A bizarre item of news caught my attention the other day. It seems a church in Russia was stolen. That’s right. A two story church in Moscow was stolen. The Russian Orthodox church was last seen in July. Apparently, people from the nearby village of Komarova dismantled the church & sold it to contractors. The going rate? 1 ruble, or 4 cents a brick.
The Diocese had planned to resume services in the 200 year old building. During the Soviet era services were banned & the building was used for a disabled children’s school. "Of course, this is blasphemy," a priest told The Associated Press. "These people have to realize they committed a grave sin."
While it is a sin to steal (and I suppose a serious sin to steal a church building!), technically the ‘church’ was just a building. A true church is actually the people. A congregation may have their church building burned to the ground, but they are no less a church.
Stalin sought to totally eradicate the church from Russia. It was a 10 year Siberian prison sentence for just ringing a church bell! One church building was used to house circus animals. After the fall of the Soviet Communist Empire, many feared they would go into the region & find few to no Christians left. After 70 years of banishment, what they found was a thriving ‘underground church.’
In our ‘land of the free and home of the brave,’ it is hard for many to fathom the stifling, persecution they endured. We have a church building on almost every corner in the south. Sadly, while many have the freedom to worship as they please, they are pleased not to worship.
I understand many have had negative experiences in a ‘church’ at some time. Someone may have said something or done something that hurt them or ‘turned them off of religion.’ Believe me, if you live long enough someone will say something hurtful or do something painful in about every arena of your life. You simply have to choose how you will respond.
Truth is, churches, like everything else, is made up of people. People aren’t perfect. Only God is perfect. Don’t let someone ‘steal your church.’ Don’t let a negative word or hateful person rob you of the wonderful blessing of a church family. At its’ best, God’s people can be an amazing blessing. The ‘early church’ had it going on! They were truly living out what God wanted His body to be.
“Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2: 44-47 NKJV
I have been in thousands of churches over the years & they are as diverse as people are. For all her ups and downs, I have seen the church shine like no other group. If you are not involved in a bible teaching, growing, encouraging body of believers, please plug in to one & fulfill all God would have for you!
www.myspace.com/davejacksonnewport.
Dave Jackson on facebook ASUN website www.bcmasunewport.org
Dave Jackson-Campus Minister djackson@absc.org
Cell: 870-217-9376 Dave’s Desk - http://bcmasunewport.blogspot.com
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment