Changing Up the Church, One Life at a Time

"Our view of the Holy Spirit is too small. The Holy Spirit is the One who changes the church, but we have to remember that the Holy Spirit lives in us. It is individual people living Spirit-filled lives that will change the church.”

Francis Chan   ~~ Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God

When I first became a believer and trusted Christ for my salvation, I was completely and totally naive. I had not grown up in a family that included church-going as a priority, and so when I was a teen-ager and first heard the Gospel of salvation, I was immediately drawn to the church. At the age of 17 I first understood the Good News of Christ's death on the Cross, and opened my heart to my Savior. That is one reality in my life that cannot be denied, even by all of the learned scholars who declare that there is no God. My life was changed, my heart was changed, and my entire outlook on the world was instantaneously changed in that moment. I know what happened in my life, and it was real on that day and continues to be real to this day.

But the other thing that changed, not perhaps not for the better, was my immature belief that everyone who claimed to be a "Christian" would be exactly like Christ. Silly me . . . . I was only a teen-ager and I guess I thought that becoming a Christian would work like magic, and we would all be changed suddenly to a state of perfection. Well, of course, it didn't take long for me to realize that I was mistaken. Now, I still believe that those of us who profess to be truly changed through the power of the Resurrection will strive throughout our lives here on this earth to submit our wills and our ways to our Heavenly Father. And that we will grow in His grace throughout our earthly walk. But the reality is that not one of us is perfect, or will ever be perfect, this side of our Heavenly Home.

Of course we know that we are "perfect" in God's eyes because He sees us through the Blood of His Son Jesus. But as long as we are on this journey here on earth, we will fail, stumble, fall, and sin. So, to expect to find a "perfect" church is a futile endeavor . . . . for just in case I ever should find that "perfect" church, it would no longer be "perfect" the minute I walked through the door. That is not the goal. And the sooner I let go of that immature expectation, the sooner I will realize that the joy is in the journey, not only the destination, and that everyone around me is traveling through right along with me.

No, finding a "perfect" church is not the goal. But each individual Christian seeking to be obedient to the leading of God's Holy Spirit will result in the community of believers becoming a powerful unit where God can do His work. That is a paradox of Christianity . . . . it is individual, but it is also a corporate experience and expression of God's grace and power. Without the individual experiencing the power, we cannot experience the gift of being a necessary part of the Body of Christ.

We are that, and so much more, but we limit our opportunities to participate in that community when we close our hearts to the Holy Spirit. Earthly perfection is not the goal (because if we could actually do that on our own, we certainly would not need a Savior to cancel the debt of our sins and provide HIS perfection) - but a continual, ongoing open heart to receive the gift of God's Holy Spirit will not only bring the joy and peace that only comes from Him, but it will also lead us to connect with that community of believer's through whom God is truly touching the world. That is definitely something that I want to be a part of, even if we are all a tiny bit imperfect!

Please visit Tami at her blog, The Next Step, and read her post. Then you can find the links to all of the other participants in this week's In Other Words. Leave your link, too, so we can visit you!

Comments

[Nicole Kelso]

I have so greatly found out that living the Spirit-filled life is and always will be a continual journey. I think the "Christianity as a magical transformation" syndrome affects many out there who then become confused about what true Christianity is all about b/c of the hypocrites out there.

As always, a truly wonderful post! Thanks for sharing, Nina! :-)

[Miriam Pauline]

Sometimes I miss the naivete of being a new Christian and expecting that God is making a real change in our lives. It is easy to get jaded as we see the frailty of the church. Maybe we need to recapture that optimism that the Holy Spirit really makes a difference. Great post sweetie!

[Debbie]

This was good!

I loved when you wrote:

"Without the individual experiencing the power, we cannot experience the gift of being a necessary part of the Body of Christ."

It starts with each person opening their heart to the power of the HS to work in them and through them to impact others.

Blessings,
Debbie

[Tami Boesiger]

You make me smile, Nina--"for just in case I ever should find that 'perfect' church, it would no longer be 'perfect' the minute I walked through the door."

How very true! May God's Spirit fill us up anew each day and motivate us to love and obey in a way which cannot be ignored. Thanks for joining us friend.

[Claudia]

We are powerless to live the Christian live without the Spirit, but how often we try - and then blame God for not "being there" for us. The church is not perfect because none of us is perfect, but the Spirit works in and through us for His good pleasure.

[Carry]

Well, I think the "Christianity as a magical transformation" syndrome affects many out there who then become confused about what true Christianity is all about b/c of the hypocrites out there.

[Nina Newton]

You are absolutely right, Carry! That was my naivete that I believed that everyone in the church should be "perfect" - and that is just not the way it really is. The problem comes, I think, when we "pretend" to be "perfect," and then when it becomes obvious that we aren't, many people are hurt and offended by those of us who call ourselves "Christian." It is about being real, about being honest, and acknowledging our failures and sin, because it is only when we acknowledge and admit our need for a Savior that we truly understand all that He offers through salvation. Thank you for posting ;o) Nina