It's very popular these days to speak scornfully of the church. However, the Bible clearly tells us that Jesus loves the Church and gave Himself for her. The real problem with church is not with the church itself, but with “others.” Others who start arguments. Others who are too legalistic. Others who like music or liturgy that I don’t like. Do you see a pattern here? That's right—it’s the others who are a lot of trouble. But here's the problem: we need all of those others! While we enjoy doing Christianity the way we want it to be, God wants us to relate with and live among others. Today, let’s take a closer look at what God wants as we listen to a short section from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians:

So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Together, we are his house… And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.  We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord.  Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit. (Eph 2:19-22)

Throughout the New Testament letters, we read about the many difficulties of introducing Gentiles into God's family. Do you think that might have been a big problem for first century Jewish believers? And how about for first century Gentiles? Those folks had a lot to get used to! The assembly of Christian believers was, in some ways, an extension of the Hebrew God-worshiping community, something Gentiles knew nothing about. In today’s passage, Paul says, “together we are His house.” A few sentences later he repeats the thought, saying, “We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.” The Church isn’t a social club or a Bible learning club or a moral rules club—it’s a family. In Christ, I have a brother and a sister. We didn’t choose each other, we were born into each other’s lives. So it is with God’s Church. We have been “born again unto a living hope” and together we gather around God’s table and become part of His family. If you’re not part of a worshiping community, keep looking. My wife and I have been through it ourselves. I know it can be difficult to find a church family. However, it’s God’s family and you are a family member. Our Heavenly Father is calling you to take your place at His table...and that is very Good News!