The Church Body – The Simple Pastor

Leadership and Unity

Working Together & Supporting Each Other

To my fellow workers in Christ,

The Lord has called us part of the leadership group placed in the church today. Even though I am a simple pastor of a smaller church body, I am part of this group and hear from and led by the same Spirit as the pastor in the largest congregation on earth. The following scripture leads me to the thought I have today. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.(Eph 4:4-6 NKJV)

Here is the situation I feel we must humbly and honestly investigate and determine if we are fulfilling our Lord’s will or part of a problem of division within the body of Christ. As leaders, bishops, pastors, evangelists, deacons, teachers, and priests in a Royal Priesthood, every believer who places God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ and Lord and Savior of our life has been called and commanded to strive for unity within His Body.

Here in the United States and around the world, do the lost and non-believers see us one? They do when they choose to persecute Christians physically or verbally. They feel comfortable attacking any person that claims the name of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. The world does not care about denominations or the many differences denominations have in doctrines; they see all of us as fair game to go after.

Why don’t we who are saved by the Blood of Jesus Christ, and now called the children of God, servants of the Master, and soldiers of God to share the truth to those living behind the gates of the devil and set them free from deception, see each other as one and act as one? We seem more drawn to what divides us than what unites us. The lost to often see this disunity in local assemblies to the national body of believers.

To you bishops, to us pastors, to you evangelists, to you teachers, to you deacons, and to every believer who is a priest in the Royal Priesthood, every one of us is on the hook to strive for unity in the body. We need to ask ourselves if we are part of the solution and following His Spirit or the problem of disunity by following our flesh and deceptions of Satan.

As a wise man once asked me, “Are you simply going to complain and be part of the problem, or are you going to do something and be part of the solution?” I choose the latter by:

I choose not to listen to any gossip or dirty laundry about other church fellowships. If they preach Jesus Christ as Lord who paid my sin’s price, I have not problem supporting them in the conversation. I may disagree with what is occurring but instead of listening and nodding my head, and God forbid, maybe feeling good about a challenge to the competition, I will support them as family and as quickly as possible, lead the conversation to prayer for the situation.
I choose not to get into conversations that can quickly turn into an argument regarding secondary beliefs and doctrines. Topics such as; the end times, rapture and tribulations, prophecy, Pentecost and gifts of the Spirit, are just a few landmines in discussions. I will share my opinion and thoughts if asked, and if my view is different, I will ask them to “consider” the way I view it. I must fight arrogance that leads to a religious spirit and seek wisdom and learning that only comes from being humble in the extent of my knowledge.
I will attempt to show up to activities other fellowships have invited me to and interact with them. Who am I to judge if they are worthy of my time when I can only see what is on the outside of a person and not what is in their heart.
As a pastor, I will talk and act to match what I say and preach. I will seek to be transparent to those around me.
I will not try to homogenize (when all must have the same views) other’s beliefs but allow each saint to be the person the Lord has developed in them. The Gospel of Jesus Christ, His death, His burial and resurrection, His Ascension and His Kingship are good enough for me in what we must agree on.

What are your thoughts on how we can advance unity in the body of Christ without compromising the Gospel?

In your church family?
In your town?
In your state?
In this country?

God Bless you for taking the time to read this, and feel free to add your thoughts. John

What do they see?

**Working Together and Showing Jesus Christ**

I am blessed to live in a town where a group of ten or so pastors each week have chosen to lay aside denominational identifications and gather to pray and share as the family the Lord’s Word, fellowship, and support. God did not direct just one denomination to share the hope of His Gospel, but commanded all of those who believe in Him to witness of Him and His Son Jesus Christ.

A recent time together focused on the words Jesus shared: John 13:35 NKJV By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

What do those outside His Church, His Body, when looking at those claiming to be part of Him? What do you think they see if they look at the Christian churches in your community? If you are attending a church, what do they see when they look at it? Remember, the church is not a building but people. 1Peter 2:5 NKJV you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. AND o Ephesians 2:19 NKJV Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God

So what do they see? Do they see believers living together as He stated? Jesus said in Matthew 7:16 NKJV You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?

