Entering the Presence of Christ
Central to any approach to church should be this truth: Jesus Christ has promised His presence to those who gather in His name.
The knowledge of this truth will change both how the leadership approaches its role, as well as how the people enter into service of the church.
The Story
In a marvelous little book by A.J. Gordon entitled, How Christ Came to Church, the 19th century Bostonian pastor at Clarendon Street Baptist Church describes a vivid dream which altered the course of his ministry.
According to the description of his dream, while he was preaching his eyes were drawn to an unidentified man who strolled down the aisle of the church. Intrigued by this stranger, the pastor ran to meet him after the service—only to find that the man had already slipped out.
“Who was that?” Gordon asked one of his ushers.
“Why, it was Jesus of Nazareth,” replied the man.
Gordon was disappointed not to meet His Lord that day. But important questions began to flood his mind: “What did He think of my sermon? Was He pleased with the choir? What did He think of the building?”
The Impact
What followed for Gordon was a critical examination of his ministry and his church, as he began to ponder, “Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst,” must mean that Jesus is really and truly there at every service and gathering of believers. Is what He finds there honoring to Him? Is He pleased?
For Gordon and his church, it led to the end of the practice of renting pews, the end of a professional choir which had no requirements of faith in its members, as well as other systemic and practical issues within the church which did not please the Lord.
Leadership Today
Gordon faced the reality of the Lord’s presence within his church with radical changes. But what about us today? The reality that Jesus Christ is present should and will cause a leader to shudder. This fundamental truth should alter every decision that the leadership makes.
This can, and should, impact the preaching, the worship, the priorities of programs and events, building campaigns, and perhaps most of all, it shifts the focus of the motivation and purpose of these acts from seeking the glory of man, to the pursuit of the glory of God.
Entering His Presence Together
This truth should also impact the people who enter church.
With this truth, those who come to church no longer come merely observers. They are participants. They no longer come to evaluate. They are there to be evaluated.
They are not there for the preacher, the worship leaders or even for the body of believers—necessary though each is. They come for the object of the preaching, the worship and the fellowship. They come to meet Jesus. And this reality will cause the leadership and the led alike to come together into the presence of God.
The truth that Jesus Christ is really present within the church should be fundamental to the ministry of the church. Our eyes must be kept on this truth and it should raise within us the question of ourselves—questions which will change everything about how we do church.
Next: Meeting with God: Making the church a house of prayer
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