Polishing the Shine on the Blushing Bride

I once heard a story about a pastor going through some ministry struggles. He was asked the question, “How do you feel about the church?” Without even hesitating he answered, “She’s the Bride of Christ. I love her.” Never had I felt such a strong mixture of inspiration, shame, awe, rebuke, motivation, and regret. I feel like I need to talk about that today – especially after my last post. What a great way to view the church, as a dearly loved, unique, bride of Christ. It makes me think of a glowing bride – with all the excitement, the emotions, the mood swings, the bliss, the anxiety…all the feelings and characteristics that come out in a bride before her big day. I think it is easy for those who work in the church to get somewhat of a jaded view. We deal with so many things – from those servants who long to give of themselves, to those who daily practice the gift of discouragement – leaving a trail of wounded in their wake. There are some that are so easy to love, and some that only a mother could love (and where is that mother now?). I have never really thought of the church as a whole – as a unit. I think about different individuals, but not the whole. There is something pretty comforting, and forgiving when you look at the church as a whole. If I look at the different personality types, and think of them in terms of a bride before her big day – I feel more peace. There are people who make me laugh and who I love to be around, sort of like the joyful bride when she gets a first glimpse of that great bouquet. Then there are those that are grumblers, and you feel like you can do nothing right – like the bride who realizes that the caterers are serving fish sticks instead of the chicken that she ordered – stressful. When you look at them individually, church work can be discouraging. But when you look at them together, they almost bring out a balance. It makes the church easier to appreciate as a unique, multifaceted bride, with different strengths and weaknesses – all making up that great whole. I would really like to start thinking of the church as a whole, as a unique bride of Christ with different personalities and characteristics. I think that would help me. I think that I will still want to scream when so-and-so gives me grief because my Christmas cards aren’t spiritual enough, but I think that I will have a better attitude about the church as a whole. Because she is after all the Bride of Christ, and I love her.