He gave US… his church… his incomparable riches (Eph. 1:18)

He has gifted us… his church… with immense, immeasurable power (Eph. 1:19)

He has been given all power and authority by the Father, and what does he do with it? He gives it to the church. (Eph. 1:21-23)

He thinks so highly of his church, he did EVERYTHING to break down the silly dividing wall of “Jew” and “Gentile.” It’s one body in him! (Eph 2:11-22)

He chooses to have his glory identified with his church (Eph. 3:20-21).

And somehow, we find it trendy and “spiritual” in some sordid way to bash away at the Church, his Body. We are into “spiritual cutting” when we do that. We are slicing away at ourselves when we think, “Well, I love Jesus, but my spirituality is somehow beyond his Church.”

Jesus thinks HIGHLY of his Church… his body. It is probably a better idea to take our cues from HIM rather than the hottest book or blog post on what is yet again a “problem” with the Church.