Have you heard people speculate that the Church is dying? People wonder how to revive it– do we need newer language? more contemporary music? To target younger families? Or, do we need to re-discover the Church’s purpose and do more meaningful ministry? Has the message been too watered down? Should we go back to our routes? Why are the pews getting emptier and the doors of some congregations being forced to close? Is that the fate of the Church? Will it die out with the older generations now attending? Or, will it change into something so different that we will not be able to recognize it?
Maybe. But, if the Church is the body of Christ, then I believe it will still be around long after we’re gone. The Church does not exist for itself. Congregations and numbers of people in the pew are not the point. The Church exists to be the hands and feet of Christ and to point people to God. The Church exists to help bring about God’s reign of love and peace and justice. As long as there is a need to bring people to God, I believe God will call and equip people to be God’s Church in this broken world. Israel was once God’s chosen people, meant to show God’s glory and bring people to God. When Israel did not point the way and lead other nations to God, God called a new Church, comprised of both Jews and Gentiles. God is not bound by rules or traditions or buildings. God is not bound within congregations. God will always find a way to reach God’s beloved children. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. Not even ourselves. Not even death because death does not have the final word. And, if the Church does die, I expect God will resurrect it.
This is freeing. It frees us from fear of failure and fear of death. It frees us to live in faith and to live in love and service. And in doing this, we just might find the answer we’ve been searching for– the life and future of the Church. Read Romans 8:38-39, and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally!
Annie
Today’s Reading: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8:38-39
Joy Lutheran Church Ocala, Florida 
This is wonderfully freeing and a real wake up call. Are we focused on doing whatever a specific church or church tradition is doing or are we focused on pointing toward God by helping “bring about God’s reign of love and peace and justice” – a great way to plan and test our missions and actions! Great thoughts and great verse. Thanks!