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The Church:
The Way Things Were Meant To Be
A Study Booklet By Dr. Steve
Highlander
Copyright 2002 - 2007
Introduction
As we look around Christendom today,
we see an overabundance of churches and a shortage of practical
Christianity. Could it be that we have become so focused on ‘going
to church’ that we have failed to ‘BE’ the Church?
I am not advocating doing away with
going to Church, nor am I saying that church attendance isn’t
important or necessary to strong Christian lives. I am saying that
‘going to church’ isn’t the totality of what God had in mind when
Jesus died on the cross.
"And let us consider one another to
provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of
ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one
another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."
Heb. 10:24-25
The point of this study is not "to
go or not to go;" It is, "what we are to do when we get there
and what we are to be when we are not there."
As Christianity becomes less and less
practical its power to impact lives decreases. It isn’t the doctrine
ascribed to, but the life lived that testify to the power of the risen
Lord.
When Christians become more focused
on the structure of the service than on people, we have left the
domain of the Spirit and have entered the arena of religion.
Does your Christian life seem to
revolve around "going to church?" Is church the only place you
practice worship, prayer and bible study? Is "Christian fellowship"
synonymous with "fellowship dinners,’ or do you get together with
Christians for fellowship outside the four walls of your church
building? If the church in America was suddenly outlawed and you
couldn’t "go to church," would it disrupt your whole idea of
Christianity?
For all those Christians who
sometimes find themselves wondering if there is more to the Christian
life than just "going to church," I offer the following thoughts, and
with them an encouragement to stop just "going to church" and
start "being the church."
The Church Defined
A person’s definition or view of
"Church" is going to impact the way they relate to "The Church." Is
church someplace you go? Is it an organization you belong to? Or is
the Church something you are. The Greek word for "Church" is
Ekklesia, which means "called out."
The reference is to the people, and
to the purpose for which they have been called out. In the truest
since of the word, we cannot "go" to church, because we are the
Church. The Church can assemble together, hence the reference in
Hebrews 13 concerning not forsaking the assembling of ourselves
together. The church is not a building, organization or denomination,
it is made up of every person who has made Jesus Christ their savior,
by faith in Him.
As a member of the church, or "called
out ones," you have been called out of something, but also called into
something.
Called Out of Death Into Life.
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He
that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath
everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed
from death unto life."
John 5:24
The Church is made up of people who
have been given new spiritual life by Christ. The Bible speaks of
being "dead in sin" and the book of the Revelation tells
about the "second death" or spiritual death.
When a person is born again through
faith in Christ he/she receives spiritual life and becomes a member of
the church which is the body of Christ. The Church then is
characterized by an inherent life. The life imparted by God has both
quantity and quality.
Concerning quantity it is "Eternal
life." "...the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ
our Lord." Romans 6:23b.
Concerning quality, it changes and
impacts us in a positive way. Jesus said, " . . . I am come that
they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly . .
. " John 10:10. The gospel message not only declares our sins
forgiven (providing for eternal life), but also informs us that the
power of sin over our lives has been broken that we might live to walk
in newness of life. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a
new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are
become new." II Cor. 5:17
The first characteristic of the
church is new life. As members of the church we should be focused on
experiencing it and sharing it with others. The church has been called
from death into life.
Called Out of Darkness into
light.
"But ye [are] a chosen generation, a
royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should
shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into
his marvelous light."
I Peter 2:9
The second thing that you have been
called out of is darkness. Therefore the second characteristic of the
Church (the people of God) is spiritual light, or understanding.
Before a person can understand God to any degree, they have to have
spiritual insight given to them by the Holy Spirit. Many people try to
read the Bible, but testify that they just don’t understand it or get
anything from it. The problem is trying to read a spiritual book
without spiritual insight that can only come from the Holy Spirit.
However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love
him"–but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit." I Cor. 2:9
NIV
The Bible declares that darkness is
the domain of Satan. Jesus told Paul that he was sending him to the
Gentiles, "to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness
to light and from the power of Satan unto God . . . " Paul
said, "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers,
so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of
Christ, who is the image of God." II Cor. 4:4. Wherever you
find spiritual darkness, you find the power and work of Satan. Jesus
was sent by God to deliver people from that realm and power.
