A Healthy and Vibrant Church
What's the first question that anyone asks you when they realise that you are part of a church? "How big is your congregation?" or "How many members does it have?" I was talking to my children's teacher recently about her church, and her first statement to me was that it was a small, family church.But what are the signs of a healthy church? According to 1Thessalonians1:4-10, a healthy church is faithful, loving, welcoming, hard-working and broadcasting a message. When we think of healthy churches, we think of how many projects we have running, how much money we get in each month, how well the preacher preaches, and one article even suggested, that the sign of a healthy church was in the "plurality of elders"!
But Paul in addressing the people of Thessalonica, is commending them for their example. He tells them how people as far away as Macedonia and Achaia had heard about them (over 200km in an age of limited technology), how the word of their imitation of Christ had gotten around. That it was their actions that were speaking and not their words! Word had gotten out about how they welcomed anyone into their gatherings -- Can we say the same? Do we welcome the "sinners" as Jesus did? Or have we become an exclusive gathering? How the people had abandoned the dead idols to serve the one, true God -- Again, have we abandoned the dead idols around us? Are we only serving the one true God?
Our challenge today is to be like the church in Thessalonica -- that our actions be louder than our words and that we be known as the churches that welcome everyone, no matter their station in life, with open arms and that we serve the only true God, as we wait in joyful expectation of His coming.
| For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. 6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 7 And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia--your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, 9 for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead--Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath. (1Thessalonians1:4-10) |
[Ruth Armstrong, wife to Warren, mother to Lia, Sarah and Noah. Avid crocheter and runner. Serving at St Andrews Germiston.]
This brings us nearly to the end of our Month of Mission, tomorrow our Moderator Elect, Sipho Mthetwa, will conclude the series.
