Christ and the church
Remember the time Jesus sat down with his disciples and asked them this question?
"Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?"
So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." (Matt. 16:13-18 NKJV)
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This short scene from the life of Christ yields some profound insights into his view of the church-both the things that are of importance to him and the things that don't interest him at all.
First, Christ is not concerned about public opinion. The initial question he put to his disciples was not intended as a way to gather poll results. For one thing, he was already fully aware of what people were saying about him. Even more than the words they were saying, he understood the heart and motive behind those who were slandering his existence and mocking his ministry. More than likely, Jesus was just wanting to see the look in his followers' eyes as they reported what they were hearing — the look that probably betrayed some of their own feelings about this so-called Son of God who was sitting before them.
Were they not so sure themselves? Were they inwardly wondering whether there might be some truth in what the people on the street were saying? Perhaps he was merely a sideshow attraction, not the one who was "appointed heir of all things . . . the radiance of [God's] glory, the exact expression of His nature . . . sustain[ing] all things by His powerful word" (Heb. 1:2-3).
We don't know all the reasons Jesus had for asking this question, but we know he wasn't trying to win the respect of the press or hoping to draw a bigger crowd at his next public event. The opinions of others were immaterial to the one-goal focus that drove him to remain obedient to his Father — up to, through, and beyond the very end.
And he is no more concerned about public opinion today.
Count on the newspapers to pigeonhole the church into an out-of-date, old-school, uninspiring shell of religious expression that has no influence or relevance in a modern age.
Never be surprised to see the TV documentaries jump at the chance to deride, berate, and expose the church's failings and weaknesses, painting us all with the same broad brush as those who indeed bring disgrace on the cause of Christ.