Most of us who are working within the confines of church have to watch out for a very destructive byproduct. Something that is extremely hazardous for our vocation. The poisonous gas I’m referring to is idolatry, more specific making the church our idol. Ironically when we do this, we run the danger of loosing our relationship with God and the church we so dearly love. Someone once said, “Resist marrying the church, she is already betrothed.”
Am I having more conversations about the mechanics/structure/philosophy of the church than about or with Jesus? Am I finding myself constantly critical and judgmental? Always looking for the better … Then I might be inhaling some of the gas.
If we focus on Jesus, then He will build the church. If we focus on building the church, then we will find ourselves growing fatigued and frustrated. Jesus is the builder of the church – He is the Architect and the Site manager …
If I can only spend as much time talking about Jesus than about church …
“If you were to ask me point blank: ‘what does it mean to live spiritually?’ I would have to reply ‘Living with Jesus at the centre.’ There are always countless questions, problems, discussions, and difficulties that demand one’s attention. Despite this, when I look back over the last thirty years of my life, I can say that, for me, the person of Jesus has come to be more and more important.
Specifically, this means that what matters increasingly is getting to know Jesus and living in solidarity with him. There was a time when I got so immersed in problems of church and society that my whole life had become a sort of drawn-out, wearisome discussion. Jesus had been pushed into the background or had himself become just another problem. Fortunately, it hasn’t stayed that way. Jesus has stepped out front again, so to speak, and asked me: ‘And you, who do you say that I am?’ It has become clearer to me than ever that my personal relationship with Jesus is the heart of my existence.” Henri Nouwen