“Going to church has nothing to do with being a Christian,” a rather indignant friend said. “I can be just as good a Christian at home or at the lake as sitting in a church. Better maybe.”

Some things never change. Charles Spurgeon, known as “The Prince of Preachers” talked about a similar run-in with a friend back in the 1800’s.

His answer?  A brick by itself is made up of the same substance as a brick in a building.  You could say it is just as good as any of the bricks forming the walls.  But it isn’t much use all alone.  Only when it is cemented together with other bricks does it fulfill the purpose for which it is made. Otherwise it is just a worthless object cluttering the landscape — ready to do nothing more productive than to stub someone’s toe.

You can be a Christian and not go to church — and certainly church attendance doesn’t make  you automatically right with God.  However, God has chosen to use His church as a means for showing His glory and for His service in the world.  To fulfill the purpose for which we are made, we need to be cemented together, working together, with other Christians.

It isn’t up to us individual bricks to decide how or if we will be used, anyway.  He made us, He called us, and He has the right to use us how and where He pleases.

No church is perfect.  I’ve been a pastor’s wife for 38 years so I can assure you that I am aware of the diversity of faults church members can have.  But we imperfect bricks need each.  It’s together that we can glorify and serve Him best.

Eating to live and living for Christ,

Susan Jordan Brown