It’s usually during times of crisis and overwhelming fear that the world asks, “Where are our churches when we need them?” It’s a very good question. Where are our churches when tragedy strikes and people need help; where are they when it’s freezing outside and people need to be warmed; where are they in the midst of abuse and violence against the weak and defenseless; where are they when we need them?
Whether small or large or rundown or immaculate, there seems to be no shortage of church buildings in the South. Most of them have been around for a long time, watching people go in and out of their doors, seeing them gather once or twice a week. They hear the cries of those outside their walls and above their rafters but hear only silence from within – even those few times when their rooms are full – the silence is deafening.
But among those cold, hard as stone structures reaching to the sky, there are those with well-worn wooden steps, creaking uneven floors, and tattered rooftops from years of weathered storms. Though bearing the ravages of time, the hearts of their sanctuaries are illuminated by the Light and warmed by the glow of His glory; near the hearth the soul of the place feels the warmth of the flames and glowing embers of His eternal seal of overwhelming love. A settled peace you feel among its occupants and never want to leave but find it travels with you wherever you go – all because the heart of stone is no more but beats with life from above forevermore.
This is the Church. It’s not the stone or the structure or the fund. The Church is all of those whose hearts are changed by the grace of God; the Church are those who say not “be warm,” but give a place to stay and something to eat (Jas 1:22; 2:15-16). Christian, it is long past time for us to say to God “Here I am,” willing to do whatever is asked of me. “Here I am” says, let me care for you in your sickness, in your desperation, in your time of need and expresses the love of God within you (Matt 25:34–40; Rom 5:5).
When you say, “Here I am,” the Church shows up in our community and God is glorified as He works through you to minister to His children, to demonstrate His marvelous ways to the world, and to shine His light into a world of darkness (John 8:12; Matt 5:14–16).
Shine brightly my brethren so that instead of “Where are they?” they may say “Look what God has done!” as they lower their raging fists, drop to their knees, and beat their chest in humble cry for mercy and forgiveness from the God and Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.