Centuries ago, at a certain hour of prayer, two men approached a temple whose gate was called Beautiful. They found a lame man there, who had been laid daily at the gate to beg alms.Acts 3:1-9. When he begged an alms of the two strangers, Peter and John, Peter said to him, "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." He took the lame man's right hand and lifted him up. The Biblical account concludes that the man arose and walked, and, leaping and praising God, he entered the temple with Peter and John.
We have no way of knowing how the lame man viewed Church either before or after his healing, but we do know that before being healed he was outside the temple and afterward he entered, leaping and praising God. As we think of this man, perhaps we should also look at how we are viewing Church as well.
I can remember thinking eagerly, when I took the important step of branch church membership, about all the wonderful opportunities that were suddenly opening up to me. Here was a chance to share my beliefs with like-minded individuals, to meet new friends, to become part of a family. But what more did I need to see? Wasn't I limiting Church by looking at just its outward manifestations?
