Message from Ron Prentice

February 11, 2011

The church vs. the Church

The “stuff” of life can be overwhelming, and always comes without invitation. As I write this, three examples come close to my home:

• The 7^th grade girl losing her battle with cancer
• The teenage twins losing their dad to an overdose
• The divorced friend doing all she can to manage her teenage son

But in each of the cases above, the Church has come alongside in the struggles or grief, bringing words of encouragement and acts of compassion, responding to every kind of need.

To me, Church with a capital ‘C’ is very different from “church.” I have distinctly different perspectives of the two. Sometimes I simply “go to church,” and am at fault for a dispassionate mind and heart. But being part of the “Church” is literally thrilling. I have tasted of the Church, and have been given much. And I believe that much is also expected of me, just as Jesus taught his disciples in Luke 12.  

Some of California’s problems can be attributed to the worldly church that has no resemblance to the Church. Unfortunately, millions of Californians may have never received an intentional touch by the Church. 

Church with a capital ‘C’ is a living organism, linked to its bridegroom, the Christ. There is great power available to the Church.

There are pastors across California who would love to lead their local church to become the Church! Many of them physically ache for an explosion of God’s Spirit in the hearts and minds of those in their pews.

If you haven’t already, will you begin to pray with me, that believers who practice church will become hungry for the real Church? When that happens, all bets are off, as partisan politics, self-interested agendas, and even money, will lose their power against the Church that speaks up for the truths of our redemptive God.