I was at a store the other day when I heard a man talking about his church, saying how great his pastor is and that it really is the pastor that makes the church. Of course, I appreciate the enthusiastic support of one's clergy, but I thought, "I wouldn't want to go to that church."
I don't believe a pastor makes a church. God does, and he does so through all the members, not just the one. Sure, I hope the good folks at St. Matts like their pastors. But when they talk about our church, I hope they talk far more about how deeply the members are committed to each other, how active they are in outreach and mission, and how much fun we all have together.
I generally leave our buildings about an hour after our last service on Sunday mornings. There are always people still sitting around talking to each other, laughing together, offering one another love and support. More than any sermon I've ever preached, or any program I've ever lead, I see that as evidence of God's presence with us, of God blessing us with people who take their faith seriously enough that in this crazy busy culture of ours, they make the time to really love one another like God has loved us.
I was taught that the word church was meaning the people. If that guy's pastor leaves, what then?
Posted by: Coral | June 09, 2012 at 06:39 AM
Amen. Something we I'm afraid too easily take for granted which we should not. So true. The church is all of us.
Posted by: Ted M. Gossard | June 09, 2012 at 11:37 AM