A House Is Not A Home

Sam Hamstra | May 4, 2009

Pop recording artist, Burt Bacharach, wrote a love song subsequently recorded by Dionne Warwick, Luther Van Dross, and others. It’s title is a play on words with keen insight - "A House Is Not A Home." The words go something like this: "A chair is still a chair even when there is no one sitting there, but a chair is not a house, and a house is not a home." If a house were a home, when you bought a house you would move in without touching a thing. But makes a house a home include the plagues you place on the wall, the colors of the rooms, and the experiences you share within its walls.

"A House Is Not A Home" - We may take that simple play on words and apply it to the Church of Jesus Christ (in its localized form). A congregation of people is not a church; a building is not a church; a menu of ministries is not a church; a membership roll is not a church;and a group of people who affirm similar doctrine is not a church. Looking through Scripture, discover that a local church a group of Christians united by the Holy Spirit who covenant to live in authentic community. A large building, an extensive menu of ministries, and large numbers are, in and of themselves, not the church.  While each of those realities may be viewed as a blessing, they are but the house, not the home for we may share each of those experiences and still miss out on the heart and soul of the Christian Church - authentic community.

That may explain why, after eleven chapters of solid biblical teaching on a handful of doctrines (Romans 1-11), when Paul begins to apply truth to life (Romans 12), he offers a comprehensive picture of authentic community; he invites  followers of Jesus to embrace a love that is sincere, discerning, affectionate, and respectful. He encourages a love that is both enthusiastic and patient, both generous and hospitable, both benevolent and sympathetic. He calls for a love marked by both harmony and humility.

When we respond faithfully to that invitation, the church becomes that community within which we fellowship whether we are weak or strong, sick or healthy, broken or whole, crying or laughing, walking with Christ or running from him. It becomes that community which we know, without a doubt, will embrace us with open arms, view us with non-condemning eyes, and encourage us with big hearts.  When we, by God's grace, embody Paul's teaching, the church becomes that fellowship through which, our children find the wind for their wings, young people find a safe place to explore, and the age receive affirmation while never being discarded.  The church becomes, in short, that family where we say to one another, "Nothing can stop me from loving you!" 

 

 

  • Categories:
Commenting is not available in this weblog entry.