Church

Philosophy in this era is characterized by an emphasis on the necessity of independence and individuality (not in the sense that individuals need to stand out, but stand separate) and the personal good without giving much consideration to the society as a whole. One could argue that this philosophy, or at least a few key points of it, has carried across all the years, stretching throughout historical, cultural, and geographical boundaries to be inherited by the great Western civilization train of thought. American society is built upon the foundation of independence, the right to the “pursuit of happiness,” and personal privacy and space. There is a need for community in some sense, to be sure, but the philosophy of a life lived separate from others is usually thought as something to be desired. But how should a Christian feel about this view? What part does the Church play in today’s world?
At the risk of speaking for the American Church as a whole, it could be assessed that there has been a movement stirring throughout the Christian population that the 1st century view is in fact not practical for today’s Christians, and an unnecessary waste of time. The obvious and countless enhancements in technology, the career, the family, travel, the general pace of life, and the apparent imperfections and hypocrisy of those who attend the local church prove, in many people’s minds, the triviality of church. The ever-growing popularity of the “It’s just me and Jesus,” Lone-Ranger type of thinking is proving to be a spiritual sort of independence with detrimental and sometimes harmful consequences.
Of course there are those who, at least in theory, support what tradition thinks to be a Biblical perspective of Christ’s Body. Hopefully it is understood by most that the Church is supposed to be a family of those who have been adopted by God, and in a healthy family there is community and love and trust. Thankfully most evangelical churches do not question these facts. Even the churches who some would take issue with on many other basic Christian doctrines have gotten this one thing right. Most who seek to serve Christ know that the Church is supposed to be the center of His work. Nevertheless, the concern, as it is with the Church in many other issues, is not in the understanding, but in the living. Those who are dedicated followers of Christ know, in the broadest terms, what the Church is supposed to look like, but what steps are being taken toward conforming to the Scriptural blueprint?
Not only is the Church as a community is practical and applicable to today’s society, but also obedience to Christ is necessarily connected to the Church and love of the Church not as an activity or spot on the weekly schedule, but as a living organism, a way of life. A Christian’s heart should beat in time with Christ’s, and Christ’s love is not only for the individual who has received grace, but the individual’s new family and the active Body at work in the world. If a human’s true goal in life is indeed to find happiness, and a Christian would assert that true happiness is found only with belief in and relationship with God, then a healthy relationship with God, who is perfect, means that we must love what He loves. The Bible clearly states that God loves the Church and died for Her. In Ephesians 5 Paul admonishes husbands to “love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” So, it is made known to us that Christ loved and died for the Church as a whole. Those who are and will be drawn to Christ become members of His body, and must love his or her fellow members as Christ does.
Contrary to popular belief, being active in the body of Christ means more than checking off attendance weekly at the Sunday worship gathering. In Acts 2 the author Luke gives us a picture of the early church. He says starting in verse 42:
“They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.”
Will every church look exactly like a first century gathering in Jerusalem? Decisively not, but there are some key elements that can be taken from this picture of the early church and used in any context. First, it is important to note from the passage that a healthy church should be engaged in worship through fellowship, prayer, teaching of Scripture, and sharing meals in a corporate setting. These actions simply cannot be achieved in a solitary setting, and they are important for healthy growth in relationship with God, which is the basis for true happiness. Additionally, all believers were together and had all things in common. There was sharing and sacrifice for another’s benefit. I don’t believe that this passage is encouraging any form of communist society, but rather the idea that there is nothing that is your own in the end, for we are all merely stewards of what is God’s, and we have already received the ultimate gift, which is Christ Himself, so there is no benefit in hoarding everything away if another of God’s children are lacking. The early church is characterized by a strong belief in God’s sovereignty and understanding that God would provide their needs, as Jesus taught in Matthew 6. 
We see in the New Testament the great emphasis put on the Church. Nearly all the epistles in the New Testament are written to a church body, and they are instructions given in a church setting. Truly, these concepts can and should be applied to the everyday life of an individual, but I believe instruction given in the New Testament is given to all individuals in a church so that the Church may benefit, and believers may be encouraged, supported, loved, and held accountable in the Church. It is evident through the letters in the New Testament that even (and especially) the early church was far from perfect, but that fact was not grounds for ignoring or degrading the Church, counting it as a worthless band of hypocrites. Only through participation and interaction with the Church as family can one expect to gain that closeness with God that He truly desires for all of us. It is His design, perfect in every way. God is glorified to work through the Church’s imperfections, and our joy is made more full in the gathering and living in a Church. It is only through being the church that we adhere to Christ’s wishes, only through living in the body of Christ that we get closer to perfect joy in Him. It is this point that we as Christians in the 21st century must grasp if we long to know Christ in a more intimate way.