Guard Yourselves and God's People

I have started reading another book. My wife will probably say I read too many books, or at least she will say I buy too many books. But I love to read. Anyway, the present book I am reading is "Who Stole My Church" by Gordon McDonald. McDonald is one of my favorite authors. He is a pastor and author, serving churches in the northeast part of the country.

This book is fiction, but McDonald is writing from the first person as if he is involved in a meeting of some church members. Though the book is fiction, it contains a great deal of truth.

McDonald quotes Acts 20:28.
After reading the verse I was once again reminded of how we tend to be critical of the church. Leaders sometimes complain members' lack of commitment. Members tend to complain about leaders and the decisions they make. But we forget what God's Word tells us about the church.

We often speak of "my church." We complain that a leader or member does something to "my church" to which I disagree. The problem is the Apostle Paul doesn't say the church belongs to me. He also doesn't say the church belongs to you. Paul says, that it is God's church, "which He bought with His own blood."

I may not like drums in worship, or I may think that the organ is outdated, but the problem isn't what I like because it is God's church. The church doesn't belong to me or you - it belongs to God. He bought it with His own blood and He has given us the responsibility as leaders to "watch" over ourselves and the flock of God.

The next time we complain about the church or talk about "my church" we must remember that it is God's church. He bought it with His own blood. He paid the ultimate price for the church.