“I believe churches are meant for praising God, but so are 2 a.m. car rides, showers, coffee shops, the gym, conversations with friends, strangers, etc. Don’t let a building confine your faith because we will never change the world by just going to church, we need to be the church.”

Worship is not an event that happens for an hour on Sunday mornings. It’s a lifestyle, a calling, a daily choice, a reclassifying of our moments from meaningless to miraculous. Every step; every second; every glance and giggle is a chance to praise God.The church as the body of Christ has centralizing as well as a decentralizing movement. Jesus taught it this way:

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5:13-16 NIV

On further examination this scripture reveals how salt moves out of the shaker and into the food (decentralized function)… and how the light draws people together in a house (centralized function). Having the one without the other would be detrimental for the cause of Christ. Read this commentary on the church in the book of Acts:

'Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.'

Acts 2:46-47 NIV

The past season we were in a sense ruled to function decentralized. We had every opportunity to go and be salt! Our ability to experience the centralized light as a household were however ruled out. We should go out and be the church and we should gather collectively to experience the enlightenment it brings being part of a household of faith.

This past weekend we started having meetings onsite again…and it was such a wonderful experience! I thank all involved as we see Berwick Church of Christ gathering again onsite. The supplementary option of livestream makes the very same experience available online for those who need that. Our third weekly weekend gathering has been just as great an enjoyment as we were able to gather as people with an undisclosed vaccination status.

These gatherings has greatly benefitted all involved. Our greatest expression of unity however goes beyond our centralized gatherings…or decentralized activities… It is found in our purpose to Be his Presence In Every Place. To be the type of church that is described in the bible:

• Ephesians 1  say that it’s the fullness of Christ.
• Ephesians 2  say that it’s the temple of God.
• Ephesians 3  say that through it the wisdom of God would be made known to the world.
• Ephesians 5  call it the bride of Christ.
• Hebrews 10  command us not to neglect it.

Let’s be like that!!!