I am Chosen

Recently,  I've been reading The Collected Writings of Jack Cottrell.  I'm on volume 4, "The Bible Versus Calvinism" and it's greatly edifying my faith. It is reminding me who I am (and who has me as well.) I've got a serious post in the works right now partly because of this series of books, but until it's done,  I want to share something I read in it this morning.

Dr Jack Cottrell Telling the truth

We, as Christians are called to proclaim something. We are specifically elected to do this job, it is why we are saved, and it's why we continue in the truth. Israel had their part, get the world ready for the Messiah. Now it's time for us to do our job!

Annoyed, Mildly Disturbed

I'm annoyed a little bit.

I seriously consider arguing to the point of losing friends/damaging relationships every time some says something to the effect of "It doesn't matter if I go to church or not, as long as I have a relationship with God."
There's so much wrong with that, I can't even.
First off, there's the idea of what the church IS.
IT IS:

• The Body of Christ
• The Bride of Christ
• The "Called out" of God
• a Body of Believers

Then we have the idea of what the church is TO DO:

• Proclaim the death and ressurection of Jesus through Communion
• Encourage one another to do good works
• Stand firm against the world.

Why on earth would you not want to be a part of this?!?

Maybe it's because of what else the church IS:

• A group of Sinners with problems
• An exclusive group
• People who don't live up to their expectations

And sometimes we DO these things:

• Keep people out
• "Forgive" without accountability
• Insist on keeping rules

First, let's realize something about The End¹:
I've heard some people compare the search for God/Purpose/Meaning to life to a journey, and on this journey it is said: "There's more than one path up Mt Fuji."
or "All Dogs Go to Heaven"
some variation on the idea that All-Loving-Powerful-Knowledgeful, etc God will accept Your Best as Good Enough to get by, and this is how we can all make it to heaven.
Simply put that's not something I can believe, given the truth of scripture, and what it's got to say. Scripture says God is one, and He is Holy. This means that I'm not going to the top of Mt Fuji. Mt Fuji is on earth, it's end is the same as the rest of the planet. I'm going somewhere fundamentally different than this earth. This earth is not The End. It will be remade into something it's not right now, but that Coming Thing is so vastly different than what's here right now, I can only barely glimpse at it. I know there's no crying or death there, but I don't know what that means. I know that I will see God, and that the Tree of Life is there, but I don't know what that means.
You say you don't go to church because your way is good enough, that there's more than one way up mt Fuji.
I'm not going there, and I don't want to. Mt Fuji is here, I want to go Over There.
To get over there I need help, and so do you.
That's why the Church is here.

As a body of believers, we're ready to do what God's called us to do, and it doesn't matter what happens to us. God makes it a point to make sure that what is happening to us now works together for our Good.
We're blessed with the fellowship of other believers. Not everyone in the congregation where we worship is at the same level of spiritual maturity. Some people in church need milk, others can handle meatier doctrine. We all still have need for the blood of Christ to continually cleanse us. We remind each other where we're going and who we are.
That is what Church is FOR. We're on a journey, not to a place that is here, on this plane of existence, but rather we are going to the Throne room of the King, where our voices will join in the chorus: "HOLY HOLY HOLY is the Lord God Almighty!" Here we see in part, and know in part. Then we will be complete. You don't get there without being in the Church!
Joining the Church is the same as being saved from your sins. You can't have them washed away without God adding you to the Church.
It's a deluxe package deal.
Please stop climbing Mt Fuji, and start reaching out to God. You don't have to go far.
Repent of your sins, and confess that "Jesus is Lord". Join the church through the Grace² of God by your Faith³ during your baptism⁴. Please, if something is hard to understand, reach out to me here on the blog, or send me a message in email. We can help.
The important thing is to take the right step next.

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¹ The End is the idea of Telos, or "purpose" not just "the end of the world", although that is part of it (briefly explored in a Sermon titled "Do You Really Want it All to Stop?") The idea is also a part of what's going on in your life to accomplish an end, it's not just God's End for the world, but His End for you as well. ²Grace: God's favor given to you by His Love. you don't earn it. ³Faith: Faith in the death of Jesus because of and in atonement for your sins. ⁴baptism: Immersion in water done in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to wash away your sins and raise you to new life.