5 Myths About That Strange Word "Church"

As I reflect on the first few months of our pursuit of planting a gospel-centered church here in Melrose, I’ve noticed several reactions that immediately spring up when that dreaded, archaic, religious word “church” is suddenly dropped in conversation. So I thought I’d take a minute to address 5 of the more prominent myths I’ve encountered with what I hope are some helpful clarifications.

Church is only for nice, clean, moral people who have it all perfectly together.

Nope. We refer to Seven Mile Road as being a "community of sinners, saved by grace." Church is not a call to the already-holy, already-functional, already-pretty-good-people-of-the-world to add a religious notch to their already-impressive belts. It is a call to messed up, broken, self-absorbed, rebellious sons of Adam and daughters of Eve to hear the surprising good news that a perfectly holy God has somehow not treated us as our sins deserve, but in free grace has shown mercy by atoning for our sins in the death and resurrection of Jesus. Church is not for saints who have arrived on their own merit, but sinners who have been rescued through the cross.

Church is only about judgment.

Nope. Of course, church is about judgment. God is infinitely glorious, holy, and just and requires His creation to respond rightly to His person in love and obedience. Our incessant refusal to do so demands that He respond with justice, and any loving church will warn its people about this. But, gladly, that’s only half the story. Church is also about grace. Marvelously, God is not only just, he is also merciful. He not only upholds law, he also works gospel. So church is not merely about being reminded of the necessary and pending judgment on our sin, but also about the incomprehensible kindness of God to answer judgment with grace.

Church is only for older people.

Nope. This one is in line with the whole let-me-do-what-I-want-while-I’m-young-and-I’ll-get-right-with-God-later misunderstanding. Throughout Scripture the “day of salvation” is labeled as being today. In other words, responding to the gospel is not a play we run towards the end of our lives to cover our bases for the afterlife. It’s an invitation right now, whatever age you are, to take hold of the raucous joy of being reconciled to the living God, delighting in His person and work, living in accord with His intentions for human flourishing, and participating now in the realities of the eternity to come. Who would want to wait on that? Not us. And so Seven Mile is filled with folks from 0-80.

Church is necessarily boring.

Sure, it could be. But if a church is convinced in its soul that God speaks to His people through His Word and by His Spirit, and that He gladly receives our worship when we give and sing and repent and believe, any semblance of tediousness is immediately eviscerated. Biblically-speaking, when Jesus’ people gather before Him on a Sunday (the day He walked out of His tomb) to be centered around His Word and sacrament, the roof is ripped off the place and all of heaven joins in the liturgy. A Yankee-Sox game 7 at Fenway is a tired bore in comparison with that. Making church exciting is not about bringing in smoke, lasers, and iPad giveaways into the service, but about being a people who are willing to take God at His word.

Church is an event I attend.

Nope. Church comes from the English word kirk, but its roots stem back into Scripture where little communities of believers would gather together to share a life of faith in deeply relational ways. This included “services” on Sundays where pastors and teachers would faithfully preach the gospel they received from Jesus’ Apostles. But it didn’t stop there. These bullied and persecuted Christians would share meals together, care for the poor together, pray together, and, if necessary, die together confessing Christ. The story of God’s love and power displayed in the cross and empty tomb for their salvation had changed everything about their lives and bound their souls together. That’s what a church is, and that is what we are shooting for at Seven Mile Road.