:26). I believe scripture teaches that it is an important spiritual discipline to love and serve the church.
Paul in his letter to the Ephesians speaks of gifts that are given to the church such that the whole body is prepared to work and build up the church to maturity:
…so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love (Eph 4:14-16 ESV).
The implication is that we are immature without the church. If we are to truly grow into the image of Christ, we need to be rooted and established in the fellowship of the believers. Today our media overloaded culture we are being introduced to all kinds of ideas and human innovations. Too easily we are seeing believers carried along by the spirit of the age instead of by the truth of Scripture. Instead of looking like the world, those who follow Christ are to look very different.
“If we are to truly grow into the image of Christ, we need to be rooted and established in the fellowship of the believers."
This difference is established by the gathering of local Christian communities. In the local church the truth of the gospel is proclaimed in such a way that it puts believers to work in unity. A disciple’s life is equipped for its fullest expression through attachment to others. The imagery Paul uses is striking. The body is one whole. The body is attached and joined together. The local church is a place of connection. To sever or distance one believer from others is to do serious harm.
As part of their educational program at Millar, every student is required to attend a local community church. They are mentored by coaches within that church and given responsibilities that introduce them to active ministry. We help them understand that ministry happens both in formal positions as well as informally. Introducing yourself to someone you do not know and praying for someone in the church lobby is as valid a ministry as teaching Sunday School or singing on a worship team.
I have the privilege of coaching students in our local youth program. Several students join us every Friday night for the many adventures that we schedule for the local youth in our community. In this setting I have seen students cross the room and show care to kids that are left out. Students assist in leading games and building relationship through fun activities. When we have small group discussions Millar students are guiding gospel conversations and helping youth navigate their questions on life and faith. It is such a privilege to see students grow in their ability to share the love of Christ.
All followers of Jesus should develop a strong attachment to the church. We should take this personally and form strong bonds of love and unity with the local community of faith in which God has placed us. May the gospel dwell richly among us as we grow to maturity in Christ.
About the Author
This article in our Core Values series is written by Lorn Gieck, the Director of Worship Arts at our Pambrun campus.