How Is Your Relationship with The Bride of Christ?

If anything has happened since the dawning of COVID and everything that flowed out in its wake, it is the fact that the church definitely had to wade through a flood of unforeseen challenges. Many people have been left feeling isolated, adrift and cut off from the Bride of Christ throughout all that has transpired. None of this hardship has contributed to a strong and healthy Christian body inhabiting houses of worship (and there are still some who have not yet set foot back in their churches to this day!).

And yet, we are called. We are called to continue in this period of awaiting the coming of the “Bride Groom.” It is such an interesting and compelling turn of phrase.

“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle.” Ephesians 5:25-27

If you have been a Bride, a Bridesmaid, or talked with them for any length, you would have some understanding of the preparation required to walk down the aisle into a marriage. Intimate, weighty, and highly emotional considerations abound throughout each moment of this journey. It is no different as we move towards that final amazing day when Heaven comes down, and the Groom arrives to be fully joined with His Bride.

But let me ask you a question: have you ever heard of anyone who did NOTHING to prepare for a wedding day? I mean, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING? I am somewhat doubtful that this has ever happened in the entire history of weddings. Oh, there have been weddings that definitely could have been thought through better – but nothing like the ultimate detachment of, “Oh, let’s just see what happens.”

Yet, when we look at the church’s current preparedness for this blessed coming event, things seem somewhat disjointed and not pointed towards unity.

I can easily see the damage and confusion that has befallen the church as it has tried to navigate all that has been thrown at it. But I can hardly drop all of the responsibility on it alone. I think the question is deeper than simply blaming the first thing I see as I search for answers on the current “state of affairs.”

It is interesting to note that not just the church is alluded to as a Bride in Scripture. BOTH the church AND every disciple of Jesus are metaphorically compared to as Brides:

Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.      Revelation 19:7-8

It is in this extra consideration that I believe things become not just about His church. It is a much broader question that includes all of His people in every church across the globe. If each of us is being prepared, we are responsible for working within ourselves for our personal preparation as His Bride. THEN, once we get ourselves into better alignment and understanding, it becomes more apparent that we NOT hold this work just to ourselves. We must place ourselves back into the service to and for the church – which is the fuller vision of the Bride.

So, I ask — how is your current relationship with the Bride of Christ? Are you feeling separated and not in touch like you used to be before this awful mess overtook all of us? Are you unable to engage in corporate meetings (in person or otherwise)? Has the thought of any kind of serving slipped completely out of your conscious consideration? And remember, this covers serving both inside and outside of the church.

So many find themselves struggling in this linking up of purpose for Christ. Can I take a second to make an appeal to you? The Bride of Christ is still Jesus’ vision for his people and His church, and it remains His goal as He comes. Does what has befallen us and the church change one inch of that word? No. But, we must raise our level of awareness and what we are actively putting on the table to meet and embrace His return.

I think it is prudent that we fully awake and look to how our relationship with the Bride of Christ is right now. And if we find it lacking or weak – we must realize that we are called first in ourselves, but then in connection as a part of the body, to move forward toward the Groom – playing our part to firm up and confirm all that is required of us.

May we never let go of His pending arrival.

May it stir us to consider, weigh, and then engage!

It is going to be a glorious celebration.

Will you be ready, willing, and able as it comes?