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Christ and the ChurchI was introduced to the local church in 1999. I was not a Christian. I was doing well in my teaching job before I was saved. Although I did not know what I lacked at that time, I felt very empty. There was a deep thirst that nothing could satisfy. I did not know who I was and where I should be. Thank the Lord! He visited me through a sister. One day, one of my co-workers told me that she was a Christian. I was very happy and I asked her if I could go to a church meeting with her. I had no idea what the church really was, however I just wanted to visit. The sister was also very happy and brought me to the local church in a city called Shimotsuma. It was the first time I ever tasted Christ in the church. I saw brothers and sisters in Christ who were full of life. My eyes were opened to see the church through this sister's shepherding. She told me about Ephesians 1:22. The church, which is “ekklesia” in Greek, the called-out congregation, is not a material building. The church is a gathering of those who have been called out of the world by God. The church is composed of all the believers in Christ (footnote 4, Recovery Version of the New Testament). I was brought to a place composed of living members in Christ who practice oneness in a certain locality. There are many local churches all over the world, and each local church expresses the universal church, which is the unique Body of Christ, in its locality. I cannot practically meet all the brothers and sisters in the universal church, but the Lord brought me to a local church where I can be nourished and shepherded by the great Shepherd through the brothers and sisters who are full of Christ as their life. We are all one in the enjoyment of Christ. My experience of Christ with the local church can be summarized by Luke 10:34, “And he came to him and bound up his wounds and poured oil and wine on them. And placing him on his own beast, he brought him to an inn and took care of him.” I was once wounded and had no life within me, but one day Christ came to me and enlivened me. He brought me to “an inn”, the church; and took care of me through the believers. He is still taking care of me in the local church in a practical way. Kumiko Hayashi | Back to List |
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