The ability to begin to understand
God and see things with spiritual eyes has been given to every member
of the church of Jesus Christ. However, many people who have been
taught to "go to church" have never been taught that as a part of the
real church they have these privileges. As Christians begin to "be"
the church, they will find their ability to understand the Bible and
other spiritual things increasing dramatically.
Paul prayed this powerful prayer for
the Church at Ephesus 1:17-18:
"That the God of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom
and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding
being enlightened . . ."
How our lives and churches would be
changed if every Christian prayed and believed this prayer.
Called From the Kingdom
Of Satan to The Kingdom of God
"Giving thanks unto the Father, which
hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in
light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath
translated [us] into the kingdom of his dear Son . . . "
Col. 1:12-13
Yet another characteristic of the
true church is the power to overcome Satan. As we learn to "be" the
church, we discover the power and authority that Jesus has delegated
to the church to fight spiritual battles.
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in
the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of
God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For
we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world,
against spiritual wickedness in high places."
Ephesians 6:10-12
The Bible declares that a person is
blinded and under the power and dominion of Satan until he/she is
saved by God through faith in Jesus Christ. After salvation Satan
still harasses Christians. Although legally Satan’s power and
authority over a believer in Jesus Christ have been broken, we
generally experience the reality of that freedom over a period of
time, rather than all at once. That means that throughout the
Christian’s life he/she will need to deal with spiritual battles, both
in their personal lives and in those around them that need spiritual
help.
The Church has been delivered from
the power of Satan and now abides in the Kingdom of God. Basically
there has been a change of authority. Satan no longer has right nor
power to control a Christian. A Christian can have the confidence that
spiritual battles, whether in their own lives or those around them,
can be won.
People can "go to church" without
ever experiencing the liberating power of God. However, as we strive
to "be the Church," it will become natural to fight spiritual battles
and win.
If we have been called out of Satan’s
power, we have also been called into God’s kingdom. Being the Church
means that we now operate with a different set of principles and
values. A kingdom infers a King and a domain. A government if you
will. A government has laws and principles, a structure of government
and an economy. All these apply to the Kingdom of God.
In the world system the rights of
citizenship come with birth. So as with the Kingdom of God – we are
born into it. Being the Church means that we increasingly see and
understand this kingdom and that we are striving to operate within its
scope of purpose and authority. Privilege and responsibility go hand
in hand. Citizenship in the kingdom is not optional–neither is the
responsibility to be an active citizen. When we stop "going to church"
and start "being the church," we will discover the power contained in
both privilege and responsibility.
Called out of the World into
The Body of Christ
"Then they that gladly received his
word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about
three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles'
doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers."
Acts 2:41-42
We have been called out of the world
and into fellowship with other believers. The Bible tells us that we
are in the world but not of the world. In other words, some
fundamental things must change about the way we think and act. The
world’s philosophy, which is dominated by the sinful nature and
darkened thinking, just doesn’t jibe with God’s kingdom. The "world"
according to the Bible has a tremendous amount of influence on a
person. When a person becomes a Christian he/she must leave the things
of the world behind and adopt a new system of influence.
"Love not the world, neither the
things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of
the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of
the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of
the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the
lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."
I John 2:15-17
"Let the wicked forsake his way, and
the unrighteous man his thoughts . . . For my thoughts are not your
thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the
heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your
ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Isaiah 55:7-9
A person can go to church and
discover that the church does things the same way that the world does.
"Being" the church requires that we develop new ways of thinking and
doing. The disciples often got into a discussion about who would be
the greatest in the kingdom of God. Jesus told them that His kingdom
didn’t operate the same way the world did. If you wanted to be great
in His kingdom, you would need to become a servant.
Yet in the church we find the same
structure of government as in the world and the same ambition to
"climb the ladder" of success or recognition. To be effective in the
kingdom of God we must learn to leave the ways of the world to the
world and do things God’s way.
There is another thing about being
called out of the world into the Body of Christ. That is the fact that
we are called into the Body of Christ. God didn’t save
you to leave you unattached.
I have often heard people say, "I
don’t have to go to church to be a Christian." While this a true
statement, I question its validity. You can be a Christian without
"going to church." However, the majority of the New Testament is
devoted to how we should operate as a church. Remember what Hebrews
13:25 said, "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together,
as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the
more, as ye see the day approaching."
There is no justification for not
"going to church." The problem is twofold.
