And the Lord gave me such faith in churches that I would pray with simplicity in this way and say: "We adore You, Lord Jesus Christ, in all your churches throughout the whole world and we bless You because by your holy cross You have redeemed the world."
I was reminded of how cynical we become about the church - how easy it is to be critical of what we feel the church has become. I too am guilty of taking this easy road.
It is well for us to reminded, however, of the value the church holds in our lives - and in the life of the world. I once had a professor of World Civilization that told us that the greatest single influence on Western Civilization was Christianity. And lest we forget - or avoid remembering - the core presence of Christianity is the church. We may bemoan the weaknesses and sins of the church over the centuries, but perhaps we need to balance that criticism with thanksgiving that Christ gifted us with his Body - that we might carry out his Great Commission to carry his good news to all the world. Quite simply, there has been no greater transmitter of His gospel than the church.
So the next time we're tempted to lament the diminishing numbers in attendance, let's recall once more the words of Jesus as spoken in Matthew 18.
Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in Heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.
Next time you're in worship - give thanks for God's gift of the Body of Christ - for where we are, he is there among us.
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