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by Michael Myers

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It Takes a Church to
Raise a Christian

Cheesy headline, huh? Maybe it brings up subtle memories of a politician of the recent past? Or perhaps (for the more cultured), it reminds us of an African proverb.

Well, the truth is I ripped it off of a book that bears the same title, written by Tod E. Bolsinger. Beyond its catchy ring, I believe we can hear an eternal tone.

Four years ago, I stepped onto this campus with many ambitions; one of the biggest is familiar to nearly all of us. I wanted to find myself, my giftings and my passions.

There's nothing wrong with these desires if they remain secondary in our hearts. But if they become primary, Jesus' desire for us will directly oppose them: "Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will gain it."

Jesus' "sake" was for his father and for his people, the church. In the same way, we must live for God by living for his church.

A Christian could never mature if he were the only one walking the planet; he must have community. This community is the church.

Only through living for the church can the Christian ever achieve maturity.

He must have the church to laugh with, to love, to serve, to live for -- even to die for.

In finding his purpose, Jesus lost his life. He "gave it as a ransom for many." He gave it for his church. His church simply being those who have partaken of his sacrifice.

So if Jesus found his purpose by giving up his life, what makes me think I will find mine any differently?

Why was Christ's impact so great? Not because he was fixated on "finding himself" but because he lived and died for his church.

We're called to do the same. No wonder Jesus said, "They will know you by your love."

We were made to lose our lives to God by giving our lives to his church. Without the church a Christian will never fulfill his purpose.

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