Have you ever had the nerve or the audacity to criticize another man's wife? I know, it's a weird question.
Part of what makes it such a weird question is that the answer should be a resounding, and obvious NO!
There are just some things you know you should never do, some boundaries just don't need to be explained; they're understood. This, well, this is one of those things, one of those boundaries. Whether the husband is 80 pounds when all wet or Hulk Hogan, you just don't dog another man's wife; his treasure.
So let me ask you -- what does God call the church, it's His what???
Say it louder! His BRIDE!!!!!!
So let me ask you again, you ever criticized another man's wife?
I have been a follower of Jesus for 30 years, and a pastor for nearly 15 years. So, I know as good as anyone what struggles and shortcomings the church has, but let me be clear in case I haven't been yet.
The Church is the BRIDE of the LIVING GOD!
I heard someone, no not just "someone", but another PASTOR recently say, "I am a Christian despite the church not because of it"
What kind of CRAP is that!
I'm not at all unfamiliar with people criticizing the church, and screaming out loud about every flaw the bride has. Frankly it's a lot easier to criticize than to create. Shamefully, too many Christians will always chose to criticize more than they help guard, build and develop the church. I also realize that many of these Christians will consider their viperous tongue to be "helpful" and to be their "building contribution" to the church instead of seeing their behavior for as shameful as it truly is. However, when the criticism moves beyond, "you're ugly" to "you're insignificant", man you just moved from crossing a line that shouldn't be crossed to picking a fight with God.
Unless you've never read the Bible, you can't deny the IMPORTANCE that God places on the presence, purpose & power of His bride in this world. She is the tool that He is using to be His body, and announce His kingdom until there are no more days left to announce it.
To my misguided, poison tongued, pastor peer, and to all others who call themselves "Christian" and yet share his sentiment, or just simply love to talk about the ugliness of Jesus Bride, let me be clear.
If you are truly a Christian then you ARE one BECAUSE OF the church. If you're a follower of Jesus then you can not deny that He has used some part of His bride in the process that has turned you so. From the martyrs on whose blood we stand, to the relationships you have had that loved you, shared with you, and have been the body of Jesus to you. How dare we, with the flip of a tongue, how dare we turn insignificant the very thing that Jesus created, died for, and is coming again to make blameless.
If my wife and I are fighting & even if she says or does something horrible to me. It makes no sense if in my anger & hurt I say to her, "I am a husband despite this marriage not because of it". Yet, this is exactly the reaction many Christians have in response to their hurt and disappointment with the church.
Some of you are probably thinking that I've just never been truly hurt by the church so what do I know. Actually, I have been hurt so deeply by the church that I will walk with a limp until Jesus return. BUT, I am also aware of the living God, and have met Him, and continue to experience Him BECAUSE OF His bride, the church.
Some of you are thinking, "man you're really angry", and my response to you is, YES!
Others of you might be cheering right now, well let's allow our cheer be clear. WE LOVE THE CHURCH, the bride of Christ, warts and all!! And we will guard her, love her, cherish her, and speak well of her from now to eternity.
In the bible in the book of Ezra, King Cyrus issued a decree concerning the temple of God being rebuilt in Jerusalem. At the end of his decree he makes clear just how serious he is about building and protecting the temple by signing off with this...
Ezra 6:11Furthermore, I decree that if anyone defies this edict, a beam is to be pulled from their house and they are to be impaled on it. And for this crime their house is to be made a pile of rubble. 12 May God, who has caused his Name to dwell there, overthrow any king or people who lifts a hand to change this decree or to destroy this temple in Jerusalem.
Sounds pretty harsh doesn’t it? I know that the temple is now the Christian and no longer a building, but the collection of us make up the church; the bride, the place where God now resides. Can we PLEASE stop tearing her apart by tearing her down! Yes, she still needs to be made perfect (because WE still need to be made perfect), and one day she will be. One day she will be dressed in white and presented to the Father by the Son. In the meantime, please choose to create over criticize.
