Church & Christians

Dear Friends,

The idea of church is very important in the Christian faith. The bible uses other words like body, family, kingdom and nation to describe the church. These words explain God's relationship with His people: He is the Head of the body; the Father of the family; the King of His kingdom and the Ruler of the nation. In addition, there ideas also define our relationships with one another: we are members of one body, brothers and sisters of one family, and fellow citizens of one kingdom. The church is therefore not just a place we go to every Sunday (or, for that matter, a group that we choose to join or leave, as and when we like). It is a community that we are born into and belong to once we receive Jesus as our Lord. We are now "no longer foreigners and aliens" (Eph 2:19). It is within the church (and then in our lives in the world) that we learn and live out the biblical principles of faith, love and hope. In this way, the church becomes and serves as a witness to unbelievers of what true communities are about.

Temporary or Last Forever

Many people are struggling with eating less and exercising more in an attempt to keep a New Year's resolution. With the guilt arising from Christmas meals and year-end company dinners, some are committing to indulging the stomach less.

I am not discounting the value of exercise and a healthy diet. But when it comes to our physical bodies, all that sacrifice and discipline brings is, at best, only a temporary gain.

The irony is painful. People are willing to spend large amounts of time working to strengthen that which cannot last, and yet hardly give a moment's attention to that which last forever.

Many Christians have fallen into that same unfortunate mindset. The result is that while believers are perhaps healthier than ever physically, they are bothering on death and dying in their spiritual condition. They do not know the Word of God and have not attempted to study and obey it.