Mark 12:33 NKJV And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
John 13:34-35 NKJV A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. (35) By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
1Pe 4:8-9 NKJV And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “LOVE WILL COVER A MULTITUDE OF SINS.” (9) Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
Mark 11:25 NKJV “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.
Luk 6:37 NKJV “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

These are some of the instructions the Lord tells His Church regarding how it was to be seen when born again and led by His Spirit. Do those outside His Church see the Lord and His Peace, Joy, Hope, Love, and Trust alive in the lives of those in His Church? When they look at His Body in the churches in your area, what do they see? Would they see all the believers saying “AMEN” to this statement made by Paul? 1Corinthians 12:20-27 NKJV But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. (21) And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” (22) No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. (23) And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, (24) but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, (25) that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. (26) And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. (27) Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

As a pastor, under-shepherd, of a smaller church of about sixty-five souls, I know everyone personally and those that are new within a couple of weeks. I ask myself this question and allow it to drive what I teach and how I act in the position the Lord has placed me.

I ask myself what others see in my family and me. Do they see Jesus Christ in us and leading us? I then ask what others outside the church see in the fellowship the Lord has gathered together in the body I pastor.

I ask you as a reader of this blog;

If you are a believer, what do those outside the church see in you? The church you attend? The Christian community in your area? Do you need to personally change anything when you look in the mirror of God’s Word? Is there anything you can do to help your church align more to the picture the Lord has shared on how we should look and act?
If you are not a believer, what do you see? Feel free to share in the comments

Humbly and sincerely written by a Simple Pastor,

John

How do we Act in Public?

. She thought a short moment and returned with the statement, “They need to learn that they should not be so rude when they come in and eat after church.” When I dug a little deeper into why she responded with this comment she stated the consensus of the server staff feels the church crowd that comes in on Sunday are some of the pickiest and demanding people they see all week, almost rude.

This morning, my wife and I were having breakfast at a local restaurant and our server was a young lady that we knew pretty well. She knows I am a pastor at a local church, so I asked her if there was a message that I could share at church that she felt Christians need to hear. She thought a short moment and returned with the statement, “They need to learn that they should not be so rude when they come in and eat after church.” When I dug a little deeper into why she responded with this comment she stated the consensus of the server staff feels the church crowd that comes in on Sunday are some of the pickiest and demanding people they see all week, almost rude. Ouch, what a reflection of Christ that some are leaving on others!

I worked for years in the restaurant industry running restaurants, and as a whole the church crowds are great, but there are enough self-centered and rude ones out there that call themselves believers and go to church to leave a bad taste in the server staff of Christians when they dine after church.

Note to Pastors: Share with your congregations that the teaching and commands of our Lord Jesus regarding how we treat others does not end when we leave the church building.

Therefore, be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. (Ephesians 5:1-2 NKJV)

Note to Believers that carry and share the love of Christ to others when out in the world: If you see a brother or sister in Christ acting rudely in public, gently find a way to share correction. It would not hurt to follow-up with the person being treated rudely, and apologies for your brother or sister without bad-mouthing them.

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace…but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—(Ephesians 4:1,2,15 NKJV)
By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35 NKJV)

Why were people attracted to Jesus? Because they felt He truly cared for them. How did He show He cared?

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NKJV)

Wouldn’t it be great if every believer acted as Jesus Christ when we are both fellowshipping with believers and when we are out in public? I believe the impact the church would have on the lost would improve.

Pastor John

Our Kingdom at War

Here is a truth that many times gets forgotten in our daily lives and the lives of those within the body of Christ here on earth. WE ARE AT WAR!

Let me set the stage

When Jesus came to earth, He was the fullness of the Godhead bodily. ( Col 2:9 NKJV For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;) When Jesus was here on earth in His ministry the kingdom of God was here on earth. When Jesus ascended into heaven, He sent His Spirit to indwell men which means we are His body here on earth now. (Eph 5:30 NKJV For we are members of His body, of His flesh and His bones.) This means the kingdom of God is on earth right now alive within His body, the church, the ekklēsia. The early church understood the Kingdom of God they were members of literally was a real present tense kingdom and their allegiance and energy was fully given to the defense, battles, and health of this kingdom (the church, the body of Christ).

The early church fought off divisions and teachings that minimized Jesus and His Soveigness and Kingship. The kingdom they fought for and died for with Jesus as King sought out the freedom of the truth and sharing the light, the Gospel. The first-century believers seemed focused on the truth of who God was, sin, heaven and hell, and that Jesus was their King, literally. (Not in a religious sense)

Present time setting

Being part of His body means that we have died to self and have been born again into Jesus Christ’s body. Being born again into His body means we have become a citizen and a soldier in the Kingdom of God with Jesus Christ as our King, present tense! (this is not the fullness of the kingdom that will exist when our Lord Jesus Christ comes back and physically rules the entire earth) The spiritual war spoken of in the Bible is occurring right now. Battles are being fought and not just by angels, but by saints as well. You and I should be active in protecting one another from attack by praying and caring for each other. We should be actively fighting to help the lost around us and those around our brothers and sisters, seeking to free them from the lies and delusions that Satan has them imprisoned.

I find myself asking the following; if we were literally under attack from another country and we were in the military, would we treat the attacking enemy with the complacency and nonchalance as we presently are treating Satan and his army in this spiritual war that we are involved? How long would it take that enemy nation to overwhelm us? If we were physically being attacked how important would the weapons and armor that have been given to us be? Would we treat them with the same priority or awareness as many treat the weapons and armor of war that our Lord has made available to us? How would w look at the soldiers around us that are in the battle with us?

Would we be seen as soldiers fighting in the battle or AWOL?

Realizing that we are fighting principalities and powers allows me to look at my brothers and sisters in Christ as fellow soldiers and fighters in this war. It is more important than ever that I become active in this battle. We are fighting for the greatest cause the world will ever know. We are fighting for the greatest Kingdom in all of creation. We are being led by the greatest King the world will ever know! If you are a born-again believer, you’re in His Amy. Don’t hide, allow the Lord’s Holy Spirit to lead you and give you boldness to attack the gates of hell and give the lost that are imprisoned a chance for freedom and eternal life! Matthew 16:18b … I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

A simple thought from John, a simple pastor

Are they fooling themselves?

Ok, I will come right out and say it!

Many that go to church each weekend, most weekends, and some weekends are fooling themselves if they think they are Christians. Image result for Raising hands in church pictures

Why would I say this? Christians are followers of Jesus Christ. Christians are disciples of Jesus Christ. Christians are active members of His Body that are led by Him; He is the head.

Can you be saved and not be a disciple of Christ? Can you be a disciple and not be part of the body that is fit together and directed by Jesus Christ? Can you be saved and not be part of the body of Christ?
- If you said yes to any of the above, I challenge you to look at all the scriptures and not just the ones that seem to support your view. Look into them and pray for understanding on how they all fit together. I believe you will find as I do that the answer to each question is “no.”

I have several friends who are pastors, and we talk regularly and have had many discussion on what we see as a major issue that affects the churches in the area. We survive in a society that is becoming more and more self-centered, has less respect for authority, less respect for other’s viewpoints, and less feeling of responsibility to and for others. These aspects have infiltrated the hearts of many in the church body. (Read 1 John)

The mindset of “what is the church giving to me.”I see this becoming the norm and replacing the biblical base of “how can I be used of God to help those in His Body, the church?”

It this the heart and mindset of a person that truly believes in Jesus Christ? A mindset of one who truly understands how their sins are forgiven? A mindset of one who knows the door to eternal life and to live in the presence of our Creator has been opened? The mindset of one who understands this all was possible because of what our Lord Jesus Christ did through His death, resurrection, and ascension? That our salvation is only because of His Grace and Love?
To attend church without these foundational beliefs operating in one’s life I have to ask, “Is that person save?”
To be “In Christ,” to be part of “His Body,” to be “Born Again,” to be “Saved,” are all much greater than simply attending church!

You may be asking “Pastor John, what is occurring that has stirred you up to write this?”

Well, it is not an incident that has occurred but a general change in attitude I have been witnessing in those that attend church over the past thirty years.

Less interest by many that attend church in the Scriptures, Gospel, and Truth and more interest in music and programs.
Worship is becoming more of an emotional environment lead by excellent musicians and singers and less on worship from the heart for Who God is and what He has and is doing.
Involvement in church, body, activities are becoming optional based on what a person perceives they will get out of it instead of looking at each activity is an opportunity to share with and edify others in the body that are present.
The internet and numerous Christian TV networks are creating an army of self-proclaimed These experts are parrot out the theological flavor of the month or some other personal belief they found support for on the internet. The teaching of the elders, teachers, and pastor become minimized, and the experts’ unstudied belief is preeminent to the point they will not listen to another’s viewpoint even when the scriptures are behind the different view.

