Today’s Reading: Exodus 25; Exodus 26; Exodus 27; Acts 6
Scripture: Acts 6:7 So the word of God spread...
Observation: What was it that resulted in this growth in the church? An evangelistic outreach or media campaign? An increase in staffing or a new facility? Actually this growth was the correcting of an injustice in the church which had resulted from ethnic prejudice. By addressing this problem, which stemmed from the most basic of human foibles, the early church leaders did an early course correction. This had the effect of removing from the church a misrepresentation of what the church is to be.
Application: God is not a racist. Because racism had been manifested in the early church, it, as the Body of Christ, had been misrepresenting Christ as racist. That is, when those who claim to represent God by being a part of his body act out any behavior, good or bad, they are telling the world, "This is what God is like." So when the Church allows ethnic resentments to have a place in it, they are saying one of two things. Either "God is OK with this" or worse, "God has these tendencies himself." Ouch! So when the church corrected these prejudicial practices, they distanced themselves and God from such hurtful (and evil) ideas. This course correction resulted in outsiders seeing God as he really is and wanting to be a part of his true church.
Bottom line: We have a solemn duty to represent Christ to the world as he really is. It is so important to be seeking to rid the Church (universal) and the church (local) of anything that is not of Christ, as everything that is of human origin will corrupt the image. This, of course, means that the lives of those who claim membership in the Church must change to conform to the image and likeness and fullness of Jesus Christ. If we hold onto anything that emanates from our own sinfulness, we act out in such a way that misrepresents Christ and pushes people away. This is why a church full of people authentically in the process of true repentance and intentional transformation will have the effect of increased evangelism. Jesus said, "If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto myself." When we lift up the true Jesus, rather than some distorted human caricature of him, the true beauty of his character is attractive to anyone seeking God. This is the true challenge of the church: to be so like Jesus that his life and character are unmistakable through the lives of his people.
Prayer: Lord, forgive us for misrepresenting you to the world. Assist and enable us to do better. Show us where we are missing the mark and help us to repent, making the course corrections that will put us on the path of holiness and true righteousness. May we truly lift up Jesus through our own lives in such a way that all people are drawn to your true Church.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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