Psalm 127:1
Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it.........
The one thing you've got to love about the American/ Western church is the P.T. Barnum spirit it carries around. "Let's make it bigger and better! Let's build something that other's will take notice of (and secretly be jealous of us because we have got it going on). More flash....more bang....."we've got to win our share of the demographics (According to church growth guru's). I've actually heard the "win our share of the demographic" come from the pulpit. It was spoken in the context of our church beating all the other so-called competition. The church in America has become a self-licking ice cream cone. Now don't confuse the church in America with the church that Jesus died for....the body of Christ. Just because you place a steeple on a building and meet on Sunday, that doesn't make you a church. The real church knows no buildings and isn't identified by their dogma or doctrine. The church of Jesus is known by their love for Christ and a passion to make disciples. Jesus never told us to "Go into all the world making converts of the nations." No! We are to make disciples.
"You sound mad, Michael".
Well, I am.
I've spent the better part of my week talking with other people who have come (for whatever reason) to unload their emotions and anger against the church. I guess you the anger was more directed toward those who make up leadership within a church. I heard stories of manipulation....lying....misleading statements....division and gossip. Such behavior is hidden behind the robes and rituals of the word "church". Before you think me mad...I know that as long as there are people making up a congregation, there will be strife and division...shouldn't be, but there will be. Why? Because the church is comprised of three types of individuals.
1.) The true believer - loves Jesus to the point that going to church does not comprise the majority of his relationship with Jesus. They are busy through the week helping others. Other's who actually don't darken the door of a church. They do this because they have a love that is pure and divine. They don't work and minister outside the church to draw others into their mix. They do it regardless of whether the ones they minister to every darken a door of a church. Contrary to western thought...Jesus did not go around ministering to the outsider, and when he finished smiled and said, "Hope to see you at synagogue this weekend.....we're going to have a pizza blast and give away prizes." The true believer recognizes the need for community and corporate worship. So within the church they belong to, they tend to gravitate toward others whose heart burns with this Jesus-love.
2.) The church member - These are the individuals who raise their home church and their denomination to a height that should never take place. To them, their church IS the Kingdom of God, rather than a place where the Kingdom will of God is exercised. They have a tendency to look at others who do not march under their denominational flag with great skepticism. Somehow they never have seen the multi-colored flag of the true body of Christ. They hold forth their dogma and doctrine as being the "real truth". Some are just plain good folk who never saw the larger picture of the body of Christ. That it takes all the flavors of church to complete the understanding. "If you don't believe like we do...then you're not going to heaven." I remember such a thought existing in the small community I grew up in. In fact, it existed within my own family. From an early age, I was taught that there was a group that met down in the cove and held a camp revival each year, and that I needed to stay away from them. They were different! They didn't believe like we did! Turn out that those renegade believers were from a cult that was called the Methodist Church. Sad isn't it? The church-member gives themselves totally to the structure that is called the church. Instead of connecting with the real life that can only come from God, they have somehow equated church service, and serving within the church, as being what the Kingdom God is truly all about.
Last, but certainly not least.....
3.) The leadership of the church- This is a heavy title to carry around. One that certainly is not for every one. Whether it be deacon, elder, bishop, pastor, committee member...it carries with it a responsibility that should come directly from God. After all, it is His church, isn't it? In the American church, there is tendency to match up church jobs and duties with those who are seen as being qualified because of the jobs they hold in the workplace. If we have a finance group who oversee the monies of the church, then we need some bankers and investment people. Not much thought, time or prayer is given to seeking God for who He would want to fill rolls and duties. Once again, it is His church, isn't it? Then there is the ultimate roll! The ultimate job title! PASTOR! I don't think most people who answer a call to pastor are ever really equipped to be what people expect them to be. I guess that is the one thing I am grateful for about the Vineyard. John Wimber kind of did things backwards. Whenever someone would come to him and ask to be ordained, John would reply, "Go get the puppies and then I'll give you the papers." By this, he meant go show me that you can pastor then I'll give you the papers through ordination. John's philosophy was very simple. If you can pastor one person, then you can pastor 10. If you can pastor 10, then you can pastor a 100. Here again if you look to scripture to define the roll and duties of a pastor, you'll see that his only job (according to Ephesians 4:13) is for the equipping of the saints (the true followers of Jesus) for the work of ministry (service), for the edifying of the body of Christ. How many pastor's today are currently carrying out this mandate from Scripture?
Let me say that I am in no way coming at this from a place of perfection.
Within myself, or within my own church......Vineyard Recovery Church.
We are trying to live as a body of believers who are in touch with their own flaws, but are willing to lay them at the feet of Jesus and be healed. In other words, we are a work in progress. We are very much aware of our need for Christ, and the realization that this is His church. Our only mandate is to follow Him. If He wants to grow us in numbers, then He will show us what to do. I was listening to a tape (Yes Virginia, there are still cassette tapes out there) of Wimber teaching and he made a comment that would surely upset the church apple cart today....he said, "What if God doesn't want your church to grow? What if you are at the place and number that He wants?" Now this is, in now way, a justification to excuse laziness, or an indictment against smaller churches. To me, it was a truth that not many want to look at. After all, it is His church. He said that unless He is allowed to build it, we who make up the members will labor in vain. Don't want to go there.
I am constantly on guard within myself to not allow any influence into my spirit and heart that would motivate me to take the church away from Christ. To take it and run it in my own will, all the while attaching His name to my actions. Jesus died for it...He merely has entrusted me with a group of people who are hungry to know that He (Jesus) is real, and that He will do what He has promised He would.
Thanks for letting me share this morning.
Please be in prayer for the Church.
God on you....
mb
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