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Teresa Neumann/Commentary : Nov 23, 2009  BCN

Can you imagine the world without the Church?

Dissing the Church seems to be chic these days. Although, granted, it isn't perfect, I submit there are no other establishments peopled by humans that are superior to the Church. Certainly not any political offices or government entities. Even scientific and medical institutions, the secularists' answer to religion, are subject to embarrassing scandals. Remember the Korean cloning scientist, Hwang Woo-suk, who admitted in 2005 that he lied about his compliance with ethical protocols, prompting the biggest public relations disaster in that science's history?

While humans will be humans, the marvelous thing about the Church is that its members must ultimately bend their knees to Jesus Christ. It is this humbling requirement that endears me most to it. We get to have a loving, compassionate, selfless, brilliant, merciful Savior be the spirit and brains moving the strings of this bumbling, well-intentioned, formidable juggernaut called the Church.

Shades of Pinocchio and his master Gepetto.

Indeed, I remember being totally enthralled with the Church when I was first saved. A musician and student at heart, I couldn't wait until Sunday to worship and listen to anointed teaching. I couldn't get enough studying of the Word. I got to meet and hang out with like-minded people who were passionate about Jesus. Being able to move beyond the banalities of carnal life to discuss spiritual subjects with others was as heady as college life, but so, so, much better. Experiencing the presence of God was priceless. And it was all free. Or, at least, factoring in tithing, it was great bang for the buck!

Several years later, like Pinocchio, the world came creeping back in, enticing me with its version of reality. I began to wonder if the Church really was what critics accused it of being: stale, emasculated, intolerant, irrelevant…

Confronting the challenge, I dug into my relationship with God, asking for discernment. He challenged me to love the Church as He loves her. On a personal level, I also realized that ultimately, the status of my relationship with Christ hinges on my spiritual maturity; the ability—using Pinocchio as an example again—to forego the praise and empty ideologies of men and surrender to the desires of my Creator. Pleasing Him is what matters most.

As Thanksgiving nears, can we remember to give thanks for the Church, despite all the maddening complexities of church life that sometimes gets under our skin? I can't imagine the world without it. Can you?

Cumbersome
Fumbling
Maligned
Inelegant Church
In your weakness
You are unsurpassingly beautiful

Sometimes a thorn in the flesh
Many times bothersome
You are yet always a healing balm
Fragrant as the Rose of Sharon
Welcome as the First Dawn
Beloved

The earth's great Treasure Chest
You are full of gems
Precious, priceless
Let the nations rage and
Conspire against you
You belong to the King

Be not ashamed
Never lose heart
The key is your humility
His Glory is your power
Love as He loves you
And His Kingdom will come

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