When you read the books in the New Testament, the picture of the church body as a tight community, caring about each other and being responsible to one another stands out loud and clear.

What I am seeing develop in the churches today is the replacement of this biblical view with one that places more value on the numbers that attend, music, programs, and priority of church involvement have dropped close to the bottom.

Biblical priority as I see it: 1) God, our Lord Jesus Christ 2) Spouse and family 3) Church body 4) Personal time, work, community…
The Priority that I see developing: 1)Self & personal time 2)Work 3)Family 4)Church 5)God

What can be done?

Now is the time for those truly committed to Christ to live their belief like never before. To talk and encourage those coming to church but not committed to Christ to take the step into seeking Jesus Christ in prayer and the scriptures.

The purpose for this post has been mostly to vent, and more on what true believers can do to encourage the church going lost will be shared in later posts.

In Jesus Name, John

Do We Really Want Unity?

The Challenge of Unity in the Face of Denominationalism

You may agree with my view or not and that is fine, but seeking unity in the church within the denominational backdrop seems very contradictory.

I am a pastor of a non-denomination church. A frequent question asked deals with my thoughts on denominations versus non-denomination and unit of the body of Christ.

Let me first state I have developed great friendships and relationships with several pastors in my area who lead denominational churches. Baptists, Assemblies, Vineyard, and others. We have a bond of brotherhood that has turned into a true strength for each of us. We meet each week to pray and talk, sharing lessons we are teaching, bible discussions, issues we may be having and prayer. Over time many the walls that have separated us because of our denominational associations have slowly disappeared brick by brick. We have come a long way in our overcoming division in our move toward unity.

As a non-denominational pastor, I do see the benefit of being part of a denominational organization. Denominational pastors have available to them and the church they lead resources over and above what is available to a non-denominational church.

Financial availability, advice, and direction
Discipline issues regarding the pastor or other church leaders
Teaching support programs
- Seminaries and universities
Coaching support for new or young pastors and leaders

Being part of a denomination does have its strengths, but it also creates a real challenge to unity in the church within a community. I love my fellow brothers who pastor denominational churches around me, but no matter how sincere hearts are, divisions exist within the body. There are formal and informal rules that create these divisions. Think about why there are denominations in the first place. They were not created to advance the Christian influence and ministries but created because of differences in beliefs. (1Co 1:10 NKJV Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.)

I am sure all believers and disciples of Jesus Christ would love to see a powerful body that works together strengthening and edifying the entire body. For the church to show the unbelievers the love of Jesus Christ by our love one for another. (Joh 13:35 NKJV By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”)
I cannot see how the unity of the body of Christ will occur with denominationalism in place as it is today. Why keep the denominational names and ties unless there is a need to keep some semblance of individual identity.

My brother pastors are awesome men and smarter than me for sure. I am a simple pastor and a believer in Jesus Christ and the simplicity of the Gospel that struggles with the whole notion and concept of denominations.

I can only imagine what our Lord Jesus Christ would tell us if He physically visited us here in the United States. Would He start with the moral decay we are witnessing in our society, or rebuke us in the church for our thought process and lack of unit? I am thinking the latter, for if we were as unified as the early church was, we probably would not have the problems in the church we presently have. It is hard to influence society when the church is not that much different many times.

Divorce
Drugs
Pornography
Love of money
Love of self

Shall I go on?

You may agree with my view or not and that is fine, but please do not forget to pray that His Spirit influences the hearts of the leaders God has placed in His Body here in America, to do His Will and create the unity in the church body that glorifies Him and effectively does His Will. (1Co 12:25 NKJV that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.)

God Bless, John, the simple pastor

The Church’s Greatest Opportunity

What do I see as the greatest opportunity presently in the Christian church in America?

To fulfill this commandment given by Jesus: John 15:12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

It is because of the present situation within the church that presents such barriers to attempt to accomplish this that I say this.

