THE TRIANGULAR CHURCH

                

                                                                    GOD

YOUME

The Church as we know it is not a physical structure. People think of it that way because traditionally, the Church meets in a designated building. But of course, it meets outdoors or in other buildings on other occasions. However, as the Bible explains, the Church is God's people! So, the Church is not defined by where it meets to worship, what it does, or how it does it; it is determined by what it is – the Body of Christ.

 The Bible also refers to the Church as a spiritual building, built on the prophets and apostles as the foundation and Jesus Christ Himself as the cornerstone. We, His children, are members of the household of God. Collectively, we are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit (see Ephesians 2:19-22). Individually, all Christians are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, which is why we are each the Temple of God; when we meet collectively, we are the Church. 

The Church is also called the Body of Christ: Christ is the head of the Body, and we, His children, form the other parts: the arms, legs, etc. (see Romans 12:4-5). The Church is also classified as the family of God, where He is the Father (parent), and we are His children.

I see the Church as a triangle because we are each joined to Christ and then to each other. How can a triangle become a single structure? Jesus has brought us to God through His death and resurrection; He tore down the wall (sin) that separated us from God! And through that one act, He broke down the wall of hostility between the Jew and Gentile, black and white (see Ephesians 2:14), whereby there's no longer the Jew and the Gentile, black and white; there's only the Church, the Body, or the family of God.      

Since all the walls are down, with nothing separating us from God or each other, how should we live and relate to each other? The Lord instructs us to live in love just as He loved us and, by our passion, prove to the world that we are family, living in the light (see John 13:34; 1 John 2:10). He further emphasizes the kind of love that is acceptable: "Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other" (Romans 12:10). And by the same token, anyone who doesn't love other members of the family, proves that he or she doesn't belong to God (see 1 John 3:10).

During Paul's last discourse with the elders of the Ephesian Church, he charged them to take care of the flock: "Guard yourselves and God's people. Feed and shepherd God's flock--his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as elders" (Acts 20:28).

Peter wrote a similar letter to church elders: "Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly … Don't lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example" (1 Peter 5:2-3). In verse 5, Peter admonished, "Accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 

Humility and respect for each other are necessary for a peaceful and loving environment in which to live and thrive in faith. They were united, humble, and patient, cutting each other additional slack when things didn't go as expected (see Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:2-4). These charges also apply to us; let's watch and pray for each other so the devil doesn't pit us against each other.

If we loved genuinely, serving each other would be easy; we'd be able to help cheerfully, not considering race, gender, age, social status, or any such thing. In the Body of Christ, some have the gift of serving; they need to serve without hesitation (see Romans 12:7). Everyone's gifts are meant to be used to help the Body in love; if we do, all the Church's needs will be met.

Another way we should express love for each other is to be willing to suffer for each other as Jesus did for us; the apostle Paul said it this way: "I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, the church" (Colossians 1:24). Of course, suffering in the body is not the only way to suffer; we can suffer emotionally and financially as well.

And finally, since we are co-heirs with Christ, Gentile or Jew, black or white, we will enter God's presence to enjoy our inheritance together: "And this is God's plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe in the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God's children. Both are part of the same Body and enjoy the promise of blessing because they belong to Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 3:6).

Praise God, the dividing walls are down; we are one people for God's glory! Let's love each other well.