Isaiah 62:1 For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,
    for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet,
till her vindication shines out like the dawn,
    her salvation like a blazing torch.

It is debatable whether this is the Lord speaking through Isaiah, or Isaiah speaking for himself. For a prophet of Isaiah’s stature, that becomes something of a moot point! What communicates is passion for the city of God, which Revelation makes clear is the Church. How passionate are we for the Church?  Individual churches come and go, and there is danger in focusing on physical buildings, however beautiful and/or useful they might be. Even so, local congregations are precious in God’s sight, and are parts of the over-all Body of Christ. That said, it is that total Body that we have trouble grasping. It is perhaps an unfortunate twist of language that catholic, which used to mean universal, is now applied almost exclusively to the part of the Church that answers to Rome. The study of Church history can be inspiring, but it can also be heartbreaking, as human organizations took over what God created as a living organism. Human beings are prone to all sorts of problems, including jealousy and a thirst for power, as well as spiritual blindness. Jesus ran into that full force in the Pharisees. There were wonderful Pharisees, such as Nicodemus, but as a whole, they saw Him as a threat to their power and authority, and they crucified Him. Frankly, that is happening in some church organizations today. One such organization just dis-accredited two seminaries, because those seminaries insisted on a Biblical standard of marriage and sexuality! There is much to be done to protect and defend the Church, but we must remember that our enemy is the devil, and not actually the people who are deceived by him. It is, frankly, beyond our ability to keep it all straight, but God can do it in and through us, if we will be submitted and obedient to Him.

Church History was my most painful subject in seminary, because of all the things that have been done in the name of Christ that were absolutely counter to His character and Spirit. It was a denominational seminary, and I have pastored denominational churches, but I felt, and continue to feel, that this church is not to carry the name of any denomination. In the 43 years we have been operating as a local church, multiple groups have invited us to join their organizations, but I have always declined. I get along well with those organizations, but I am firmly anchored in the position that anyone who acknowledges Jesus as the only divine Savior, who became a human being so that He could die for our sins and rise in triumph over death, is my brother of sister. There are people in this church now from denominational backgrounds, and they aren’t always comfortable with how we do things. I seek to learn from them, but my passion is for the Church as a whole, and not for any sub-group of it.

Father, thank You for Your grace that covers all our sins, including the pride that makes us think we’re always right! Help me walk in full humility, listening accurately and obediently to You. Thank You for the beautiful things You’ve been doing here recently. May I continue to be available for whatever You want to do through me, to build up the Body of Christ, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!