To start with let’s look at some present challenges I see that are symptoms or the real problem:

Sectarianism and division caused by denominationalism.
- To start with, Non-believers are confused when looking at our divisions. It becomes challenging to determine who is correct. The Bible even comes into question because denominations and churches profess they base their belief in the it, yet there exists so many differences among us. There even seems to be variations of denominations within denominations!
  - They ask themselves “is there actually a truth?”
- Judging one another stops the interaction of God’s Love among us. There is judgement as one denomination or group places themselves as “more right” than the others.
  - This judgement of one another must stop if we wish the commandment given by Jesus to be fulfilled.
  - This is also a stumbling block we place in front of the lost. Christians are seen by non-believers as being judgmental not just because of our beliefs and stands on present social issues, but it is confirmed by how churches and denominations judge one another.
- The actual and perceived hypocrisy occurring in the church.
  - How we preach that God is King, to live a righteous life and follow what He commands but to the non-believer we appear to say one thing but live and act just like them.
    - Saying the words “I accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior” without supporting them with a life dedicated and lived for Christ has a very hollow echo in a lost world.
    - John the Baptist said it best in Luke 3:8 “Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance”
  - We can leave out what Jesus commanded yet have no problem believing we are believers. Do we believe or not, it is 100% or nothing the way I see it.
- Materialism! This can be several sermons or blog posts all by itself. All I will say on this item is most churches and believers are held within its grasp and we don’t even recognize it. What decisions do we make that the thought of how it will affect us financially does not come into play? For most it is hard enough just giving out of our abundance and could not imagine giving sacrificially.
- Church services have become performances, activities, programs and times of receiving. Feelings have replaced the Gospel. The Gospel is offensive, exposing sin, stating one must die to self, Jesus in the only way to eternal life. This truth is how the early church grew and is the core of how churches presently are growing in areas Christians are experiencing severe persecution. Here in America I read that people choose the church they will attend based on; Parking lot, chair comfort, music quality and does the preaching make them feel good.
  - It seems overall the interaction between brothers and sisters in the Lord is becoming less and less important.

Lack of biblical love

After considering each of these issues and their effect on the church body the answer that I have come up with as to what the greatest challenge facing the Christian church in America is the lack of biblical love shown by believers to one another. I see the lack of love, actions driven by love, as the major hurdle. Tying love to a “feeling” is extremely shallow and does not connect with what Jesus and the Holy Spirit have shared in the Word of God. Love is an action.

Here are some scriptures to consider and set the stage for my answer:

John 15:12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
1 John 4:12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.
1 Peter 1:22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NKJV Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. (2) And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. (3) And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Overall what I have been witnessing within the church community is a move towards church services that:

Greater dependence on music to create a value
Greater dependence on “feeling” to establish relationship with our Lord
Greater dependence on visual presentation of materials to establish validity and impact

As the church seems to have moved towards greater dependence of the above items when Christian are judging the value of belonging to a particular church or if a church service was impactful or not, the following have tended to become less important:

The actual Word of God. Scriptures are cherry picked to promote the preachers message or belief and not taken in context of full text or situation the text was initially written.
- Example: Isa_53:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. & 1Pe_2:24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. These versus are often used to support physical healing when the actual context is spiritual healing.
Basing the value of a church body or service on Biblical truth being taught, environment where discipleship grows, and full functioning body (member literally all working together to perform the will of God for the body).
Personal interaction between members of the body that allows each person the environment to care for help other members, to edify one another.
- What drives a saint to assemble together for a church service it the feeling of responsibility for the other members, that you can give and not receive.

We have been commanded by our Lord to love one another as He loved/loves us. Example of what God tells you and I to:

To look around the church body you are presently attending and allow the Spirit of God to flow through you in a way that whatever face you look into, you are able to prefer their needs over your own.
- This becomes a challenge for churches as we tend to hang and interact with our friends and minimize our involvement with the others. This especially a challenge for churches over 100 people.
  - Involvement in small groups can help.
- Treat all those within the body in a loving way that stands apart from the way the world treats one another. Joh_13:35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
  - Ask yourself what could a brother or sister in the Lord do to or for you that your friends, family or neighbors would take notice of. Then when in this mindset begin placing faces of those you go to church with and what you can do.

What the lost are seeing in the local church is we often are not fulfilling what God has commanded.

