1 Timothy 3:14+15- Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
Church isn't somewhere you go or something you do. The church is who you are; it's the body of Christ, and you are a member. That means that everywhere you go, you bring the church with you. Here's a question for you to consider: As you go through your life and interact with the people around you, are you displaying the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth?
Let's break it down. Representing the living God means reflecting Him- being Christlike- in your attitude, your words, and the way you treat people. Christians always send a message to the people around them; concerning "the church of the living God", it could be either one of two things...
- A, "God is alive, and I am accountable to Him."
- or B, "God is not alive. It doesn't matter what I do, because He doesn't care."
The end of verse 15 calls the church "the pillar and foundation of the truth." 1 Corinthians 4:1 also says, "So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God." This verse has really challenged me to represent Christ accurately at school or just when I'm talking to someone about Christianity. When you witness to believers and nonbelievers alike, it's important that you take great caution to speak the truth. It sounds obvious, but this means you have to have a solid foundation in the Word and an active relationship with God so that you really know what you're talking about. You can't teach a subject that you haven't studied. If you find yourself unable to answer when people ask you questions about your faith, ask God to teach you from the Bible AND from experience. I have asked this of God many times, and each time He opened my eyes to something new and amazing.
I want to leave you with one final thought- this is something that just occurred to me today. In 1 Corinthians 26-27, Paul says, "Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave..." Without training, it's difficult to do anything for the Kingdom of God. That's why it's important to pray, read the Bible, and accept teaching from other believers- without that strong foundation, you're ineffectual. It's like jumping into the pool for the first time and trying to swim laps before you've learned the strokes: You can try as hard as you want, but you won't go anywhere. You're stuck in place, flapping your arms and windmilling your legs. But if you take the time to learn from the Coach, He'll help you to coordinate your arms and legs and you'll be so much more effective.
Summing it all up: If you want to be effective as the church of the living God, it has to start between you and God, and you have to make sure that your life and doctrine reflect the truth of Christ.
