As writers often do, I am now going to flip this discussion of "What Church Should Be", and look at the very choice of words that make me cringe...loving the Church. I'll admit it, the cringing is reactionary.
I was churched in a setting that was not conducive to spiritual growth. Any kind of real answers were found by my personal digging into the Scriptures. The authority set up over me was not one I was taught to respect. It was a sorry state of affairs if I am honest about it; strewn with church splits, politics, and what felt like hierarchy. If you look up the definition of that particular word, that is exactly what it was.
So imagine my surprise while dating my soon- to- be- husband, I found out about another way of thinking. My astonished boyfriend was the first to bring to my awareness that most people respected and trusted their leadership. That people did on a normal basis was news to me. My lack of respect was a pretty big concern to Bruce and I could tell he was worried about how I would behave in his home church once we were married. Secretly, I think he was worried if I would treat him respectfully with the attitude I was carrying around.
And rightfully so, because with all that independent thinking and reading of the scriptures on my own, I had no other interpretation except the one given to me from the Holy Spirit and my own ideas. Which I treasure. I would never belittle the blessing of digging and searching for my own personal growth and spiritual food. However, I was not balanced on authority or respect issues being jaded about what was.
In Bible School the year before I was married, I took a class taught by a pastor and my uncle, Dan Schrock, whom I ironically trusted and respected even if the class was titled something like "Church, the Glorious Bride of Christ". I was intrigued for the first time with the idea that Church was something attractive and that it was God's idea. The way Uncle Dan taught it, actually made me see glimpses into the heart of God for His Church.
Being married though, was the first I started to care about my place in God's eyes as a wife. For the first time ever, I began to realize that my ideas weren't always agreed upon by my husband. Truthfully, he hardly ever agreed with my spiritual thoughts and wisdom. Instead, the more I voiced my beliefs and opinions the more he retreated and shut down. Up until that time I hadn't really paid attention to the headship of authority that is explained in pretty good detail in the Bible.
Me, being the digger and brainy one that I am concerning the Scriptures, I started to run into verses about the commands for a wife to respect her husband. And the ones about "seeing that she honors him and holds him in deep awe", that pretty much baffled my brain. I had a brain of my own. Why would I respect my husband if he acted unworthy? ( How's that for brutally honest?)
When I finally repented and asked God to change my heart about giving and showing respect whether I felt my husband deserved it or not, I began to see what respect really means to God. And I began to see that God's order of respect and submission works in all aspects in the life of a Christ follower. Including church...
And sometimes in church, if I don't agree or "get"somethings a lot of things we supposedly agreed to do as a local body of believers, I at least understand the concept of servant hood, of laying down what I want or think and of giving proper respect whether I feel it is deserved or not.
And sadly, I very much doubt I would have learned that about church if my husband hadn't helped me figure it all out. Practicing submission and respect in my marriage paved the way for me to see God's intent for His people to serve each other and to do it with humility, not necessarily our own way.
I still am an independent thinker, my poor dear hubby...but over the almost 20 years of our marriage I have found that my job is to stay close to Jesus while working at giving my husband every scrap of respect I can, in word and deed and in action. And that while I still have a strong opinion about almost everything there is to have an opinion about, I am learning to listen to my husbands thoughts and opinions too. I am even learning to shut up and not give mine so much, which is a miracle of sorts.
This is also what it takes to love your local body. The people you go to church with are the ones who show you how to have a servants heart. You are going to practice giving in and humility if you belong to a vibrant group of believers. If you love each other well, you will be willing to give up personal opinions. You might even be able to overlook some of the things you feel strong about if you are dedicated to seeking God's will for your church and believe He has the power to make the changes you long to see.
I was churched in a setting that was not conducive to spiritual growth. Any kind of real answers were found by my personal digging into the Scriptures. The authority set up over me was not one I was taught to respect. It was a sorry state of affairs if I am honest about it; strewn with church splits, politics, and what felt like hierarchy. If you look up the definition of that particular word, that is exactly what it was.
So imagine my surprise while dating my soon- to- be- husband, I found out about another way of thinking. My astonished boyfriend was the first to bring to my awareness that most people respected and trusted their leadership. That people did on a normal basis was news to me. My lack of respect was a pretty big concern to Bruce and I could tell he was worried about how I would behave in his home church once we were married. Secretly, I think he was worried if I would treat him respectfully with the attitude I was carrying around.
And rightfully so, because with all that independent thinking and reading of the scriptures on my own, I had no other interpretation except the one given to me from the Holy Spirit and my own ideas. Which I treasure. I would never belittle the blessing of digging and searching for my own personal growth and spiritual food. However, I was not balanced on authority or respect issues being jaded about what was.
In Bible School the year before I was married, I took a class taught by a pastor and my uncle, Dan Schrock, whom I ironically trusted and respected even if the class was titled something like "Church, the Glorious Bride of Christ". I was intrigued for the first time with the idea that Church was something attractive and that it was God's idea. The way Uncle Dan taught it, actually made me see glimpses into the heart of God for His Church.
Being married though, was the first I started to care about my place in God's eyes as a wife. For the first time ever, I began to realize that my ideas weren't always agreed upon by my husband. Truthfully, he hardly ever agreed with my spiritual thoughts and wisdom. Instead, the more I voiced my beliefs and opinions the more he retreated and shut down. Up until that time I hadn't really paid attention to the headship of authority that is explained in pretty good detail in the Bible.
Me, being the digger and brainy one that I am concerning the Scriptures, I started to run into verses about the commands for a wife to respect her husband. And the ones about "seeing that she honors him and holds him in deep awe", that pretty much baffled my brain. I had a brain of my own. Why would I respect my husband if he acted unworthy? ( How's that for brutally honest?)
When I finally repented and asked God to change my heart about giving and showing respect whether I felt my husband deserved it or not, I began to see what respect really means to God. And I began to see that God's order of respect and submission works in all aspects in the life of a Christ follower. Including church...
And sometimes in church, if I don't agree or "get"
And sadly, I very much doubt I would have learned that about church if my husband hadn't helped me figure it all out. Practicing submission and respect in my marriage paved the way for me to see God's intent for His people to serve each other and to do it with humility, not necessarily our own way.
I still am an independent thinker, my poor dear hubby...but over the almost 20 years of our marriage I have found that my job is to stay close to Jesus while working at giving my husband every scrap of respect I can, in word and deed and in action. And that while I still have a strong opinion about almost everything there is to have an opinion about, I am learning to listen to my husbands thoughts and opinions too. I am even learning to shut up and not give mine so much, which is a miracle of sorts.
This is also what it takes to love your local body. The people you go to church with are the ones who show you how to have a servants heart. You are going to practice giving in and humility if you belong to a vibrant group of believers. If you love each other well, you will be willing to give up personal opinions. You might even be able to overlook some of the things you feel strong about if you are dedicated to seeking God's will for your church and believe He has the power to make the changes you long to see.
My local church, just like my marriage, can be built up or broken down by my attitudes, individuality, focus on myself, rather than my submission, serving, & sacrifice. I can't do this on my own, only by keeping my focus on love of Christ which deepens only through daily reading and relating with Him. My local body cannot reflect more than what I am.
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