I was sitting outside enjoying a beautiful spring evening and contemplating different things. One idea that was weighing on my mind was the purpose that we have as the church, not just our individual congregation, but the church universal. At the same time I was looking at one of the large pecan trees in the backyard and noticing that it was beginning to bud out. From this musing the thought slowly developed of how the tree had something to teach me about the church. The mighty trunk of the tree, as strong and thick as it was, could never stand on its own. It has to be rooted dip into the ground, held in place by the root system. The church may seem strong, it has been around for a long long time, but it doesn’t stand on its own. There are the roots of our faith and heritage deep in the soil of God’s provision through his Word, his Spirit and most of all his Son. We must be rooted in him to grow.
The branches coming off the trunk are the different individual churches that reach out into the world and while there are many of us we are united in our faith in Christ. Coming off of the individual branches were the numerous small branches from which the buds were coming out. Those buds, which would become leaves and pecans, needed connection with the tree for their nourishment, their life. They couldn’t make it on their own. As Christians we draw from the church our strength and nourishment to live the life of Christ. So the church is here to empower us and give us life through Jesus.
But then I realized that just as the leaf relied on the branch for life, the branch needed the leaf just as much. A tree without leaves would wither and die just as much as a leaf without a tree. A church without folks is a pretty lonely place. Just as the church gives life to the individuals there, the people of the church give life back to the church. As a church we have a responsibility to feed and nurture the Christian, but each Christian has a responsibility to give back to the life of the church. It won’t work any other way. Without this mutual relationship we both die for the truth is the church is its people.
So if you wonder what your purpose is it is to be the church, to be Christ, for as much as you need the church, the church also needs you.
Don
The branches coming off the trunk are the different individual churches that reach out into the world and while there are many of us we are united in our faith in Christ. Coming off of the individual branches were the numerous small branches from which the buds were coming out. Those buds, which would become leaves and pecans, needed connection with the tree for their nourishment, their life. They couldn’t make it on their own. As Christians we draw from the church our strength and nourishment to live the life of Christ. So the church is here to empower us and give us life through Jesus.
But then I realized that just as the leaf relied on the branch for life, the branch needed the leaf just as much. A tree without leaves would wither and die just as much as a leaf without a tree. A church without folks is a pretty lonely place. Just as the church gives life to the individuals there, the people of the church give life back to the church. As a church we have a responsibility to feed and nurture the Christian, but each Christian has a responsibility to give back to the life of the church. It won’t work any other way. Without this mutual relationship we both die for the truth is the church is its people.
So if you wonder what your purpose is it is to be the church, to be Christ, for as much as you need the church, the church also needs you.
Don
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