Tis the Season, Born to Die, days 7, 8, &9

…Contemplating what it means to follow Christ, in being born in order to die

Last week I wrote that “Every church, every organization, will ultimately die.  The churches that the Apostles started, died…”  In the past, I have heard other pastors / teachers say that and somehow it made sense.  But today I’m rather appalled at how I bought that idea without really thinking through its implications.

Yes, I’ve been to Israel.  I’ve been to Capernaum and seen the foundations of the house that they believe was Peter’s.  This would have been the “house church” that Jesus launched.  By the 3^rd century, Capernaum was in ruins.  No church.  No house of Peter.  No town.  

I took those images and jumped to “and so, the church in Capernaum was dead.”

But was it?

This thinking reveals that somewhere deep in my soul I still hold onto my very western idea that the church is the building.  But I know - KNOW! - that the church is the people of God.  Which means the DNA of the church in Capernaum is IN ME.  

Which means… that if a church grows The Kingdom and sees people become followers of Jesus… and if those people in turn grow the Kingdom and see new people become follower of Jesus… and if those people…

You get the idea.  If this happens?  Then NO church has to ever die, at least not fully.

Live on, Loop, live on.