A Holy Nation
(1 Pet. 2; Rev. 1; 5). The word “holy” carries the idea of being uncommon and set apart. In this holy nation, we are kings unto God. Christ is the King of our nation. (In the words of Peter, we are a “royal” priesthood.) Regrettably, the church of every age (since the third century) has sold out to the culture. Contrary to what some believe, the church is not the religious department of the culture. It’s a colony from heaven—a holy nation standing for holy values in a devalued world.
Test 7: Do the members of your church see themselves as part of a colony that belongs to another realm? Do they see themselves as resident aliens on this planet? Do their values reflect that of the Kingdom of God or this present culture?
Beyond a holy nation, the church is . . .
A Golden Lampstand
(Rev. 1-2). We are little lights joined together and made part of the same lampstand. Jesus Christ is the light, and the church bears His light in the world. Christ is also the High Priest who cleans the wick and pours fresh oil in the lampstand so that it always burns brightly.
Test 8: Does your church bear the light of Christ? Does it bear a corporate witness, or is witness viewed as the individual’s responsibility? Do people see the light of Christ through the church, and is it extinguishing darkness on any level?
Beyond a golden lampstand, the church is . . .
One Loaf
(John 12; 1 Cor. 10). Jesus Christ is the one grain. When He was put into the ground and rose again, He produced many grains. Those individual grains are useless unless they are crushed, have oil poured upon them, and are baked in a fiery oven to create one loaf. In the process of becoming one loaf, each grain loses its individualism and independence.
Test 9: Are the members of your church so connected together that they have lost their independence and individualism? Or do they live as independent, individualistic, uncrushed grains of wheat?
Beyond the one loaf, the church is . . .
