Coming Back For Which Church?

As I mentioned not long ago, I am reading Howard Snyder’s book The Community for the King.  I haven’t read a book like this in quite a while, chiefly because I haven’t been reading in quite a while. but it’s good to be reading and it is certainly a wonderful book to come across to get back into the reading groove.  Clicking on the link will give you more information on the book blurb and all being well when I’ve finished reading the book I can have a review for your perusal.

I thought it would be worth slapping a quote from the book in here.

One of the greatest needs of the institutional church today is for a clear and sharp distinction between the church as biblically presented and the varied, subsidiary, ecclesiastical institutions, including denominational structures, that we so frequently confuse with the church. (The Community of the King by Howard A. Snyder, p.77)

The problem of denominational affiliation when you’re engrained in it and it is something with which you’ve grown as a fact, then it takes quite a lot to snap out of that view.  In my case it took a simple question.

When Jesus returns, which church is He coming back for?

Implicit in the question is that He is coming back.  Implicit in the question is the fact that He is coming back for His church.

This is a big deal for anyone looking to get on with following Jesus, because the deal of the Kingdom is the King.  That is the deal.  Yeah eternal life free from pain, sin and death is going to be outstanding, but actually that wouldn’t mean anything without the King.

It doesn’t answer the question though, and the problem of denominational affiliation can suggest an answer to the question.  The wrong answer.

That does not mean for me that it is a sin to belong to a denomination.  In their own ways appreciating the perspectives each brings to the nature of Christ can be a truly enriching experience.

It is to say, however, that if the answer to the question is not a denomination, then surely that should impact our attitude to believers whether they belong to a denomination or not.  Surely the only truth that should matter should be whether it is indeed a believer we are with and if that is the case then we can share the hope that together we will be part of the church for which Jesus is returning.

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

dmcd