The church is the bride of Christ. Thus, regardless of its structural forms, the church consists of people growing as individuals. Therefore, the church has a mind that needs to mature, akin to a person. And Christ’s work is to nurture that maturation, to develop the soul of the church — the person — rather than just improving its structure. For instance, a newborn feeds at the breast, then may teethe on objects, followed by mushy food, and later comes the stage of solid food, eaten in separate pieces. For a long time, the child is served, then they must learn to serve themselves in order to serve others; eventually, they serve others as part of serving themselves. From breast to teething, to mushy food, then a startling transition to solid food; and then there’s the stage where they not only serve and are served, they can prepare food because they’ve reached adulthood. Our congregation strives to function as a family, providing the necessary nourishment at each stage — milk, mushy food, and proper solid meals — but the ultimate purpose here is to develop individuals who, once fully mature, can serve others and are even capable of preparing food for them. That is the church’s purpose and should be its historical trajectory.
But what if we think the church is merely a place for feeding, that it is obliged to satiate others’ hunger? McDonald’s is a prime example of commercial success. It’s one of the world’s largest food franchises and perhaps the most recognized brand in this field; though Subway is larger, McDonald’s is certainly the best known. The story goes that Richard and Maurice McDonald had a diner where they made burgers. Their artisanal approach and secret was providing quality food at low prices, served wrapped in paper without the need for waiters. They devised a way to produce food quickly and enjoyably, balanced with salad, protein, and carbs. One day, a salesman saw the diner’s potential to increase his machine sales. He wasn’t just selling machines; he saw the food as a means to sell more. He suggested a production line, partnered up, learned the trade, and found a way to remove the cooks from the process. Today, McDonald’s is not in the business of selling food; it’s a hugely successful model of marketing the poorest quality food at scale. The brand had to prove in court that its product qualifies as food, and now its main business is real estate leasing. What started as food service turned into machine sales, and now it’s property leasing.
The church could face a similar fate if it becomes just a venue to share food. If someone interested in selling structure takes over, it could become a place thought to distribute food but is really a machine-selling, property-leasing business. If we don’t evolve as individuals, understanding that Jesus’s work is about sharing meals, not mass-producing them, will we end up as property leasers and machine sellers? The church’s role is not just to feed, but to satisfy — not with the fleeting fullness of a McDonald’s meal but with genuine nourishment. This is essential because the church’s function has always been about family, not just addressing hunger. Ecclesiastes 10:19 says that feasts are made for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money answers everything. Money can indeed provide immediate answers, even for questions God doesn’t intend to answer directly, aiming instead to guide us toward maturity and responsibility. This global trend toward gourmet, original food reflects a yearning for authenticity, much like the church’s call to form individuals who can serve.
Mark 8:34 reminds us that the church is not a venue for Jesus to serve meals or answer all questions. It’s where we meet to receive direction from Jesus, becoming mature individuals in a safe environment. The church is not about satisfying our deficiencies; for that, one can pray at home. When we come together as a church, it’s to follow Jesus, to deny ourselves, and to understand that saving our lives means losing them for the gospel’s sake. Thus, don’t lose your life in the pursuit of saving it; save your life by knowing how to give it away. God is direction for all things. If you seek answers in wealth, remember that when one has too much money, they stop asking questions — and listening for answers. Money is an answer for everything, but be cautious; the true answer lies in following Jesus, not in the material abundance.
