What Do You Want?

Have you ever thought about the kind of church you want? Some will say they want a church that is climatically controlled, not too hot in the summer or too cold in the winter; or a church that is environmentally inspiring and aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

There are those who will say they want a church where people’s actions and attitudes don’t turn you off at the door or where people act like you are doing them a favor just by being there.

Some may want a church that makes them feel comfortable and one that is sensitive to their needs; a church that doesn’t insult a person’s intelligence, talk down to them or water down the gospel. Many want a church where the spirit is high, love abounds and attitudes are checked at the door; a church where people are pleased when you are present and miss you when you’re absent. Certainly, most want a church where the authority of Jesus Christ is respected as well as its membership.

Who wouldn’t want a church that knows how to welcome strangers and transform them into friends and disciples of God? A church that prays for the leading of the Holy Spirit and for a vision to guide its ministry?
It is important to know what kind of church you want, but it is also important to know what kind of church God wants.

The Acts of the Apostles give us a glimpse and a profound understanding of the nature and mission of the church. This epistle tells of a church that is pleasing to God. It is not a perfect church, but a pleasing church that distinguished itself beyond aesthetics and physical structure. It was a church filled with forgiven imperfect people. Often it is our expectations of perfection that get in the way of the church that is pleasing to God.

In the book of Acts, we find a church that was growing, and amazingly adding new disciples daily. A church that shared, that worshipped and sat at the teaching of the apostles, and that went from house to house sharing the gospel.

A need arose in chapter six that required the church to better manage its resources in a new and orderly manner. The Greeks began to murmur and complain about how their widows were being treated compared to the Hebrew widows. There was a hint of favoritism – one group was favored over another. It hinted at prejudice or seeing to your own ethnic group or family outside their circles of close associates.

The disciples called a church conference. The murmuring was getting out of hand. People were possibly gossiping more about the situation than they were listening to the gospel.

They decided to change their method of handling the ministry. The administrative structure hinders seeing the needs of all groups of people. They decided to have a division of labor because the work of word, worship, prayer and evangelism was too important for them to stop and supervise a feeding program.

They chose those who were wise and full of the Holy Spirit, and empowered them to exercise their gifts.

The kind of church seen then was where everyone is important in the sight of God regardless of family affiliation, ethnic group, history or heritage. It was a church that takes care of the needs of people fairly without prejudice, and a church where leaders take action before a problem becomes a crisis. It was a place where people are not afraid of change.

The church seen in the first few verses of Acts 6 is one where the love of Christ flowed to be a healing and a help to the surrounding community. This church was a place where its leadership was serious about the ministry of word, worship, prayer and evangelism that would guard against intrusion.

What kind of church? It was the kind of church where God’s presence was felt and God’s power was seen. It was a place where loads were lifted, burdens born, and sustenance and strength were given.

What kind of church do you want? That may be the wrong question. The question is, what kind of church does God want? The blueprint is found in Acts 6 and God can work through you to manifest high glory in the church where you are planted.

By
Bishop Vashti McKenzie