Where do you stand? Do you take a position on the issue style and preference in your church design?
Let me be more clear:
Do you prefer what types of sermons your pastor preaches or are you happy that he preaches from the Word of God?
Do you like it that your church has child care and children ministries or is that a critical element for your family in deciding where you worship?
If your church didn't have a youth group would you attend?
Should your church always be looking to add new members and constantly grow or are you satisfied to be a part of a small congregation?
If people around you started to lift their hands and weep during worship would this make you uncomfortable enough to seek another church home?
Do you have a set of preferences that keep you tied to your church with the possibility that if these standards were compromised you would leave? Perhaps we all do. I would venture to say that we should all have standards for the Bride of Christ.
However, where do those standards find their foundation? Our congregation is literally in the process of pouring concrete 'footings' (foundation) for a new building/ sanctuary. Over the past week workers have been diligently and precisely preparing the ground for this concrete foundation.
The backhoe and tamper and electronic grade have all been wisely and heavily used in order to prepare what will serve as a stable and solid foundation for a permanent building. It is interesting to think that the building we see on the surface is only as strong as what is anchors itself to.
Christians, we can not say any different of ourselves. We are only as strong as what we anchor to. In other words, if our foundation is speculative and based on opinion at best, then when the winds come, (and they will) we will fall flat.
Think about it, when tornadoes sweep through towns where there are both permanent homes built on solid foundations and mobile home parks with trailers on minimal temporary foundations, the difference in the after-math of the two is remarkable; the lightly tethered homes are whisked away in a heart beat leaving nearly no trace behind other than concrete pads, whereas despite the destruction of the permanent homes, there remains a remnant and evidence of what once stood.
The point is, that there will be storms of such magnitude in our lives that despite our best efforts we will suffer loss. Yet the foundation that remains will tell the story to those look on of one whose life was different. Some of us will likely encounter the prophet Job did; some of life's most treacherous and debilitating tragedies such as Cancer, or an unexpected loss of a family member, or perhaps even worse we may become incapacitated to a degree that we can no longer care for ourselves. Whatever the challenge, James reminds us that trials will come our way. How we deal with these challenges we be directly reflected in what we have anchored our life.
A lot to think about, but I am reminded that Jesus offers to take upon Himself our burdens in trade for His which He says is light.
