READ MATTHEW 16

Michael Moore is a rank hypocrite.  The radically liberal movie producer made millions of dollars through the American free enterprise system and yet spends his life bad-mouthing American capitalism and greed.  It’s perplexing why anyone would be swayed by his sanctimonious propaganda. Yet he influences many who pine for anti-establishment reputations.

Let me just put this bluntly…I feel there are some trendy Christian authors and preachers who are as phony as Michael Moore.   They have benefited from the church since childhood, yet now spend their ministries trashing it. In their minds the church has been irrelevant, intolerant, legalistic, racist, hypocritical, judgmental and self-centered. So they attract anti-establishment audiences, sell CD’s and books and demand high speaker’s fees by constantly ridiculing the church.

Now, admittedly, many churches are flawed and some church leaders have really embarrassed the Kingdom of God.  Yet rather than working to counter that stereotype, many self-appointed judges find it easier to just bash the church altogether.  One critic insists he’s found more authentic fellowship in a commune than a church and frequently apologizes to the world for the attitudes of church people.

Sadly, numerous immature believers have become convinced that yesterday’s church was a total failure and pursue a relationship with Jesus apart from any involvement in a local congregation.  It’s hip to say, “I am a spiritual person but I’m not into organized religion.” Or “I don’t go to church — I am the church”.  Or “I’m a Christ-follower but I’m not a part of the institutional church”.

Of course the church has been imperfect because it’s made up of human beings like you and me.  Yet while the bride of Christ is flawed, thankfully Jesus is perfect.  And, if it weren’t for Christ’s church these self-appointed critics wouldn’t know Him, wouldn’t have experienced the joys of salvation and, in many cases, if it weren’t for generous church people they wouldn’t have an income!

In Matthew 16:18 Jesus told His disciples, “Upon this rock (the truth that He was the Messiah) I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” Jesus did intend to build a church – a church so powerful that even death and hell couldn’t stop it! – A church so permanent that in spite of vicious external attacks and inept internal mismanagement it would survive and thrive.

When Jesus talked about building a church he wasn’t just referring to a universal, invisible body of followers.  The Greek word, “Ecclesia” which means, “called out ones”, is used over a hundred times in the New Testament; and ninety percent of the time it refers to a local congregation.

The New Testament church was structured enough that it had elders who were assigned to oversee it and teachers who were to edify it.  The church was organized enough that when one member suffered the others were to suffer with it.  It was visible enough that when one member strayed the others were to hold that member accountable.  It was systematic enough that they weren’t to forsake the regular assembling of themselves together.

I’m old enough to remember some of the spiritual giants of the church for the past two generations and, in my opinion, most of the contemporary critics aren’t worthy of untying their shoes!  Many local congregations in the past made invaluable contributions to their communities, faithfully honoring Jesus Christ in their ministries.

Did you know that 106 of the first 108 colleges established in America were established by the church?  Do you know who was responsible for building most of the hospitals in our country?  Not the atheist society but the church.

The church has funded most of the inner city missions, food pantries, prison ministries, orphanages and homes for the elderly.  Over the past thirty years churches have established scores of crisis pregnancy centers and saved thousands of unborn lives and tenderly ministered to unwed mothers.

When Hurricane Katrina ripped through the Gulf coast, Christians from scores of churches were the first on the scene and the last to leave – all the while scraping no money off the top for themselves. And guess who is still in Haiti assisting in the clean-up after the devastating earthquake two years ago?   You’ve got it – the church.

Sure, local churches could do much better but let it be said that because of local church ministries millions have been saved for eternity, countless families have been solidified, teens kept off drugs and suicides prevented.  Hurting, grieving people have been comforted and weak souls strengthened by the weekly preaching of God’s word in little-known churches across the land.  The church has sent thousands of missionaries around the globe who combat AIDS and improve living conditions while still bringing the hope of the gospel to third world countries.

So let’s be perceptive enough not to be influenced by the anti-church rhetoric of our day.  Let’s give thanks to God for the faithfulness of church leaders who led us to the Lord and taught us God’s Word.  Let’s appreciate our heritage and build upon the foundation of the past and be determined to make the church of tomorrow an even more effective representative of Christ on earth.  Let’s imitate Jesus who loved the church and gave Himself up for it and rejoice that the gates of Hades will not overcome God’s church.

** If you are enjoying this study through the book of Matthew with Bob Russell, be sure to check out Bob’s “Falling In Love With Jesus Again” Bible Study DVD and resources for your small group or church.