WHAT YOU BELIEVE ABOUT THE CHURCH MATTERS

Sermon Summary (3/29/20) “What We Believe About the holy catholic Church Matters” (Mt  11:4-5; 16:18; Lk 4:18-21; 1 Ptr 2:9)

In this season of the corona virus, we have become a virtual church. As a pastor, what am I to do with that? We ask the critical question: Whose church is the virtual church? The answer, of course, its Jesus’ church. But of instead of being the hands, heart and feet of Jesus, in a virtual world, we’ve become the Holy Ghost.  What do we do now?

What we believe about the church matters. Unfortunately, some believe the church is outmoded, an anachronism, a club without purpose.  A reminder, when Jesus said, “And upon this rock I will build my church,” he wasn’t talking about a building, not our building, not St. Peter’s Basilica.  He was talking about the holy catholic Church, the universal Church of Jesus Christ.  Church with a capital “C.”

When you were baptized, you were initiated into the universal church.  You are part of the royal priesthood of all believers (1 Ptr 2:9) 

We are in a series on the Apostle’s Creed.  Today, “I believe in the holy catholic church.’  What we believe about the church matters. Holy catholic church.  Looking at each of these words in turn:

Holy.  Not perfect, not without flaw.  The OT term means set apart for God’s purposes.  The church is God’s and for a purpose.  As part of God’s holy church you have purpose.

Catholic, with a small “c.”  Universal.  Not Roman Catholic, but the universal, the universal church of Jesus Christ.  You are part of all believers.

Church.  Not a building, but the Greek word is ekklesia which means assembly, gathering.  You are part of the universal gathering of all believers set aside for God’s purposes in Jesus Christ.

And the Church gives your life purpose, to be the continuing presence of Christ on earth.  Another reason you cannot be a solitary Christian.  You need the gathering of believers to have purpose.

As we examine Scripture to seek out the purpose of Jesus’ ministry, we find over and over again, Jesus’ affinity for the poor, the lost, the vulnerable. (Lk 4:18f; Mt 25:31f; Lk 15:3f) and in Mt 11: “Go and tell John what you hear and see: ⁵ the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them.”  The blind, the lame, the lepers (certainly physical and religious outcasts of the day), the deaf, and the dead are raised.

“Once you (plural) were no people, now you (plural) are God’s people.”  You are the universal church, set aside for Jesus’ purpose.  You could say, “once you had no purpose, now you have purpose.”  You (plural) are the continuation of Jesus’ ministry on earth.

What are we to do in this time of virtual church.  We find where God is working and join in both near and far; UMCOR, Catholic Relief, Samaritan’s Purse, Salvation Army.  The world needs our help.  And near, the Food Bank (most efficient purchaser of food), food pantries if we are to donate food.  Services that help the poorest of the poor in a time when the poor get poorer and the vulnerable become more vulnerable.  If we are not sure, write and check and mail to Jean with missions and half will go to UMCOR and half to the Food Bank.  But be the church.  We can’t do it all, but we can do our part knowing that other hands and feet and purses from the universal church will be doing theirs.

Then there is the ministry we are avoiding, “and the dead are raised.” How do we join in the ministry of Jesus of raising the dead? How? Here’s the answer: We do those things that give life.  In this time of social separation, cards and calls give life.  Cards and calls to the isolated in our church and beyond.  A card and a call every day.  Every day.  Give life.

When the holy catholic church, the set aside, universal assembly acts like Jesus, Christ will be raised up and people will be drawn to him.  What you believe about the Church matters.  Amen.