COME ON RING THOSE BELLS

 

NOVEMBER 28, 2023

 

EPHESIANS 2: 19-22

you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

"Built on the Rock, the church shall stand
even when steeples are falling;
Christ build His church in every land;
bells still are chiming and calling,
calling the young and old to rest,
calling the souls of those distressed,
longing for life everlasting.”



"We are God's house of living stones,
built for His own habitation;
He fills our hearts, His humble thrones,
granting us life and salvation.
Yet to this place, and earthly frame,
we come with thanks to praise His name;
With all His grace and His favor."

(Built On The Rock - Hymn)

We may imagine steeples falling and crumbling everywhere, even though the church buildings that support those steeples are still standing. I suspect we all have heard or experienced the reality that in many places, church attendance has dwindled, or is dwindling. Many point the finger of blame on the pandemic, as that which kept people away. Most church leaders I talk to say that many long time worshippers have not returned. I was at an appointment recently and a discussion developed about Churches closing, dying off, and one person said “it is so sad.” The other person asked, “oh, are you a church person?” “Oh Know,” came the reply, “I’m not religious.” She represents a growing segment of the population that is referred to as "nones" because they mark "none" as their choice of religion on surveys.

Yet the "nones" are still "souls distressed." They long "for life everlasting," even if they are unaware of, or deny, that distress and longing. They are not really "nones", as if they did not exist. They are people loved by God, people for whom Jesus died and for whom church bells "still are chiming and calling."

The church may be a building, but it is much more than that. "We are God's house of living stones." All who trust in Christ for salvation are the "temple of the living God" (2 Corinthians 6:16b). It is not the bells in church steeples that ring out the Good News, but our own voices calling out as our lives reflect Jesus' love. We invite others, including the "nones", or however they may choose to define themselves, to find life and rest in Jesus, who suffered and died on the cross for them and who lives to give them forgiveness, hope, rest, and eternal life.

Church buildings, with Bell towers and Steeples intact, are still standing. Yet wherever we are, we are the church, the living, breathing, actively loving body of Christ. In the power of the Spirit, an offered prayer, a quiet word of encouragement in Jesus' Name, and the proclamation of the truth of the Gospel ring out louder than crashing steeples or ringing bells. 

I know it does seem that the alluring voices of the culture drown out the bells that call people to worship. We may not be able to keep up with a loud, tempting, and rapidly changing culture, but we know and proclaim an unchanging truth. Jesus Christ has risen from the dead and in Him alone we have life and hope! It is a message that will not be silenced and if you look around, it is a message the world needs.

LET US PRAY

 Jesus, help my voice to ring out with the Good News always. Amen.