The Church's Relevance

Webster defines "relevance" as 1-a: relation to the matter at hand; b: practical and especially social applicability or 2: the ability to retrieve material that satisfies the needs of the user. Today, I'm hearing more and more about relevancy as it relates to the Church and Church change.

And He [Christ] is before all things and by Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body of the church (Colossians 1:17-18a)

I have a problem with this. It seems to me that more and more, church leaders have changed the Church to make it appeal to more people, when I think they should work to change people so they will recognize the Church's appeal. Otherwise, there's a real danger of offering a diluted Christianity that draws lukewarm Christians.

Now I beseech you, brethern, make them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

Too many times I see churches trying to become "socially acceptable." If we're trying to please man instead of God, we're in real trouble. God's truths don't change. They're the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Woe unto us if we try to interpret them to make certain sins acceptable.

But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God. which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of truth ( 1 Timothy 3:15).

Likewise, I think the Church, God's body of believers, the bride of Christ, is relevant without major surgery or having to undergo drastic change. Instead of changing the Church to make it relevant in today's world, perhaps we need to change the world to see the relevancy of the Church and how much they need God.

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