“True conversion always issues in church membership,” said John Stott. Agree or disagree? Our relationship with Jesus is personal, but it is not individual.
Saul provides “exhibit-A.” Ananias touched Saul, called him brother, and made sure he had food to regain his strength. Then Saul stayed several days with the disciples in Damascus.
This time in Christian community emboldened Saul to preach Jesus as the Son of God. This astonished his opponents. Saul had raised havoc for Christians. Now he proved that Jesus was the Messiah.
We still need “each other” to become the people God wants us to be. So who are your people? Who is making you better? No follower of Jesus is an only child. The church is our family. Not only does our salvation birth us into a family, but that family strengthens us to fulfill our purpose.
Spurgeon acknowledged all the challenges of the church but assessed it as “the dearest place on earth.” If Saul found community among the ones he went to arrest, we can find a family in the church where we are.
