The Church on the Horizon (part 2 of 4)

I love the Calvin and Hobbes comic strip by Bill Watterson, probably because, as a young boy, I had a similarly active imagination. While I didn’t have an imaginary Tiger friend or an alter ego named Spiff, the woods behind my childhood home often transformed into exotic locations or alien-infested planets. Our imagination, or what the working genius calls wonder, helps us explore new possibilities and solve problems. And yes, just like Calvin and Hobbes, our imaginations and our wonder can sometimes get us into trouble. Some, if not many, of our new ideas create problems rather than solving problems. Jay Kim, in his article for Lifeway Research titled "Why Is the Physical Gathering of the Church Important in a Digital Age?" reminds us that not every new thing we try is beneficial. Sometimes our best ideas are like a young boy and a stuffed tiger teetering at the top of the hill in a rusty red wagon.

We need to reimagine and reembrace the forms and functions of the church. For those of us who experienced the growth of the Western church following World War II, it may come as a surprise to recall that the capital “C” church has existed for 2,000 years in various contexts and forms. Wayne Grudem, in his work "Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine", summarizes the general forms and functions of the church throughout the centuries as a gathering of Christians participating in teaching, worship, and participation in the ordinances. The balance or weight given to the simple functions of the church—worship, teaching, and participating in the ordinances—often helps describe denominational differences. Yet an important function of the church is missing when we describe the church only as gathered. Throughout the centuries, the church was not defined by its gathering alone, but also by what the church does when it is sent.

Jesus started the church and gave it a mission. Mission is an ancient function of the church. Throughout the centuries, the church's imagination has been applied to its mission, transforming lives for eternity and in this life. In his book, "How Christianity Changed the World," Alvin Schmidt notes that the Christian church fought for the dignity of women, children, the poor, and the enslaved. Christians are responsible for orphanages, hospitals, fair labor standards, and, through the work of William Wilberforce, ending the slave trade in England.

Today, people everywhere need the transformative power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Likewise, people all around us are longing for justice, to be seen, to be heard, and to be treated with dignity and value. The church on the horizon can bring light into the dark places of our culture. Now is the time for the church to reimagine and reembrace God‘s redemptive history and His love for justice in our world. 

“He loves whatever is just and good; the unfailing love of the Lord fills the earth” (Psalm 33:5, NLT).

Continue the discussion with my new book, REVIVE: Leading Change – Igniting Movement, available digitally on July 28 and in print on July 29. Pre-order your digital copy today using the link below.