The Church

The word "church" can have many different definitions. Ask anyone what they think "the church" is and you'll have a lot of differences of opinions to sort through. But what does the bible say? This is what we as a congregation at Rosewood are going to be looking at over the next couple weeks. We started this past weekend and I was asked to write a piece to start of the new series. As I began thinking about it, I became a little disappointed in the "church" these days. I think we've lost the vision that Christ laid out. I know I don't know a whole lot theologically, but well I'll let my piece speak for itself.

The Church

The church, what is it
that quick quip
had me sit quick and think
and what I came up with
were common metaphorical links
and the first goes like this
The church is the body of Christ
well if the church is a body
maybe I'm a vocal box
blessed with a gift to spit
and a talent for talk
words used to encourage or shock
but hold up
I'm getting ahead of myself
the church is the body of Christ
I had to look deeper at that
so back down I sat
and honestly now
I'm a little mad
see upon some inspection
and a little mental reflection
I have come to a conclusion that
my vocal inflection
must mention this question
if the church is a body
why do we seem inflicted with infection
quarantined behind our walls
determined to proudly walk the halls
of a building we claim is the church
but the church ain't stone or wood
or the concrete under foot
its our bones and our flesh
the blood in our veins
and the decision we've made
called to go and make disciples
not come all dressed in nice clothes
and I must say
if the church is a body
why do our hands seem balled into fists
quick to fight and judge
and so slow
to be the physical manifestation
of the holy one above
and simply show the world Christ's love
and why do our feet
seem so prone to run
one pointed to the right
the other pointed to the left
why do our eyes seem blind
and our ears seem deaf
if the church is the body of Christ
we sure seem to have put ourselves
in an ugly mess
so lets take a look at metaphor two
and hope that perhaps we'll have some better success
the church is the bride
and God is her groom
but almost to easily
I spied a problem here too
if we are the bride
are we pure enough to wear white
or even a color
that's similar and light
or do we have the idea
so far out of whack
that the only color we're fit for
is a dress made of black
but the church is the light
you could argue right back
and you might just be right
but what good is a light
when its hidden in the day
and concealed in the night
or what about
the church is the salt
but even in that
I manage to find fault
if salt isn't salty
that metaphors faulty
lets look at it this way
when I was hungry did you feed me
when I was thirsty did you give me drink
when I was a stranger did you shelter me
this is what we should be
not concerned with
whether or not I rock a hat
but concerned with the man at the back
who just happened to come in
convicted of his sin
and looking for help
not looking only towards our next event
but looking at the hungry homeless
and the few dollars we could have spent
or better yet
our time
but we seem scared away
by the dirt and the grime
Jesus led by example
hung with tax collectors and whores
but to some of you
the fact that I just said that
seems to matter more
We need to refocus
cuz many who cry
Lord! Lord!
he won't know us

-William Brown (Aug 2009)