Bible Question:
Churchianity: I have been reading with much interest on the subject of "Churchianity." I would like to make a few comments concerning the various posts that I have read. For one thing there are no perfect churches because there are no perfect people. It doesn't matter how much we think we have it together spiritually, as soon as we walked into the front door, the church would no longer be perfect, because the Lord is still working on all of us. It cannot even be debated that the Lord did not establish organized religion or denominations, but the question to be asked concerning any church is this: How much of the Lord's presence is in the church? To what degree is Jesus Christ being given first place? Is Jesus really being glorified in this place? Who is really in control, is it the pastor, the deacons, the people, or is it the Spirit of God ? There are denominational churches where God is present, because a place is being given for the Holy Spirit to rule and reign. There are also non-denominational churches and home churches that are totally under the control of some man or group of people, and the Spirit of God is being quenched. Which church do you believe that the Lord is most pleased with? It is not only a question of being in the system or out of the sytem, but the question is this: Are we in the will of God? Are we related to the Body in some way? Are we allowing Jesus Christ to be Lord of our lives? Are we living for Him or just living for ourselves? Several years ago I got the shock of my life when Sharon and I met a couple that I had been corresponding with by E-mail in a home meeting in Alabama. I considered these people to be very spiritual people by the prophetic messages that they were giving out. They had come out of orgnized religion themselves. What I found out made me sick to my stomach because they dominated and took control of the meeting. Another brother even tried to bring a word of correction in love, but they wouldn't hear what he was saying. They wanted to be in control. This really taught me something, that there are some in the Body of Christ that are deceived, because they think they are something special and are not submitted to the Lord or to the rest of the Body but are out there doing their own thing. God has not called anyone to be seperated from the rest of the Body of Christ. We are all members one of another, and the Lord is against this individualism that fragments and breaks the Body apart. The one thing that the enemy is working overtime on is to cause division and strife and break the unity of the Spirit in the church. "For as the Body is one and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many , are one body, so also is Christ." "For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether we be (parapharsed) in the "organized church", or outside of it), and have all been made to drink of one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many." (1 Cor. 12: 12-14). "For while one says (parphrased) I am a baptist, another says "I am non denominational". Another says " I don't belong to any church, I only follow Jesus." Are you not carnal? (1 Cor. 3: 4). As you can see I changed the wording slightly, but you get the point. "For we are laborers together with God; ye are God's husbandry, you are God's building." (1 Cor. 3: 9). We cannot say that just because that someone is in the organized church or outside of it that they are not following the Lord. I believe that God leaves some saints in organized churches at least for a season, many times to pray and intercede. If you are on fire for Jesus in a dead church, then one or two things will happen. Either there will be a resurrection that takes place in the lives of those that are dead, or you will get the left foot of fellowship. In any case, whether it be revival or judgement, the Lord's will is being done.to be answered: |
Bible Answer: Prayon: Actually, I would debate that Jesus did come to establish some form of organized religion. I am not arguing for an all-encompassing body such as the Roman Catholic Church or any particular denomination; however, Jesus did come to establish a CHURCH, not a disorganized group of individuals who just happen to be saved by God's grace on the basis of faith in Christ alone. Hebrews 10:25 tells us not to forsake the assembly. It is a command in Scripture, not a mere "helpful hint." Yes, there are bad (dare I say APOSTATE?) churches out there, and obviously those are not congregations with whom we should be affiliating for spritual fellowship and growth. However, the "Lone Ranger" model of Christianity is found nowhere in the New Testament. In addition, your paraphrase of 1 Corinthians 12:13 is faulty. The very thrust of Paul's argument is that nationality and social status are not distinctions recognized within the body of believers, not that one can either fellowship or not and be following God. As you have quoted, we are members of one another, and just as the hand doesn't accomplish a whole lot without the feet, so the Christian who chooses to isolate himself from his brethren is not functioning properly. Now that having been said, Christ is the "head of the church" and the "chief cornerstone" and the vine of which we are the branches. One of the main problems that we do see among leaders (and congregations that follow them) is forgetting of their place and thinking that they are the head or the hinge upon which the church turns. When this is the case, we have the age-old "cult of personality" problem. --Joe! |