"And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: 'The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.
" 'I know your works; you have the name of being alive, and you are dead. Revelation 3:1 (RSV)
The Church is the universal, Apostolic, and catholic Body of Christ, which exists in all places throughout all time. It is united with Christ, pure and holy by His unending mercy and grace. Not even the gates of hell will prevail against it.
The Church is also the gathering of believers around Word and Sacrament, who seek to serve and worship the Lord with a common voice. This Church can be seen in the local, synodical and national bodies such as the ELCA.
A Christian is a member of the Church, the eternal Body of Christ, and the Church, the local gathering of faithful. This local gathering feeds us in the faith, strengthening the faith given to us in Holy Baptism.
Without a doubt, our local church is a blessing to us, for there we learn of Christ. The local church can also be the greatest danger to our faith. It is easy to love the bricks and mortar, the stained glass windows, the ethnic heritage of the congregation, our favorite pastor, and more, neglecting Christ.
The church at Sardis had the appearance of a living church but was a dead husk. We can present the facade of a church, freshly painted, well maintained, beautifully decorated, yet have no life at all within the walls of the building.
The Lord and His Church is about witnessing the death and resurrection by which all creation is redeemed. A church that is beautiful to behold, glorious in decor and sound, busy with all the expectations of a socially responsible community, yet has forgotten Christ, is a sick and dying place.
However humble its physical appearance might be, the church that proclaims this Good News is a living church. Our purpose as the church is this and this alone.