A few months ago I passed a church that had an interesting question on its sign board. The question was, “Would Jesus Join this Church?” For months I have had that question running through my mind, “What kind of church would Jesus join?”
I wondered if Jesus would join a church because of its style of worship or music. Would He join a church because of its programs, like, Sunday School, AWANAS, or other innovative types of programs? Would Jesus join a church based on the building, whether it is a beautiful, old, stately building with lots of tradition, stained glass windows and a pipe organ, or would it be in a horse barn or in a store front? Would Jesus join a church that had no conflict?
As I visit with people, many of them are saying we like this church because of this and we do not like that church because of that (whatever this or that may be). This or that may have to do with programs and styles, but is that the most important thing about joining a church?
After thinking and looking at the Scriptures trying to come to some conclusion about the kind of church Jesus would join, I came up with the following observations: Jesus worshipped in the synagogues as well as the temple. Synagogues were simple in design and the worship was different than that of the temple. The temple was elaborate in its design and furnishing, and its worship was very formal and structured. Jesus also worshipped in the outdoors.
I believe you and I should be a part of churches that share the following mission: to be a group of born-again, baptized believers of the Lord Jesus Christ who allow Jesus to be head of the Church and that those born-again believers would join Jesus in His purpose which is “to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). Further, this church would have at its very core the attitude of Jesus when He said, “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matt. 20:28 NKJV)
The question is: “Would Jesus join your church?”
Only you can answer this question. (George Roach is ministerial services specialist for the Missouri Baptist Convention.)