Some people who say they don’t have
to go to church to be a Christian simply aren’t Christian. There is
something about becoming a true Christian that calls you into
fellowship with other Christians. The passage in Acts 2 tells us that
those who received the word "continued steadfastly" in some things,
one of them being fellowship.
The second problem is that people
have been to church and see little spiritual value in it.
Unfortunately, regarding many churches I would have to agree. They
have been in churches that had little spiritual reality. Not knowing
the difference, they assume that "Church" is just like that. Herein is
the difference between "going to church" and "being the Church."
"Being the Church" means that we have
developed an attitude of forsaking the way of world while embracing
the fellowship of the saints at the same time. It was never God’s
intention for someone to "get saved" and just exist alone. He has
called us into relationship with the Church which is His body (Col.
1:24).
Called Out of Disobedience Into
Obedience
"What then? shall we sin, because we
are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that
to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to
whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto
righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin,
but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was
delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants
of righteousness."
Romans 6:15-18
We’ve been called from disobedience
(sin) into obedience.
Obedience to God, His word and the
leading of the Holy Spirit are not an option in the Kingdom of God. It
is a part of the genuine package. Consider this statement about
Abraham, the father of faith.
" By faith Abraham, when he was
called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an
inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he
went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise . . ."
Hebrews 11:8
Notice how faith and obedience work
hand in hand. Obedience is the fruit of faith. In fact, it is hard to
have one without the other. Real faith will result in obedience,
because you will act on what you genuinely believe. And obedience
without faith causes burnout. After a while you will stop doing
something if you really don’t believe in it.
"And being made perfect, he became
the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him . .
. " Heb. 5:9
"Elect according to the foreknowledge
of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto
obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto
you, and peace, be multiplied ."
I Peter 1:2
"If ye love me, keep my
commandments."
John 14:15
These and other verses make it
obvious that "being the Church" means obeying the head of the Church,
who is Jesus Christ. You can go to Church and never obey God.
Individuals and congregations must make a decision to obey God, first
in the fundamental things of the Bible, then in the leading of the
Holy Spirit.
I had a conversation with some lady
years ago who went to a particular denominational church. The subject
was baptism, and while we agreed on several points, her church was
practicing an unscriptural application of it. I started to say, "But
the Bible says . . . " and she cut me off with, "I don’t care what the
Bible says, that’s how we do it in our church."
Here is a person that will not grow
very much. The church has some problems too, if their tradition is
unscriptural and they are unwilling to change. Jesus told the Jews
that they had made the Word of God of none effect by their traditions
(Mark 7:13).
The Word of God is powerful and to
believe it and obey it releases that power into our lives and our
churches. The opposite is true also.
This is extremely important in the
issues of church government and leadership. Many churches today
operate with an unscriptural form of church leadership and expect God
to bless something He has not set in order.
God didn’t tell us to start churches
and figure out how to keep everyone happy. He laid out a pattern for
New Testament Church life and expects the Church to follow it.
God can and will bless our error for
a time, but as we grow, we have a responsibility to adjust our ways as
we grow in wisdom and understanding.
It is very hard to call Jesus "Lord"
and tell Him "no" at the same time. Obedience is a part of the gospel
message and indicates the condition of the heart of an individual or a
congregation. We’ve been called from self-will unto obedience.
Church = Change
The very world translated "Church"
carries with it the idea that we are called out of something and into
something. There are spiritual changes made. One cannot be truly saved
without these fundamental changes taking place in their lives because
they are the essence of the gospel and the kingdom of God. However,
each area of change must also be accompanied by an ever- increasing
desire and understanding if we are to walk in its fullness.
Having understood that the Church is
not "where we go," but "who we are," let’s go on to look at some other
areas of "being the Church."
The Church: The Body of Christ
"For as we have many members in one
body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are
one body in Christ, and every one members one of another."
Romans 12:4-5
"For as the body is one, and hath
many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are
one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized
into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or
free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is
not one member, but many . . . . (27) Now ye are the body of Christ,
and members in particular."
I Cor. 12:12-14 & 27
" But speaking the truth in love, may
grow up into him in all things, which is the head, [even] Christ: From
whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which
every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the
measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying
of itself in love."
Eph. 4:15-16
"For the husband is the head of the
wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour
of the body."
Ephesians 5:23
Organization Or Organism?
