By Mike Richardson
Synopsis: Jesus is the Bridegroom and the church is His bride. Our conduct and communication with either honor our Lord or bring reproach upon His name.
When I was asked if I would contribute to this issue of Truth Magazine, I considered what my subject might be. My mind went to a sermon I preached back in 2006. I recall getting the idea from a book I had read and thought about the applications to our day. I found the outline in an old briefcase and, as I looked over it, I was somewhat disheartened. What seemed like a major issue then has really picked up steam today.
Imagine attending a wedding. The bride is arrayed in a beautiful white wedding gown, ready to go down the aisle to be presented to the groom. As she begins to walk down the aisle, people on both sides of her begin to throw mud at her. She ducks down, but the people’s aim is good and they continue to sling mud at her. The white dress that symbolizes purity is now stained with common dirt and mud. The damage is done, and that which is to be white and glorious is now darkened with stains of mud.
In John 3:29, John the Baptist declared that he was not the Christ, but Jesus is. John called Jesus the Bridegroom. “He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore, this joy of mine is fulfilled.” Jesus is the Bridegroom. John was the best man. The church is His bride. What is the church? It is the collective group of redeemed people.
In Ephesians 5:25-27, Paul writes, ” Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. . . ” The church is to be pure for the bridegroom.
In Revelation 19:7-8 the church has made herself ready for the day the Groom will come for the marriage feast. Her attire is clean and bright, this being the righteous acts of the saints. In Revelation 21:2, we again see a picture of the bride adorned for her groom. John 14:1-5 is written in similar language. In biblical times, a groom, after the engagement “contract,” would go prepare a place (house), come back for her after it was completed, and then the wedded pair would begin their lives together.
We can expect the world to sling mud at the church, but what is hurtful is to see so many who are saints in the household of God throw mud. I understand the difference between the universal and local church. I know the universal church is perfect in every way, while local churches may have issues and are not perfect. A pervasive problem today is that issues are being handled, but often inappropriately. There are issues that arise and must be dealt with, but the way we deal with them is of the utmost importance. When we paint with broad brushes accusations against the church or when we take to social media to air grievances without going to individuals, we need to be careful lest we be guilty of slinging mud on the bride of Christ. Consider some instances where mud is slung on the church, the Bride of Christ.
When a child of God continues in sin, it undoubtedly puts a stain on the church. In Revelation 3, most of the saints in Sardis were living in sin and were told to repent. However, Revelation 3:4 tells us there were a few who had not defiled their garments. Then the Divine Record states that he who overcomes will be clothed in white garments, and the Lord said He would not blot their names out of the Book of Life. It’s one thing to fall short and get back up, repent and seek to live for the glory of God; it’s another to stay in the wallow of sin. Peter stated, “It has happened to them according to the true proverb: ‘A dog returns to his own vomit,’ and, ‘a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire’” (2 Pet. 2:22). You cannot live in the filth of sin and glorify God. Our sins are washed away in baptism. We are now to walk in newness of life, not going back to a life of sin and continuing therein (Rom. 6:1-9).
My heart is made to sorrow over so many who no longer come together with the saints to worship God. I understand there are many who cannot attend due to illness, etc., but there is a difference between cannot and won’t! With social media and other outlets, it can be tempting to stay home and watch services from the couch. I hear the argument being made, “I can worship there just as well.” As one brother said, “You can see the fire, but you cannot feel its warmth.” We are commanded to come together, and there is wisdom in that. What an insult to the rest of the brethren to say (in essence), “I don’t want to be with you and I don’t need your fellowship.” Forsaking the assembly is throwing mud at the Bride.
There have always been and always will be complainers, those who are not satisfied unless things are done their way. This is often a general dissatisfaction rather than issues of Bible doctrine. If we complain to the world about the church (or post on social media our dissatisfaction with the church) what do we think the lost will think of the body of Christ? Have we come to believe that the church only exists for our needs and not for the glory of God (Eph. 3:21)? People complain, “I didn’t get anything out of the service” or “I wasn’t edified.” The question is: did you put anything into the worship and who did you edify? If in your marriage you are only concerned about self and never show love to your spouse, you have acted against the will of God and the purpose of marriage. In religion, if we do not put Christ first, but are more concerned about self, that too is against the will of God and the ultimate purpose of the church. Yes, we must be honest that local churches have problems, but the church is precious. Jesus loves and cherishes the church (Eph. 5:29). When we complain about the church, we complain about what Jesus died to purchase (Matt.16:18; Acts 20:28). As a member of the body of Christ, do we deliberately throw mud at our brethren and ourselves? Are we making filthy that which Christ came to redeem and cleanse from sin (Rev. 1:5)?
When we stop and observe what mud slinging does, it is a heartbreaking picture.
In Ephesians 6:10-18 we are instructed to put on the whole armor of God and stand against the enemy. One cannot prepare to face the enemy if they are too busy throwing mud at the Bride. The devil loves it when we do his work for him. Let us be careful lest we make a mess of what Christ died to purify and sanctify. We must stand for truth and defend truth, but in doing so, let us not stain the church.
Many use the complaints and accusations against the church as an excuse to avoid religion. This is only an excuse and not a reason, but it is not tear-jerking that many see the mud on the garment instead of the beauty of the family of God?
Imagine if someone was throwing mud on your spouse or a loved one. Would it not hurt you to see your loved one mistreated? Think about how the Lord must feel when mud is thrown on His Bride. We need to be careful how we speak about the church of our Lord. The Groom will come one day to take His bride home. Are we ready for the Wedding Feast?
