Most of the kingdom has been destroyed, but the remnant remains and God promises salvation to the remnant.
This has always been the part of Biblical history that strikes the deepest chord with me. We are not living in a time like that of King David - when all the people follow God's law (regardless of their personal commitment to that law). King David's time was similar to Middle Ages or perhaps the 1950s - the church and the state and the culture are one...everyone lives faithfully because it is the way of the culture.
We are not living in New Testament times - when the church is at odds with and persecuted by the state. There are countries in the world where this is true, but it is not ours.
We are the remnant - the faithful people God is working through despite what goes on around us. The church today is passionate and focused on what God asks of us. We come because we choose to, not because it is the cultural norm. We are not "of the culture" - we are free to respond honestly to God's call.
We are not as big as the kingdom. Nor would I be comfortable in a church that is that big. In so many larger churches (mega churches, corporate sized churches) people become spectators...the church becomes "the thing to do". I love being part of a remnant-sized church. I will welcome everyone I can into the joy that I find in our church - but, to be honest, I have no desire for our congregation to grow.
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Coming to worship at Faith for me is a choice
ReplyDeleteI make and it is partly for just what you post on Kelly. There is a passion that takes on many faces here. I agree with welcoming the new but also having contentment for all those here who worship and give of their time and talents. Were would Faith be without the commitment of so many coming to be the Body of Christ?
The number one priority on my call letter was to grow the church. When you are listening to God's Spirit and following his purposes, your church will grow. It's a natural result of health.
ReplyDeleteWe have a strong foundation with which to build on. As Jordan said in Bible study today as we prayed for God's purpose for us to be revealed to us, "We are in the right place at the right time." Exciting thing will continue to happen. Thank you for being those who are deeply committed to being the body of Christ in this place...and welcoming new people to do the same.
FYI, I will be blogging on Isaiah 39 tomorrow. One of our bloggers missed their turn this week, but we'll stick with the daily reading schedule. We'll be in Isaiah until Pentecost Sunday.