Unwrapping Church

When I was 13, I decided for about a year that I was going to start collecting comics. Spider-man was (and still is) my favorite superhero, so I focused many of my efforts on him. As luck would have it, that was the year Marvel released the 30th anniversary special issue hologram cover Spider-man comic. I bout it quickly, took it home carefully, never opened it as to preserve the spine from cracking. I inserted a piece of thin cardboard into the sleeve to make sure the edges didn’t wear from it’s packaging…and I stored it away. 

I never did unwrap that comic. I checked on it years later to see how much the value had appreciated and it was worth double what I paid for it. That’s right. $7.00, baby!

I was actually really disappointed. I thought it was going to be worth so much! Here’s the thing: that comic wasn’t created to be saved and sold. It was written to be read and enjoyed. To inspire courage, authenticity, and creativity. It’s real value was found in the author’s original purpose, not the self-seeking purpose I tried to impose on it.

The church is the same. We should not focus on what we can get out of it, going out of our way to protect our potential payout. Instead, we need to unwrap it, take it out of the plastic, crack the spine, wear out the corners, leave our fingerprints all over it, and experience the fullness of its author’s original purpose.

Acts 2:42-47

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.

A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity — all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.