A big thank you to The News Observer for the privilege of writing a few words here and to you for your reading. My wife, Janine, and I are new to the area of Blue Ridge and are truly happy to be here. Our work in the Lord’s vineyard over the past 30 years has taken us to Russia, Ukraine, Africa and Atlanta. Currently I am blessed to work with the Blue Ridge Church of Christ helping people of this gorgeous mountain community grow in the knowledge of and the Spirit of Christ.
Fun Fact: Did you know that the church of Christ has been around for some 1989 years? That’s with the starting date of AD 33. If you count the time the Lord’s church has been in the mind of God, then the best we can do is agree with Paul and say it has existed since before the foundations of the earth were laid.
I am sure you know the story of when and how the church began here in this world. The gospel accounts tell us that, by the power of God demonstrated in the virgin birth of Jesus of Nazareth, the Eternal Word became flesh. That same Jesus, some 30 years later, was crucified on a Roman cross outside the city of Jerusalem. Three days later, by the power of God, that same Jesus was resurrected and then taken into the heavens and enthroned at the right hand of God where He now reigns as King of kings and Lord of lords.
Maybe you know this, too: by the power of God, that same Jesus has now taken on another “fleshly form.” His Spirit, the Bible teaches, now lives within that body of people the Bible calls “the church.” For 21 centuries the world in which we live has been, and will continue to be, truly blessed by the presence of the Lord’s church within it until our Lord comes to claim His own and take them home to heaven with Him. I’m no world traveler, but I’ve been a few places. In this country and abroad I’ve seen places where the influence of the Lord’s church is not felt. The dark streets of metropolitan areas ruled by drugs, violence and prostitution — they are without the influence of the spirit of Christ that God intends to live within His church. Places and people that have no respect for the value of human life — they, too, are without the influence of the Light of the world which God intends should live in His church.
All of this begs the questions: what is “church,” what is “the church,” what is “the church of Christ?” There are a lot of confusing ideas about this, all of which can be cleared up if we let God speak from His word. If you will allow me your time this month, I will do what I can to show God’s answer from the Bible to the question “Who In The World Are The Church of Christ?” Maybe it is what you think, maybe it is not. Let’s see.
Mike Underwood Pulpit Minister of Blue Ridge Church of Christ
Fun Fact: Did you know that the church of Christ has been around for some 1989 years? That’s with the starting date of AD 33. If you count the time the Lord’s church has been in the mind of God, then the best we can do is agree with Paul and say it has existed since before the foundations of the earth were laid.
I am sure you know the story of when and how the church began here in this world. The gospel accounts tell us that, by the power of God demonstrated in the virgin birth of Jesus of Nazareth, the Eternal Word became flesh. That same Jesus, some 30 years later, was crucified on a Roman cross outside the city of Jerusalem. Three days later, by the power of God, that same Jesus was resurrected and then taken into the heavens and enthroned at the right hand of God where He now reigns as King of kings and Lord of lords.
Maybe you know this, too: by the power of God, that same Jesus has now taken on another “fleshly form.” His Spirit, the Bible teaches, now lives within that body of people the Bible calls “the church.” For 21 centuries the world in which we live has been, and will continue to be, truly blessed by the presence of the Lord’s church within it until our Lord comes to claim His own and take them home to heaven with Him. I’m no world traveler, but I’ve been a few places. In this country and abroad I’ve seen places where the influence of the Lord’s church is not felt. The dark streets of metropolitan areas ruled by drugs, violence and prostitution — they are without the influence of the spirit of Christ that God intends to live within His church. Places and people that have no respect for the value of human life — they, too, are without the influence of the Light of the world which God intends should live in His church.
All of this begs the questions: what is “church,” what is “the church,” what is “the church of Christ?” There are a lot of confusing ideas about this, all of which can be cleared up if we let God speak from His word. If you will allow me your time this month, I will do what I can to show God’s answer from the Bible to the question “Who In The World Are The Church of Christ?” Maybe it is what you think, maybe it is not. Let’s see.
Mike Underwood Pulpit Minister of Blue Ridge Church of Christ
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