Is it really important for Christians to be part of a local church? According to Pastor Scott Sauls, we were created to live in community and that community can be found most effectively in the local church.
The church is the Bride of Christ and is extremely close to his heart. Distancing ourselves from the church keeps us from experiencing unity in the body of Christ. Pastor Sauls draws us closer to this truth with a quote from Father Cyprian,
“He basically said, you can’t be connected from to Christ and presume to be disconnected from the church. Christ and His bride come as a package deal.”
In our culture the priority is on the individual at the cost of the group. However, that is not how it has always been or how God intended us to live. Scripture encourages Christians to lean towards interdependence within the body of Christ. This message of interdependence has been lost in in translation.
“That message can also get lost in our English translations. Virtually every time the Bible references you it is you plural not you singular. The Bible is giving commandments, encouragements, grace and truth to communities, not chiefly to individuals. There is so much there.”
Pastor Sauls reflects on God’s design for unity in the church and the importance of following Christ together.
“What it boils down to is there’s really no way we can be disconnected from community if we’re made in the image of a triune God who is a community of a Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”
“We do harm to ourselves by sort of going alone. We weren’t made to follow Jesus in isolation, we were made to follow Him in community.”
Scott Sauls is senior pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville. In addition to his books, Scott’s work has been featured in Christianity Today, Relevant Magazine, Qideas, Catalyst, Leadership Magazine, aholyexperience, OnFaith, The Gospel Coalition, Key Life, as well as other publications.
Featured Songs: No Turning Back by Chris Tomlin; Man of Sorrows by Hillsong; Open up the Heavens by Meredith Andrews
Christ and the church
