I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. (Philippians 1:9–10)
Where did you find your mate? More than likely you (like I) found her or him in a church. Where were you married? If you weren’t married in a church, you probably wish you could have been. Who gave you the best counsel? Probably a pastor. Who was there to dedicate your first baby? Who said, “Marriage gets a little cold. And we’ve got a conference designed to help add a little spark to it …?”
Who ministered to you when you really got scared about how to rear your family? Who said, “We affirm the family. We stand with you all the way through it, even at this time when your daughter has run away. We’re here. We’re not leaving”? Who was the most effective in convincing her not to get an abortion? Who rejoiced with you when she turned back to the Lord?
The church is for all times. Celebration times. Times of praise, when we are “filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, for the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:11 NASB).
How about when you made a decision to serve the Lord Jesus in your future career? How about when you celebrated a graduation out of school, and maybe even out of seminary? Who was there to say, “We’re with you, we applaud your achievement—and if God leads you overseas, we won’t forget you”? Perhaps the church held you closer than your own family. Perhaps the church contributed more to your income than any family member has ever contributed, because the church believed in you.
What a marvellous thing is the local family of God! Let me go a step further. As helpful and beneficial as most parachurch ministries are, they are all dependent upon the church to exist. When you are in college, some campus ministry may guide you and encourage you, and it is worth singing praises to God. But when you graduate, you need a church. The church alone has staying power.
It’s the church, week after week, where we learn faithfulness.
