In spite of adversaries and critics the church of our Lord Jesus Christ continues to have a redemptive role in contemporary society. In no way has modern technology diminished the need for this fellowship of faith. Although our procedures and programs may change, the gospel of grace has an unchanging appeal for all who need love and forgiveness. While church, by no stretch of the imagination, is a majority effort, it does have a healing effect upon the total community. Withdraw the church from society and there is a lost dimension of righteousness that is necessary for stability, productivity and progress. Church at its best gives the Word of God priority and keeps the Lordship of Christ as a goal for its fellowship. In no way is there a perfect church. No one church can claim spiritual superiority over any other church. Hopefully, each church is a growing, repenting, struggling family of believers who have become church for the glory of God and the service of humankind.
As church we face the future keenly aware we have no future without Christ. “Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.” The only way we can venture a dream about tomorrow is because we know who holds that tomorrow. We are secure in His promises and certain in His ability to be with us even to the end of the age. We move forward in faith not because we are so great, but because we serve a great God. Our future is in the hands of Him who said, “On this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
Therefore, we celebrate the church today as a people who are enjoying the spiritual benefits of our predecessors. Our real challenge is that we pass on this high and holy calling to all those who shall come after us. From the hands of our spiritual parents we reach forth a hand of hope to our spiritual children.
