What is the Church Part 2

In our last post, we shared that the Church is about Relationships (Family, Bride, Body). Today we want to explore how the Church is an Entity: It's an Embassy, and Army, a Hospital and a Temple. What do these Identities tell us about the Church?

As an Embassy, we recognize that we are "behind Enemy lines!" We are sent to proclaim peace to a hostile world that resists God and us! But the Lord has established His Church as an Outpost of Hope in a Despairing Culture. We are His loyal Subjects and actually act as His Ambassadors, speaking His Messages to Lost People about a Savior who loves them! We have a crucial responsibility to reach our "Oikos" (those 8-15 people closest to us whom God has Divinely placed into our lives!). We are His Embassy!

As an Army, we realize that we are at War. It's not with people (although they sometimes represent God's Enemy, Satan, and do his dirty work!) But they are not our Enemy! In fact, we are battling 3 Enemies: The World (external pressures on us to conform to their evil ways); The Flesh (our own internal battle against our human desires); and The Devil (Satan, our Accuser, and his demonic forces). We are like Nehemiah in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. We are Warriors who must Fight our Battles while also engaged in Building God's Kingdom. Sometimes we attack, sometimes we defend; but everything is directed by our Commander in Chief, Jesus Christ! We are His Army!

As a Hospital, we're a safe place where people can find the Lord and His Healing for their lives. We (Church Members) help provide care to others, while also receiving attention for our own wounds. Sometimes we're in a Crisis, (accidents, pain, suicidal thoughts) and emergency treatment is needed. On occasion, we are facing some short-term Condition (physical or emotional distress, mental or spiritual issues) that must be quickly corrected so health is restored. Some face Chronic illnesses, (long-term conditions not easily corrected, like diseases,

addictions and lifestyle issues). Of course, there are those facing Closure issues (death and dying of ourselves or loved ones). The Church provides help, prayer, comfort and healing for the hurting. We are His Hospital!

As a Temple, we remember that in the Old Testament, the Temple was the Central Gathering Place where God's People met with the Lord! That continued in the New Testament when Jesus and His disciples often joined others in the Temple for instruction and dialogue. After the death and resurrection of Jesus, the focus shifted to us as individual believers. We are His Temple, the place where God dwells! However, we still value what we receive and give as we gather together as God's People today to worship Him corporately. We are Discipled as we Worship, Pray, Read Scripture, Receive Teaching, Hear Inspiring Preaching, Celebrate Communion and Fellowship with One Another. We are His Temple!

What a privilege it is to be God's Church in Action! He works through us to be His Embassy, His Army, His Hospital and His Temple...because there is a lost world that needs to know our Savior! Let's Be The Church!