Paul declared THE Church to be
THE BODY OF CHRIST. This typology makes for wonderful teaching
and preaching and a multitude of illustrations can be wrought from it.
There is a danger here however. This is not just a literary device
used by Paul to convey a thought. It is a spiritual reality.
Paul did not declare the Church to be
‘like’ the Body of Christ. He declared it to be the Body of Christ.
While the Church must have some
organization, it is not, never has been and never will be an
organization.
The Church--The Body of Christ--has
an organic unity, both with Christ as the head and with every member
of the Body.
Two Dynamics of The Body of
Christ
Please read 1 Cor. 12.
In 1 Cor. 12 Paul explains the
function and relationship of the physical body in the context of
spiritual gifts. He shows how that each part of the body has a special
part to play, and a special place in the body in order that the whole
body function properly and to full potential.
One can "go to church" and never
experience the fullness of the Body of Christ. But to "be" the Church
means that we understand the dynamics of life in the Body of Christ
and that we find our place and fulfill it.
There are two dynamics that we must
understand and yield to if we are going to fulfill our place in the
Body of Christ. The first is RELATIONSHIP and the second is
FUNCTION.
Relationship Is Central to The
Church
Christianity is about the only
religion that places such a high degree of importance on relationship.
Most other religions can be practiced with or without others being
involved. Not so in the Body of Christ. By it’s very nature we are
called to operate and cooperate together with God and with each other.
There are, of course, two aspects to
the relationship issue.
The first aspect is that I must be
properly related to Christ as the head or I have no spiritual
partnership in the Body of Christ. In a parable about the vine and the
branches in John 15, Jesus said that unless we "abide in the vine"
we can do nothing of ourselves.
There can be NO spiritual
fruit born in our lives unless we get properly connected to Jesus and
stay properly connected to Jesus.
The second aspect is that I must be
properly related to the Body of Christ, finding and fulfilling my
place within the context of the Church. I must say without an apology
that it is impossible to be properly related to Christ without also
being properly related to the Church, which is His Body. Consider this
verse in I John.
"If a man say, I love God, and hateth
his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he
hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this
commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother
also. Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and
every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten
of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love
God, and keep his commandments."
I John 4:20-5:2
Attached to The Head?
Let me paint two word pictures to
illustrate my point.
Picture a head with some toes where
the ear should be, and a leg dangling from the chin. You observe a
hand coming out the top back of the head and see one eye gracing the
right cheek. Fingers grow from the nose and internal organs hang here
and there.
We laugh at the absurdity of this or
recoil in horror at the ugliness, yet this is exactly how we act
concerning relationships in the Body of Christ. While we give mental
assent to the way things should be, we really don’t see it in practice
that much.
Now picture this: A hand unattached
to the body. It is a hand, but to what purpose? It draws no strength
or life from the body, nor is it of any use to the body. Too many
Christians approach Christianity this way.
While we must have a personal
relationship to Christ we must also be properly connected to His body
to function as we should.
Too many Christians today have a
"Lone Ranger" mentality. That is, they don’t want to be connected or
committed to anyone or anything.
Ministries go about with no
accountability or input, receiving no correction or instruction.
Church members hop from church to
church, avoiding relationships, commitment and accountability. It is,
however, the bonds of love and commitment that hold a church together
and cause it to function as the Body of Christ in the fullness of the
Spirit.
We must understand and yield to both
of these aspects of relationship within the Church, first in vital
relationship with Christ, then in functional relationship with the
rest of His Body.
Strong Relationships Make
Strong Churches.
In I Cor. 12 and Ephesians 4 we find
Paul dealing with the practical issues of relationship and function.
Look at Ephesians 4:15-16
"But speaking the truth in love, may
grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From
whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which
every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the
measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying
of itself in love."
Paul says that as we speak the truth
in love we will "grow up in all things." We will grow upward
toward the fullness of Christ and we will grow together in spiritual
unity.
Paul wanted the Church to have ever
deepening relationships. In these verses he tells us that the
"body is fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint
supplieth."
A joint is not a bone, but rather a
point where two or more bones come together. It is in essence a
relationship--a functional relationship at that. So let’s replace
"joint" with "relationship" in this verse.
"From whom the whole body fitly
joined together and compacted by that which every [RELATIONSHIP]
supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every
part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in
love."