They see us as acting just like them and in turn they do not witness the power of God active in a person’s life. Not only are they not witnessing our love in the local assembly, but what do you think the non-believers think when the see absolutely no love between churches. They see the judgement and competition between us, not the love.

To conclude, please consider praying on how to love one another, care for one another. If Jesus literally was in the flesh in the church you attend, would you feel and know that He would be their when you needed? Well, He said we were to love others as He loved us…for us to be Christ like then how should we live and act with those around us.

We need to grasp this commandment more than ever as the times and society are becoming more challenging by the day…

May God Bless You, John

Christian Unity, are we strangers in this world?

NKJV Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, (2) elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied….1Pe 2:9-12 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; (10) who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. (11) Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, (12) having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

These verses expose a critical fact that many Christians never really grasp or even consider in their lives. It can change the way they look at the world around them and the lost of this world. It can also change the way Christians look at one another.

We are in the world but not of the world…Christian unity needs to become a priority. If we truly believe we are citizens of the kingdom of God and not citizens of the world, we need to treat one another as part of the same team. Unfortunately Christian denominationalism has produced a Christian Body that fights more with itself than the true enemy, Satan and his army.

Let us first look at how we view situations and the way we view others.

I live in northern Minnesota and we view people who live in various parts of the state differently. Some people we see living in certain areas as the “rich and yuppie”. Other areas of the state are the “artsy”, and still other areas have people who we see are “clickish and clannish”. We identify the differences they have with us and hold our identity as different and apart from them in many ways.

However, have you ever traveled to a different state or country and run into someone from Minnesota or the state you reside in? Those differences seem to disappear and we find unity with a fellow Minnesotan. Why is this? It is because we are on someone else’s turf or territory and find comfort and a relationship with someone from the state we live in. Our paradigm of how we view that person has changed and it reflects in the way we act with them. They can easily become a friend and companion.

How does this have anything to do with the Christian Church?

The scriptures throughout the Bible make it clear this world is not our home. The example of the Israelite’s shows how no matter where they were they were not considered welcome or part of the area. The apostle Peter describes us, who are believers and followers of Jesus Christ, with the Greek word parepidēmos, which is defined as: one who comes from a foreign country into a city or land to reside there by the side of the natives, a stranger, sojourning in a strange place, a foreigner.

Do we act as Peter describes? As aliens, strangers living in this world with worldly cultures and beliefs?

We should see other believers that go to different fellowships as having something in common that creates a relationship of unity that supports us in the face of the “world” we live in.
For those that truly believe that Jesus is God and Lord and King, the world sees that in us and sees us as strangers living in their world. The Holy Spirit in us leaves an identity mark that the world sees clearly in how we act, talk and share the truth.
- Do you find yourself trying to hide this distinguishing identity?

We as believers must get past the divisions that we have put in place with one another.

Is the difference we have with another Christian fellowship really that critical that we will not nurture a relationship with them?
Do we place the pride in the name of the church we attend and the number that attend there over the unifying name of Jesus Christ? The tower in Babel was seen as an object that all the citizens could claim identity with and have pride in what they were a part of. (Gen 11:4) Churches can fall into this same error with placing their identity on items like holiness standards, exercising of the gifts, number attending, and doctrinal statements that the Bible does not prove out.

We as believers in the truth and salvation in Jesus Christ need to live and share in the fight for independence from sin, Satan and the world. We need to bind together and not separate. What Benjamin Franklin stated to those promoting independence from England is relevant to us. Ben stated, “We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.”

John

Why should I go to church?

“Why do I have to go to church?” This is a question my children asked me during their teen years. It is also a question many adults think but do not verbalize.

First let me clarify what a “church” is. It can consist of a home group of less than 20 people, a church the size of the one I pastor of around 60 people, or number in the hundreds or even thousands. The key is that you are attending with a group of believers that the Lord has placed you in. Our Lord places us in a group that you can accomplish 3 things.

