The rain washed away Church

/ MurrayCampbell

Today in Sydney it is raining, it is pouring.

As I took a morning glance at my Facebook thread I noticed several northern Pastors drawing a link between the weather and church attendance, and encouraging their people to not stay away on account of rain.

One friend posted,

“Dear churchgoers of Sydney… it is only water.”

raining

Keep in mind, we have coats to wear and umbrellas to hold, and most people also have cars to drive to church, and so the reality is, most of us won’t get that wet traveling to church.

Nonetheless, pastors far and wide are aware that as their congregation members peers out the window today and see the water running down the glass, it is a signal to them to stay indoors.

I suspect we won’t make similar excuses when driving to work tomorrow morning. And I’m pretty certain a storm won’t prevent us from attending the family party or going to the movies later today.

A little rain keeps us away. In contrast, I have been reading Steve Kryger’s reflections on his recent trip to Iraq, where he and a few others were visiting Christian communities who have been subject to ISIS terror. The problem Iraqi Christians are facing is not rain but bullets, and yet these Aussies have been profoundly challenged and rebuked by the openness and faithfulness of these brothers and sisters.

“let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)

God know’s what he is talking about. We mustn’t not treat church with the sentiment of a trip to the cinema or appointment at the optometrist. Rather, remind ourselves of the reality of Church in God’s eyes:

  • God purchased the church with his blood (Acts 20:28)
  • It is his church that Jesus has promised to build (Matthew 16:18)
  • It is through his church, that God has chosen to ‘reveal his manifold wisdom’ (Ephesians 3:10)

It’s also raining in Melbourne today. I am looking forward to church, and many are. Through the seemingly ordinariness of Christians meeting, God is present and working to grow the splendorous sight the world will ever know. Church is more wonderful and significant than even we pastors realise. Let us heed Hebrews 10:24-25

4 thoughts on “The rain washed away Church”

  1. My wife exclaimed – as I read this out – “Go, Murray. That’s great! ” Amen and Amen.

    God bless,

    Mike

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  3. So good Murray! Thanks for that. I can tell you when it storms in the camps housing thousands of internally displaced Christians that we visited in Iraq, the little box houses they live in leak, the laneways turn to mud and I heard one of the churches in the camps (ie. a tent!) washed away. So they all kicked in with they little they had (so did some donors) and they built a brick one as they didn’t want to stop worshipping in the shadow of ISIS. I walked in it, with a massive cross and name ‘Jesus’ across the top reminding everyone who is still Lord of the place. They’ve dealt with things a little worse than getting wet. Perspective is what we need.

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