Have you ever had a sprained ankle or
a dislocated shoulder? The pain is terrible and the body doesn’t
function as it should. The arm doesn’t have the ability to access the
strength of the muscle that is present. The man who could lift 50
pounds with one arm can’t lift 5 pounds with a dislocated shoulder.
Did he lose his strength? Technically no. The muscle is as strong as
ever, but the improper relationship in the joint makes it impossible
to access the strength available to it. So it is with the Body of
Christ.
When relationships are "sprained" or
members become "dislocated," the whole body suffers from the lack of
strength. The power and presence of the Spirit may still be there, but
the Church is unable to access it do to improper relationships.
This is what Paul means when he
speaks of "That which every joint (relationship) supplies."
I have been in churches where this
problem was evident. The Spirit of God attended the services and the
presence of God was evident, but there was very little power. These
same churches had some serious relationship problems.
A Close-Knit Church
"That their hearts might be
comforted, being knit together in love . . . "
Col. 2:2a
God doesn’t want a loose-knit group
of people. He desires that we be closely knit together, caring for one
another and operating in the same mind and Spirit.
Let’s put this in a modern
illustration. Consider the difference between a shirt that has an
iron-on transfer and one that has the same design embroidered on it.
The iron-on transfer is connected, but not really woven to the fabric.
As a result it can peel and flake after some rough use. The embroidery
is interwoven with the fabric, becoming part of it. It is more
difficult to separate. The iron-on transfer takes a matter of seconds,
while the embroidery might take some time.
Relating this to church relationships
we can see why there are so many "flaky" Christians hopping from
church to church. God desires that we get interwoven with the people
around us, forming strong relationships that will weather the storms
of life and the attacks of the enemy.
Only as this happens will the Church
began to experience the reality of the fullness of the Body of Christ
spoken of in Ephesians 4:13:
"Till we all come in the unity of the
faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man,
unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ . . . "
Unity in Diversity
God loves variety. Just look at the
world around us. There are hundreds of varieties of plants. Consider
the animal kingdom. Even within the species there are various breeds.
And within the breeds there are various colors and markings. The world
is filled with people who have all kinds of ethnic features.
How mundane life would be without the
wonderful variety God, in His creative power, gave us.
How unfortunate it is then, when it
comes to the Church we want everyone to be the same.
We have our pet styles of preaching
or teaching and tend to only listen to those ministers who "preach
with fire," or "teach line upon line."
We want Christians to look alike and
act alike. And usually the standard of appropriate conduct is the big
"I."
Since most of us would hesitate to
vocalize it, I will say it for us all. We want people to be like
ourselves for the most part. How boring!
Paul dealt with this tendency in I
Cor. 12. He first discusses the various gifts of the Spirit, pointing
out several important issues.
1. In verses 4-6 he declares that
there are not only different gifts, but different ways in which a
person might operate in those gifts. Still, in all this diversity, the
unity of God remains. Notice Paul brings each aspect of God into play
here, "he same Spirit . . . the same Lord . . . The same God."
The simple fact is that God may give
10 people the same gift and cause it to operate differently in all 10
people.
When we reject the gifts of the
Spirit in a person because, "they don’t do it like I do," or "that’s
not how I was taught it should be," we shut off an avenue for God to
minister to us. And we are not the only ones that lose out. When we
squelch the gift in someone or even fail to encourage it, the person
God wants to use is hindered. As a final result, the Body of Christ,
as a whole, is robbed of a gift given to it by the Spirit.
2. Paul makes a second point. God
gives different gifts to different people. Notice I Cor. 12:7 & 11:
"But the manifestation of the Spirit
is given to every man to profit withal."
(verse 7) "But all these worketh that one and the selfsame
Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will." Verse 11
We must realize that God wants to use
EVERY person in some way. That means God wants to use me and
God wants to use YOU. No exceptions. It is God’s desire to use
every person in the Body of Christ. The Bible tells us here that God
HAS given gifts to EVERY man.
The issue isn’t HAS God given you a
gift(s), but rather, are you allowing God to develop and use the
gift(s) He has already given you!
Here is where relationship and
function are inseparable. I must recognize and develop my giftings for
the good of the Body of Christ. Likewise I must encourage, respect and
receive the giftings that God has placed in others who I am in
relationship with.
Another point in these verses
concerns the giving of gifts. They are given "as He wills."
