THE QUEST FOR A PERFECT CHURCH

What makes a perfect church? I doubt I’ll ever know. Surely I would find something in any local body of believers that would make me question their orthodoxy. If I’m honest with myself, there are actions and attitudes within me that would probably lead to me being excluded from the perfect church. To adapt the quote by Groucho Marx: “I wouldn’t join a church that would accept me as a member!”

If I go to the New Testament in my search for the perfect church, I see how difficult perfection can be: Corinth suffered from division and open immorality; the Philippians were a body of believers who had left their first love; Rome pushed the limits of grace. Likewise, my church isn’t perfect, but we’re striving to meet Jesus’ intent for his people. While not perfect, there are some things very right with the church where I worship:

It’s is a snapshot of the church in the world. There is a broad spectrum of attitudes, opinions, and Spiritual maturity levels at my church. The experiences of our members run the gamut: small, conservative church backgrounds, large metropolitan church backgrounds, and little or no church backgrounds at all. This creates a melting pot of values and a refreshing spirit of acceptance where one does not need to be afraid to express his or her understandings. We wrestle together with biblical truths and we are unsatisfied with static propositions. When it comes to disagreement, we come together on the high ground of Holy Scripture where necessary and maintain humble opinions about the “gray areas.”

We are comfortable with diversity. We didn’t become culturally diverse by sweeping differences under the rug. Rather, we “go the extra mile” to understand brothers and sisters from varied ethnic, racial, social, and economic backgrounds. This mutual submission—this “others orientation,” holds out the promise that as God’s people, we can transcend the issues that fragment the world. We joyfully embrace our inheritance as a people ransomed by Jesus “from every tribe, language, people, and nation.” (Revelation 5:9-10)

We strive for a team approach to ministry. The decentralized philosophy of our elders, deacons, and staff creates an environment where each member can use s or her unique Spiritual gift in cooperation with others. From youth and women’s ministries to multiple staff and committees, we believe that empowering all members of the body of Christ for ministry is a dynamic and biblical way to be the church. (Romans 12:4-8). There’s a place for to be, grow, and serve at Helen Street.

We have sensible, cross-centered preaching. Nothing kills the spirit of Christian mission and Spiritual growth like preaching that incessantly hammers away at issues. The church that curses the dark more than it sends forth light will never become in our world what Jesus was in his.

Our church is a place where you can be confident that God’s messengers will treat you and your non-Christian friends with respect and dignity, and where the only offense people will confront is the offense of the Cross. (Matthew 10:37-39)