Is the church the church?

It's interesting how God opens my eyes to a particular subject in His Word and then every circumstance in my life for the next few days only re-enforces the truths of Scripture. God is definitely real, alive and working in our lives. A few days ago we received a phone call from my grandma. She told us about her cousin whose children have recently been put in foster care because she (the mother) has attempted suicide twice as of late. I sat, curled up on the couch; as I listened to my mom explain the situation to me. My mom said, "So, the children have been turned over to the state." I slammed my fist down on my knee and muttered about how it was the church's responsibility, not the state's, to care for the "orphaned" children. My frustration with others turned back on myself when I was hit with this thought. Allison, you are the church. Wow. I'm so quick to judge and say that the government (state or federal) should be smaller and not over step its bounds. But is it not just as wrong for me, as a Christian, to sit idle and let the government take care of problems which no one else does? Obviously, I'm not an adult and am therefore in no place to adopt or take care of children. Yet what if I was married had my own children and my own life? Would I even consider making such significant sacrifices? The government has overstepped its bounds. The government educates our children, instead of the fathers. The government cares for those who cannot care for themselves, instead of the church. Many conservatives (including myself) slam their fist down in frustration. Yet, as Christians, we are slow to care for the elderly and the fatherless as James chapter one clearly shows that we should.

This evening I was doing homework and folding laundry as my mom talked to me about her Bible study. She read to me from the book of Acts where Peter preached on the day of Pentecost. That is an incredible passage of Scripture. Listen to the description of the church that is given to us in Acts 2. "They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer...and all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property...day by day continuing with one mind in the temple." The church today isn't anything like this! They had all things in common and were of one mind. I don't see people being of one mind in my own church body. I'm still thinking about this passage and the early church. I don't completely understand why my church body is not of one mind. Everyone in the body would say that they are born again and that they live to glorify God. Is it a lack brothers and sisters confronting one another in love? Is it a result of sin and compromise quenching the Holy Spirit's power in our lives? Is it a lack of each Christian in the body searching the Scriptures daily? It's possibly all of these things.

I personally struggle with the whole issue of confronting brothers and sisters in Christ about their sin. Of course, I understand that my motive must be love and that I should have Biblical grounds for what I'm saying. Maybe it's just my fear of losing or damaging relationships that makes me hold back. Maybe it's my fear of man. I'm afraid that it will come across as proud and self glorifying even if my motive is completely pure. About six months ago I had seen a negative change in a fellow believer. We knew each other well and I would have had grounds for going to her. My motive was pure. I was really concerned that she was going to go further down hill and severally damage her relationship with God. I never ended up going to her and confronting her. As of the past month or so I've seen a drastic positive change in her. I'm relived that she's gaining ground but now I'm more confused than every about this issue. Looking back, I'm naturally glad that I never confronted her. She came back around on her own and I never had to risk damaging the relationship. On the other hand, if Scripture commands me to confront my fellow believers, then I should do so regardless of the result or outcome. Again, duty is mine and results are God's.

Whatever the case, I can't simply gripe about the pitiful condition of the church and the government and yet do nothing in my own personal life to change it. I am part of the church and therefore I can rightly assume that if there is a problem, I'm likely the source of it or at least part of it. Speaking boldly about the truths of Scripture is not only a priviage and a joy, but furthermore, a responsibility. Peter exhorts us to, "keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame." (1 Peter 3:16) Chris, Lara, Mel, Kelci, Eric (whoever else reads this) confront me about areas in my life that will hinder my effectiveness in proclaiming truth for the glory of God. Thanks guys and God bless ya'll.