The Church’s foundation is not only Christ but the knowledge of Christ. The tragedy today is that many of us in the churches – indeed many so-called churches- lack such foundation. We do not know Him. To us He is theoretical or doctrinal Christ, not a revealed Christ. Theory will not prevail against hell, which is what Jesus declares His Church is to do. Have we perhaps forgotten what we are for?
Visiting Western homes I have sometimes seen beautiful porcelain plates, not put to use on the table, but wired and hung up on the wall as a treasured ornament. Many, it seems to me, think of the Church like that, as something to be admired for the perfection of its form. But no God’s Church is for use, not decoration. An appearance of life may seem to suffice when conditions are favourable, but when the gates of hell come out against us, we know well enough that what we each need above all is a God-given vision of His Son.
It is first-hand knowledge that counts in the hour of testing. Do you know Him or only about Him?