What does everyone think?

It can be hard to provide a succinct statement as to the purpose of the church; I do agree with you in that we can be very “me” centred when it comes to the Church but the problem is that the Church is made up of lots of individuals and each ‘you and me’ comprises the whole. As for this ‘me’ I am very glad that Christ died for my sin (and of course everyone else’s) but the individual is certainly very important to the Father but things can become a bit skewed when we view the Church solely through the ‘me’ filter.

So maybe when Churches over emphasis reaching out to newcomers, a sort of backsides on seats mentality, that maybe they are going overboard with the “us” methodology; when they spend all their time on ‘growing’ the saints at the expense of outreach this may reflect a “me” mentality or who knows maybe the reverse could also apply. I suppose that the secret is with getting the “me” and the “they” balance right.

The true church is not what everyone likes or thinks, but what God has given us. We need to be conformed to it, not expecting God to accomondate our ideas. One should study Acts 2 and the Epistles, and seek God's mind. There is no such thing in the Word of God as going to "the church of your choice".

- 1 Watchman

hi jcp988,

You wrote about the Church identified as Christ's Bride. This a big topic to cover on a single page in a blog.

Rev 21 and 22, discuss Christ's wife identified as the Lamb's wife. Rev 21:9,10 explicitly identify the Lamb's wife as the Holy City, Jerusalem coming down, out of heaven from God. When I read Rev 21 and 22, I get excited to imagine the future that is portrayed. I hope that is the bride you refer to but I will wait for your clarification.

I don't believe there is any other Bride of Christ than Rev 21 though you did not give a scriptural reference.