To be taught the Word and strengthened in your walk by those around you. To be discipled. To be in a place that you can truly grow in your relationship with our Lord where the preeminence of self is replaced by the preeminence and sovereignty of Jesus Christ. To allow the Holy Spirit work in a person’s life and care enough to begin growth in the relationships with the other people the Lord has gathered around you in the body. (Jn 13:34) This is important because it is these saints around you that you can trust to lean on during tough times and trust when questions arise that God’s wisdom is needed. (Gal 5:13)
To be in a place that you can help others grow and learn about our Lord. To be involved with those around you, helping when a person needs help, cheering when they have a victory. Caring and loving them as Jesus commanded. (Rom 14:19, 1 Th 5:11)
To work together as a body to share the Gospel, minister to those the Lord brings in the path of the body, and fulfill the will of God by listening to Jesus Christ, the head who speaks to each member of His Body through His Holy Spirit. Together with each saint listening to what the Holy Spirit is saying we work together to accomplish the will of God. To accomplish together what would not happen individually. (1 Cor 12:18-27, Eph 5:30)

Next let’s talk about what occurs when we gather together, going to church.

We pray at church, mainly corporately and hopefully from our hearts and in many churches there really is no time allotted to individual prayer anymore. Prayer is one of the most powerful tools and gift that God has given us and yet it seems in we don’t trust in it to help a person grow in their relationship with the Lord so very little time is dedicated to it when we gather.
We sing songs and choruses and sometimes hymns during what is commonly called a praise and worship time. This has been a growing dimension in church gatherings. People gravitate to music but unfortunately the Bible and its teachings can get lost when it becomes more important than Biblical truth and teaching. Discipleship can get lost. Smaller churches where relationships and discipleship are the backbone, begin trying to compete in “church growth” with Larger churches. Church growth at times are based on the professionalism and quality of the music with Bible doctrines and truth taking a back seat, not to mention prayer. The problem is that great music can be emotionally charging to be a part of, but it must be recognized as only a part of why we get together. (Remember the 3 areas we discussed above)
We teach, preach and share the Gospel and the Word of God. We all love a good preacher and teacher especially one who has a pastor’s heart and brings the Word to life in a way that not only addresses individual growth but growth and effectiveness of the body under the direction of the Word and the Holy Spirit.
An area that has many times become superficial at church gatherings is in the interaction of saints with one another. This is the area I wish to expand on in this blog.

The list of scriptures that deal with how the saints, members of Christ’s Body, are to interact with one another is extensive. These scriptures deal with love one for another, mercy, forgiveness, charity, edification, comfort, teaching, directions, preferring another over yourself, and the list goes on. These scriptures and intended as directions and instructions for a group of people that interact together at a much deeper level than simply being an acquaintance. The family of God is a family, with brothers and sisters, elders and a Father. A family that fully interacts with one another at a much deeper level than a community service club like the Rotary, Lions or Kiwanis clubs. Yet in many churches the members really do not know the person very well who sits behind them or on the other side of the church. Many large churches recognize this issue is a real problem and promote small groups.

The fact remains, Christ is the Head of the Body, we are member fit together to function as His Body here on earth at this time, and we are to work together to accomplish His Will. Only when the members of a church interact as Jesus has directed and His Spirit is active and directing each individual will the Christian church begin to achieve the great things the Lord wills us to do. In the community I live in there are 10,000 people who live here. Of the 10,000 about 7,000 would call themselves a Christian and around 4,000 attend churches regularly. I have pondered this question; if there were 4,000 Kiwanis or Lions club members in this community, and they had a goal of dealing with a problem like drug abuse, family relationships, depression, would they have more impact in the community that the Christian body? We often here a fellow Christian ask why the Christian church seems helpless and weak and they really don’t see God’s power at work on the big issues in a community. Could it be the members of His Body are not or do not want to work together being submitted to the Holy Spirit? We want to do it “my way”?

Now back to the question we started with on why should we go to church. Yes, we should go to church to pray together. Yes, we should gather together and worship our Lord and Savion corporately. Yes, we should want to learn more about the Word and here what the Lord wishes us to hear through anointed preaching. But I feel the greatest reason we should get together each week and place it as a top priority is to set aside time to spend with the other saints the Lord has called us to fellowship with. Jesus performed wonderful things while He walked this planet, as a man with a body. Now we are His walking body and if we wish to be part of something in which the power of God flows and moves, we need to be an active, praying, and listening part of His Body, the church He has called you to. It is critical that you, we take the time and assemble together with Jesus Christ in the center of all we do.

Final note: The devil knows this and will do many things to make sure this does not occur. More on this on a different blog.

John