This Is A Church

Samnang, one of my teammates, was sharing some photos with me recently. He showed me a photo (right). I asked what the photo was about.  Why was he showing me this photo? 

"This is a church" he responded.

When I heard those words something inside me clicked.  

Because the photo was something that is so drastically different from the concept of "church" that I am used to, I had to stop for a moment and process.  At first I was wondering whether this could actually be considered a church, but then I began to consider my own concept of "church".

I asked Samnang to share more about the photo with me.  He said that because of COVID, the church was not allowed to meet in their building.  At that time there was no known community spread of COVID in the nation, but the church leaders were still being careful.  The church family had decided to go to the river, fish, have lunch and worship together.  After fishing and having lunch someone led songs of worship and someone shared from the Word of God. To them this was a natural way for them to continue to live out community. 

Samnang then went on to share that the church planter who planted this church had also planted five other churches in the midst of COVID, using homes, meeting families in rice fields during the rice harvest and just reaching out to people in their normal daily environment.  

As I asked Samnang more questions he shared that the church planter's greatest desire is that people can know Jesus and be discipled.  What that looks like, or how it happens isn't as important as people coming to know Christ.  

I've lived in Cambodia for 10 years, so I am very familiar with how house churches begin and have seen similar things happen over the years.  However, this photo and the conversation really challenged me as I've watched churches around the world struggle during COVID.  And let's be honest, many were struggling before COVID.  What does that mean afterwards?

Are we focusing on reaching people with the message of Christ's redemption and finding ways to disciple them as they grow in their faith in God? Or, do we get sidetracked with trying to make that happen in our current facilities or programs. What can we learn from these church families about adjusting to continue God's mission in the changing circumstances of our world.  How can we enjoy real, genuine relationship?

I'm not writing this to present a definition of "church", to have a theological discussion, or to criticize anyone's current model of a church.  I believe God uses many different styles and models to accomplish His heart's desire of restoring people's relationship to Him through the cross of Christ.

What the photo has done is to challenge me to focus on helping people create communities that fulfill God's mission, where fellowship, communion, new birth and growth in Christ happens.  How or where it happens isn't as important as God's desire that "it" happens!  I've decided I want to be like this church planter when I grow up! 

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I am upset and prayerful.  This post is not about the people or building in the photo, but about the person behind the camera. 

Not too long ago my family had a unique opportunity to be on the Capitol steps in the early night when noone else was there. We were standing on the same spot where the first rioters broke through this week. As we were standing there talking, admiring the Capitol and all it's meaning, a Capitol policeman from the First Responder Unit came over and engaged our family in great conversation. He thanked us for coming. Talked about the Capitol and his long career guarding the Capitol prayerfully. He shared about his faith. Since there obviously weren't any tours at the time, he pointed out significant aspects of the Capitol. He took us to the spot where inaugurations take place ad described what it tis like to be there.  He didn't need to do any of these things, but he did. He took time and showed care. He envisioned our kids for something greater than ourselves.

I'm imagining this incredible man of kindness, integrity and service on the day of the riot and what he must have gone through.  Today, he's mourning the loss of one of his very own unit, who died as a result of the riot.  His boss has been forced to resign. The symbolic building where he so reverently serves has been desecrated.

I wish I could say "Shut up" loud enough that people on BOTH sides of the ideological spectrums would listen, but that's not possible. They are already bickering again and desecrating anew the very house they swore to serve. Good people like this policeman got hurt, and will continue to if the nonsense continues.

What I can do is say to the Capitol policeman who offered to take our photo, is that I'm sorry this happened to you. I can treat others the way he treated my family on that special night. I can pray. Would you join me in prayer for him and those who serve with him?

"if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land" 2 Chronicles 7:14