Church on my back

A Somali nomad once said "Show me how I can carry your church on the back of my camel before you talk to me about your Jesus". This poor man has come to believe that the Christian faith is not for his people, because the church that he has witnessed is something centred around a building.

As Christians we are quick to point out that the church is not a building but a group of people gathered together in the name of Christ. Even 2 or 3 people gathered together right? Yes, we know this is true because we have been taught that that is the true meaning of the body of Christ. But our practice betrays us. The easiest word to refer to the place we meet is "church", we say it all the time. The true meaning, the people gathered together, is honestly a secondary meaning if our usage is the marker. And so much more for people who have never been part of a church. From the outside "church" primarily means building.

The nomad is right. The way we do church, whether its stained glass windows or theatre quality sound systems, is not going to travel well by camel train.

But he is also so wrong! There is actually nothing about the kingdom of God and his new Covenant with His people, that can't be carried on our backs.

1Corithians 3:16 Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? 17 God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

The kingdom of God is in us! We carry this gospel of Christ on our backs wherever we go. Outsiders don't have to come to a temple to encounter the presence of God. They can hear the message of hope and hear the Word of God wherever one of us manages to go. God's kingdom is a mobile one, and it thrives when we are on the move!

Yes, there are good things that happen inside buildings that are dedicated to the Glory of God. I'm not denying that at all. But we limit ourselves severely if we think that is where our best work is done. And we are dead wrong if we think that is where God's presence wants to remain.

I think the early believers had a better understanding of their nomadic calling than we do. It only took a few centuries for Christian churches to become better reflections of Israel's temple rather than the threatened community they began as. Consider, if you will, the subtle difference between the phrase "The church of God in Corinth" or "The churches in Galatia" as Paul's letters are addressed and "The Church of England". Now, I have nothing against the church of England, I'm an anglican myself. (mostly;) The early believers saw themselves as citizens of another kingdom and temporary travellers in the lands they lived in.

1Peter 1:1 This letter is from Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ.

I am writing to God’s chosen people who are living as foreigners in the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.

Those people knew that they carried the church on their backs. It was not a metaphor for them it was reality. I believe we can do that too. We can and do take the good news with us wherever we go. Jesus' church is alive and moving! We might be made of stones, but not the heavy, sharp kind, we are the strong kind and not rejected! God is pleased with us!

1 Peter 3: 5 And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.

I think the early believers had a better understanding of their nomadic calling than we do.