Have you ever been into a relationship?
if you we're. you'll understand this.
There was a couple named Grace and Jack. They met through a mutual friend. Jack saw Grace as a girl she have always wanted.
For the first five months, they were insperable. Jack could not think of
anything but Grace. now, almost three years have passed, jack still
enjoys the comfort and the familiarity with grace, but the spark was
Gone. He's not seeing the same thing as before. Grace's flaws are more
obvious now. One night, when she asks if they can define the nature of
their relationship, Jack blows up. "We're together, are'nt we?!" he
asked angrily. "Why isn't that enough for you?!"
Obviously, Jack isn't ready for commitment.
It's a representation. Grace isn't a girl. Grace is the church. And some of us, are Jack's.
When we don't know or if we really are not committed to the church or cell group, Basically, we're just dating the church.
No real commitments. We can choose to flirt, disregard getting committed, dump the relationship. That's who we are, daters.
How can we know if we are a church dater? How can we know if we are one?
Eph 5:1-20
Be
imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life
of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a
fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
3
But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of
any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's
holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse
joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this
you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person — such a man is an
idolater — has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things
God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be
partners with them.
8
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as
children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all
goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the
Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but
rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what the
disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes
visible, 14 for it is light that makes everything visible. This is
why it is said:
"Wake up, O sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you."
15
Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, 16
making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 18
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled
with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and
spiritual songs.
Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ.
NIV
(prayer)
In the book I'm reading - Stop Dating The Church by Joshua Harris -
He mentioned 3 things that we can use to spot a church dater.
1. Me-centered Attitude > this is one of the characters of a church
dater. Mostly thinking about himself. He's not thinking of what he can
do for the church, instead, he's always thinking "What can the church do
for me?".
2.Independent > Have you encountered someone like this? We'll it's
good to stand on your feet, but not alone. These kind of people tends
not to share their burdens, prayers and praise to others. A " I can do
this mentality ". It's good, but we're robbing ourselves of the
joy,healing,blessing that God can give us through the church.
3. Critical > or what we can also call as nit-pickers. Christians who
always look for flaws of the church. And once they saw it, they leave.
Doesn't want to commit.
We'll from this point, maybe you're asking "How should we treat the church?"
Let me just give you info about church. Church is like a vehicle that
God uses to spread the gospel to others, That's our purpose in our
church, Sharing Jesus for Life Change!
Maybe your thinking, I'm already part of the church! Well, yes you are!
The universal church. The Big C. Once you receive Christ as your
personal Lord and Savior, automatically, your a member of the church.
But, are you already apart of a local church? God designed the church,
also the Local Church, so that you may grow. Like the book of Ephesians,
these are not just a book. They are a local church.
This is how we should treat our Local church. Like a bride.
Rev 21:1-4
Then I saw a new heaven and a
new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and
there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem,
coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully
dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne
saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with
them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be
their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no
more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things
has passed away."
NIV
Christ, is the Groom. Christ see the church as a Bride. Waiting in
excitement, in love, in full joy. That's how we should treat the church.
To be specific on how to treat our church. Refer to this verse.
Eph 5:25-33
25 Husbands, love your wives,
just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make
her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27
and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or
wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same
way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who
loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated his own
body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— 30
for we are members of his body. 31 "For this reason a man will leave his
father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become
one flesh." 32 This is a profound mystery — but I am talking about
Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his
wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
NIV
See how Christ loves the Church? He layed down His life. That's how committed He is to us. Are you committed to the church?
Now, Paul referred in this verse to one of the verses in Genesis. "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother
and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." Can't you
see the picture? What I think is, God designed the marriage to remind
us how we should treat our church.
Now, check your commitment to the church you are in now. Ask your self, "Am I really committed? or Am I just dating the church?"
