For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God's word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. I n the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. And we are members of his body. - Ephesians 5: 25-30 (NLT)
Jesus Christ gave up His life for the church. Is it flawed? Yes because man is flawed. But at the end of the day it is the vehicle chosen by God to bring forth His glorious Good News about salvation. I have had my share of what Pastor Crank calls, "sucky experiences" in church. I have seen men playing church for their own ends instead of for the cause of Christ. I have seen things go on in a church that would make the world blush. But none of that changes who the church is supposed to be. Don't go chasing your bad experiences down the paths of irreverence because this is where you end up. The church doesn't suck. Christ and the church are one.
Reverend Anthony Wade - October 9, 2013
