Rev. Don Campbell
Ezekiel 32-34
THOUGHT FOR TODAY, September 6, 2019
“THE TRUE CHURCH OF CHRIST”
Our title may seem rather unusual for our text. The promises of the text are fulfilled in Christ, but not so much Christ as he walked the earth, but Christ as he indwells his body which still walks the earth (Ezekiel 34:23-24). A true church of Christ is both a blessing and is blessed: “And I will make them and the places all around my hill a blessing, and I will send down the showers in their season; they shall be showers of blessing” (Ezekiel 34: 26).
This forum will permit only a basic outline of the blessings promised in chapter 34: They are deliverance (vv. 11-16; John 8:31-34), peace (vv. 25; Ephesians 2:11-22), security (v. 28; John 10:22-30), and fruitfulness (v. 29; Colossians 1:3-6). These blessings are poured out on the true church of Christ, which is a blessing to the world because it reflects the spirit of Christ. If it does not reflect this spirit, it has no claim to be the true New Testament church, regardless of how rigidly it may adhere to doctrine.
In the text, the spirit of Christ manifests itself in believers both individually and collectively in three ways: A spirit of compassion controls (vv. 1-4; Jude 17-23;1 Thessalonians 5:14). A spirit of mission empowers (vv. 5-16; John 10:16; 1 Thess 1:8). A spirit of servanthood guides (vv. 17-24; Matthew 23:1-12; 20:20-28). These all add up to the truth that the true church of Christ cares about people—all people, including those with problems. If a church does not have a well-worn path to its doors, does this mean that it does not care about people?
In some cases, the answer is a definite yes. In others, the fault may lie with those who are scattered abroad. Some are not in the market for a savior because they have either found one or don’t want one. Some are not in the market for a church because they have one or don’t want one. Some have been turned off to all religion by the religious quacks and charlatans who prey upon the gullible. However, after considering these qualifiers, every church claiming to be Christ’s church must ask, “Do we really care about people with problems or are we seeking to raid denominational sheepfolds in an effort to capture their prize-winning sheep?”
All who claim to be a member of the church you read about in the New Testament should ponder the following:
• Have we ever been accused of violating the traditions of our spiritual ancestors—Jesus was? (Matthew 15:1-3)
• Have we ever been accused of being soft on sin and friends of sinners—Jesus was? (Luke 7:33-35)
• Have we ever been accused of putting people before rules—Jesus was? (John 9:1-16)
Could it be that if we are not being accused of these things then we do not have the Spirit of Christ?
CONNECTIONS
1. Some people go from church to church, looking for the perfect one. If they were to find one, what would become of its perfect when the church hopper settled in?
2. What rebuke does God give in Ezekiel 34:1-6, which would indict many hireling shepherds today?
