Frankenstein's Monster

What do you think of when you think of the church?  Do you think of a family? Do you think of a club? (I hope you don't think of a club.)  What comes to mind?  Have you ever wondered what the world thinks of when they see the church?

In Dr. David Jeremiahs book, "Fruit of the Spirit" He writes in the overview to lesson 11 entitled How to Be Filled with the Spirit, he wrote...

Several years ago, a religious painter painted two pictures of Jesus and hung them together in a gallery.  The first picture was of the Jewish Christ, the one we're accustomed to seeing when we see pictures of the Lord.  It was very beautifully done and would bring a sense of inspiration and worship to anyone who would look at it.

Next to that traditional picture of Christ, the artist hung a picture he'd painted of the Lord Jesus Christ disfigured and ugly.  It was a misrepresentation of the genuineness of the Lord.  The artist was asked why he had painted these two pictures.

He said, "The first picture is Christ as He really is.  The second is the christ the world sees when they look at His church.  Those who are His body, who represent Him in the world."  Now I'm not sure what kind of churches this artist was used to, but I have met some very beautiful Christian men and women who represent the Lord in beauty and true holiness.  Someday they will hear Him say, "Well done! Well done!"

Dr. Jeremiah says, "The world does not see Christ physically as the first disciples saw Him.  They see Christ through His body, which is the church made up of true believers."

So it begs the question.  When the world looks at me and the world looks at you if you are a believer, what do they see?  Do they see the beauty, holiness, graciousness, and greatness of our Jesus?  Or do they see something akin to Frankenstein's Moster?  Frankenstein, as he is called, was made up of parts from several parts of several bodies, he was disfigured, and full of puss I think.

We have the wonderful ointment of the Holy Spirit to smooth over rough spots in relationships.  Let's face it "where two or more are gathered in His name"... there’s bound to be conflict.  The fruit of God's Spirit enables us to be supernaturally relating to one another.  It's a beautiful thing.  So what kind of picture do we paint?  The true Christ.  OR a misrepresentation?

It's very important that we walk with God in humility. Loving Him. Obeying Him.

If we do this He will increase and we will decrease.

“He MUST increase, We MUST decrease!”

When His glory is evident through us… the world stares in awe at the wonder of Christ’s body, the church.

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