Please note, I am wrestling with the idea of ‘church’, and some of my reflections may seem overly negative and critical. I include myself in the indictment, I am as much a part of the ‘church’ problem. My intent is not just to bash church, but to rediscover Jesus’ priorities (He only mentioned ‘church’ twice, spoke about the kingdom ALL the time; we rarely speak about the kingdom, but speak about ‘church’ all the time). I do not think that Church as it was meant to be is contrary to what Jesus taught about the kingdom, but I do believe that ‘church’ as it has come to be IS contrary to what Jesus taught about the kingdom. I am coming to think that you can’t find (or build) church by looking or working for it; I am starting to think that church is the result of looking and working for the kingdom of God. The Acts 2 church was not the result of a commitment to building the church, but a commitment to the King and to living and sharing His kingdom life.

God has used the flawed church through the ages to bless people; I myself have experienced God through the flawed church. And we will never discover a model for the perfect church! But this is not an excuse to entrench the flawed model, we must constantly test everything and (only) hold on to the good [1 Thessalonians 5:21]. I think this is what the Reformation slogan “always reforming” was meant to say. And I think Jesus’ emphasis on the kingdom is the key to this reformation!

Anyway, just thought I would prepare you for what I am working through…