We are the Church

by Matt McLain

“…on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hell will not overcome it.”

Jesus, build your church. YOU ARE THE BUILDER.

You have not built the church with materials that can be melted down, broken up or swept away.

You have built the church on the proclamation that Jesus is Lord and mighty to save.

The Gospel can’t be deemed untrue,
the Gospel can’t lose its salvific power,

 THEREFORE

 the church cannot be destroyed.

 “…and the gates of Hell will not overcome it.”

 Division, sickness and darkness…God, we see the fiery gates glaring. We feel the heat. We fear. We huff. We harbor. We pull back.

YET

WE READ.

WE PRAY.

WE ASK.

WE GIVE.

WE STRIVE.

WE KNEEL.

WE KNEEL.

WE KNEEL.

at the altar.

Strength becomes us. Love becomes us.

We come together strong. Because you say we are strong.

We come together. Because you say we are ONE body.

We remain. Because you remain.

“…and the gates of Hell will not overcome it.”

If we can be overcome by a pandemic, by an election, by the gates of hell, then we were not the church.

But we are the church.

So we cannot be overcome.

Author Bio
Matt McLain is the Student Minister at Council Road Baptist Church. He has been on staff for six years but has been a life-long member! Matt and his wife, Sarah, are expecting their first child on June 1. Matt is most looking forward to having more reasons to laugh and smile and carry around a backpack full of snacks.