The Role of the Church

Something has been bothering me, but I didn't specifically know what it was; therefore, I had no idea what to do about it. Gratefully, that changed: This morning, I woke with a new understanding.

Disclaimer: This concern is generally true, and I believe it must be addressed by all of us. Having said that, there are people / churches / denominations... who continue to personally / individually play the role that Jesus gave us. Thank you to each of you! May you not lose heart, but in prayer cry out to God to bring more laborers to complete the work that He has given us here on this earth.

During this time of receiving a mailbox full of voting information day after day, I have those close to me on each side of the presidential debate. - I love and respect those with each of the perspectives, so I wasn't sure what I should do: Do I speak up and have conversations to discuss the repercussions of each different perspective? - Many of our voting choices have plusses and minuses -- wins and losses.

But today I awoke with an understanding of what I believe is the foundational problem in our nation: The Church, as a whole, has stepped away from her foundational role in our culture. In her absence, we have looked to the government to do the Church's job. The problem is, when we do not do what God has called us to do, no one else can successfully take our place because it is not the job of anyone else. Even if we are not obediently doing it, it is still our job.

Church, this is still our job: to seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God by clothing those in need, feeding the hungry, visiting those who are in prison, giving water to those who are thirsty, welcoming the stranger, taking care of the sick... The Church should be doing this so well that there is no room for the government to have need to do it.

Sadly, the Church has increasingly pulled back from caring for the needs in the world around us. In the absence of the Church playing her part, those in need expect it is the responsibility of the government to help.

I have been in churches that helped to care for my children's and my needs. We were loved and served by the church the very best that those members knew how. - Thank you! - It was also in that church where I was told to go to the government and get all the help that I could from them, so during that time that's what I began to do.

But truthfully, feeding the hungry, providing medical care and educating those in need are not the government's job. God has called His Church to that role. - For example, Medical Centers used to be run by the Church, but we have turned aside and let others do it.

Conviction on this has come to me little by little. - When I was first told to go to the government for help, I followed the instructions I was given. I didn't know any better, and I did what I was told.

Over time, I felt convicted that I should stop taking the time to fill out the forms and prepare the information to renew my food stamps, but I buried that thought and re-applied -- until the day that God oversaw the loss of all my paperwork! - When I realized it had all been lost, I accepted it as God's plan, and I have not reapplied for help with my food budget since. - Praise the Lord that He has supplied all that we have needed!

The benefit of the Church caring for the needs in our community -- besides the fact that it is obedient ;) -- is that there can be personal connection. - When we drive down the street, do we recognize the people who are homeless in our community? Do we realize that we have seen them there begging for years?

It is my conviction that as the church reaches out in community to help care for the foundational needs -- for example spiritual and mental health -- of those who live right around us who are homeless, we can do more for them than just give them money. We can welcome them into our community, and we can watch Holy Spirit do His supernatural work within them!

With this election ahead of us, I would like to encourage the Church to commit to playing her part in caring for our communities, so that the government can do the job of the government -- not be distracted with trying to do the job of the Church.

Again and again, when the eyes of the Church have been opened to the need, she has come running to help! - During the clean-up happening in Western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene, the Church -- among others -- has been a shining light to those in need: many church groups have gone to help with clean-up; non-perishable food, water and other resources have been sent... And that need continues. It will be months and years before all of the physical damage has been restored.

May we as the Church come forward to meet the needs of those around us, and in so doing may the government return to being responsible for its own role of protecting and serving the people.

In 2 Chronicles 7, God tells King Solomon that when He* brings discipline on His people, that we have recourse with Him: "if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV, Words referring to God are intentionally capitalized.)

Church, our culture has gone awry, and a primary misstep has been the neglect of those in need and the legalism of the church within our communities. - May we turn to God in repentance and follow Him as He leads us to provide the support and care that He calls each of us to. - We're individuals. We have individual assignments. We're also a global community, and we each need to play our own part for the good of humanity.

May God's Name be praised as we serve Him by supporting the needs of others.

Thank you for letting me share!

Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

*Words that refer to God are intentionally capitalized by this author.

When we do not do what God has called us to do, no one else can successfully take our place because it is not the job of anyone else.

The Church, as a whole, has stepped away from her foundational role in our culture.

The problem is,

It is still our job.

The Church should be caring for others in her community so well that there is no room for the government to have need to do it.

May we as the Church come forward to meet the needs of those around us.

May we turn to God in repentance and follow Him as He leads us to provide the support and care that He calls each of us to.

We each have individual assignments.

We each need to play our own part for the good of humanity.

"If My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

(2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV)