10/25/22 MY CHURCH OR THE CHURCH I ATTEND?

10/25/22 MY CHURCH OR THE CHURCH I ATTEND?

Two differences in, "My church" and "The church I attend." 

1 "My," view of the nature of "church,"
2 "My," relationship to the church.
I am not addressing the "nature" of the church at this time. I am focusing on a person's "relationship" to the church. 

Though either of these phrases may be used, the implications are different. "My church" implies a personal, intimate, active and interactive relationship, while, "the church I attend is more disconnected and passive.

Think about the attitude of a person has toward anything (car, boat, motorcycle, sports team, house. music program and even another person. The more the person sees the object, the activity, the person as something they are vitally invested in, the more time, care, effort they will make. I could use the phrase, "I own it," (in the sense of commitment, not possession).

When you "own" (when you are committed to) something, you eagerly take care of it; you sacrifice time and other resources to keep it up-to-date, presentable, productive.

Although we know that the word, "church" is actually related to the body of believers, when a person thinks in terms of, "my church," they are including the people, the ministries, the facilities. 

The person who "owns" their church, the person who loves their church, the person who is committed to the people and ministry of their church is the person who has a proper sense of, "My church."

Church is more than a club, an event, a building. Church is the body of Christ and the local church is the specific body, of which you are a part. You are not a prosthesis, you are not a robot, you are a living part of a living body.

You are not connected with electrodes, wires, switches. You are connected with life, including reason, desire, emotion, conscience and will and skills, dreams, resources, time, energy, talents, gifts. Think, "My church," act and behave with the proper understanding of "My church."