When U2 first came to North America - Bono was fond of asking the question “Who’s Elvis here?” as a way of finding out who the leader or influential figure is within a group, organization or culture. Who’s the person with the ultimate authority?
In society that authority is the state or government. They have what’s called Imperium - the authority that all other authorities answer to. They give permission to other organizations to exist.
But … what about the church? Who gives it permission? Does it exist by authority of the state?
It doesn’t … the local church exists by the direct authorization of SPOILER ALERT - Jesus - because He alone has Imperium. It’s His Kingdom. To use Bono’s analogy - Jesus is the ultimate Elvis. He is THE authority to which all other authorities answer. He has the power over all of life.
That important truth of Jesus and His Kingdom has significant implications for how we view our Christianity and how we actually view the church and our relationship with it.
There is absolutely nothing on earth like the church!
In this series - we’re going to see how beautiful the local church is as we look at what it is and isn’t so we can understand:
> Who Jesus has called and authorized the church to be,
> What membership with the local means and what it doesn’t and how that relates to the overarching Kingdom of God,
> Practically how the church defines and practices His love.
You’ll be challenged and encouraged by the wonderful provision of a Good Shepherd who has not only redeemed humanity but has figured out how to feed and lead His sheep in the present!