What picture comes to mind when you think of the church? The Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 5:25-27 that Jesus loves the church and sacrificed himself in order to make the church holy and to present her to himself as a radiant church! What makes the church radiant? How would you evaluate the radiance of the church as a whole or our local church specifically?
The letter to the Ephesians is excellent in communicating the identity of who we are as a church and how we should live out that identity in our relationships with one another and in relation to the world around us. The first three chapters are filled with prayers extoling the blessings we enjoy being part of the church and last three on how we are to live as a church community in a dark world.
LESS THAN RADIANT
The themes repeated throughout the letter describe a radiant church that is united and diverse, made holy and doing what is right by God’s grace, granted wisdom and truth, and is rooted and growing in God’s love. Is the church today united, a proclaimer of truth, holy in conduct, and demonstrating love? It would not be hard to argue that the church as a whole in America often falls short of being radiant. Perhaps this explains in part the decline of the church’s influence in society and a rapid dropoff of church attendance among younger generations, especially within the dominant culture. Many long for a more just society, caring community, and seek for truth and meaning, yet more and more no longer think to find that in the church.
GOING BACK TO THE SOURCE
While we need to evaluate ourselves, let us not despair. In humility we need to acknowledge that our lives and the church is a work in progress. This honest assessment helps us realize all the more that the building of the church is a spiritual work of God to bring healing and wholeness into a broken divided world and among a people who have fallen from God’ image and design. The way forward is not doubling down with self determination and good intentions or blaming others. Rather, let us have a renewed desire to pray as Paul did that God may “give you (the church) the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better” (Ephesians 1:17). Our hope and power are in Christ alone who is “to be head over everything for the church.” We are only radiant when He enlightens and empowers us! As we reflect on the powerful truths and implications in the book of Ephesians, may God be at work mightily in us to make us a more radiant church in Christ.
INTERESTED IN DIVING DEEPER?
Check out the series Together, on RightNow Media providing 30 days of short reflections by a diverse group of speakers on different aspects of the book of Ephesians. You can access it and other studies on Ephesians by going to RightNow Media and checking the current themes listed under Community of Nations Church. If you have not signed up yet for RightNow Media, contact me to be invited to join this media resource as a free gift to you form our church.