God, by the Holy Spirit, imparts gifts to His people at His
discretion, not ours. This causes a couple of common problems that we
must grow past.
I may see a particular gift in
someone and desire that gift for myself. It may or may not happen at
my will. To function properly in the Body you must find, accept and
develop the gifts God has given you, instead of sitting back waiting
for the one you might desire.
The other problem is God may give you
a gift or ministry that you don’t particularly want. Sometimes we must
"step up to the plate" and accept God’s will, finding joy and
satisfaction in doing God’s will.
You can "go to church" and never give
what you have or receive what you need. But "being the Church" opens
up a whole new realm of giving and receiving as the Body of Christ
learns to minister to itself, by the Holy Spirit in love.
Hands, Feet, Eyes, Ears and
Noses
In verses 15-21 of I Corinthians 12,
Paul deals with two aspects of relationship and function. These are
the two common attitude problems that the Church must overcome in its
goal to realize the reality of Ephesians 4:13. "Till we all come
in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of
Christ."
The first attitude that must be
overcome is summarized like this: Because I am not like someone else,
I am not an important part of the Body of Christ. The second is
summarized this way: Because someone else isn’t like me they cannot be
an important part of the Body of Christ.
Obviously, both of these attitudes
are wrong and hurtful to all involved. The first belongs to a person
with a poor self esteem. The second to a person with, shall we say, a
"healthy ego."
The underlying concept is unity
in the midst of diversity. I don’t have to be like someone
else to be an integral part of the Church. Likewise I cannot insist
that everyone else be just like me before I accept them and their
giftings.
To be complete the Body of Christ
needs the totality of the various gifts, functions and ministries
Christ has given her. Romans chapter 12 lists a variety of
motivational gifts. I Corinthians 12 lists nine gifts of the Spirit.
And Ephesians chapter 4 lists five ministry gifts.
For a church to be complete in the
ministry of Christ, she must seek to have all these gifts operating in
her midst. Trying to function on less is like having an eight-cylinder
engine trying to run on six cylinders. It will run, but not like it
was designed to.
The Same Care One for Another
It is important to remember that the
unity of the Spirit is not a cold, organizational agreement, but
rather a warm, living, loving relationship. Paul ends I Corinthians 12
by reminding the believers there that there should be "no division" in
the body, and that each should have the same care one for another.”
You can "go to church" and never be
touched by the triumph or trial of the person sitting in the same
room. But when we "become" the Church by developing and maintaining
relationships we will be affected by what affects others.
"Rejoice with them that do rejoice,
and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another."
Romans 12:15-16
Hebrews 4:15 tells us that Christ was
touched with the feelings of our weaknesses and because of it He
became a faithful high priest.
Likewise God desires for us to be
touched with the feelings of others in order for us to minister to
them properly.
To say, "I know how you must feel,"
when we really don’t have a clue is a reproach to Christ and makes for
a very ineffective ministry.
Jesus felt what you and I feel. He
experienced it and His comfort is born of empathy not sympathy.
So should our ministry be born of
empathy, not sympathy! How human it is to have personality conflicts.
Pet peeves cloud relationships and we find ourselves judging more than
praying. However, when we genuinely care for those who "assemble
together" with us, we will have their best interests in mind, ever
seeking to see them grow and prosper in the Lord.
Conclusion
The sum of the matter is simple. God
intends for the fullness of Christ’s ministry to be expressed in and
through the Church, which is His Body. For that to happen we must make
a priority of relationships, and from there encourage, use and receive
the gifts God has placed within the Body. No single person or ministry
can express the fullness of Christ’s ministry, we need one another.
The Mission of the Church
Now that we have defined the Church
and looked at the dual issues of relationship and function, we can now
turn our attention to the MISSION of the Church. What is God’s purpose
for the Church? What are we supposed to be doing while we are waiting
for the return of the Lord?
Two great dangers exist in the
churches today. The first is becoming ingrown. This happens when we
only focus on the people we have already collected and fail to reach
out to those around us.
"But ye shall receive power, after
that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto
me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the
uttermost part of the earth . . ."
Acts 1:8
"And Jesus came and spake unto them,
saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye
therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to
observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with
you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Matthew 28:18-20
These two passages express the heart
of the two-fold MISSION of the Church. That is, to reach the world
with the message of Jesus Christ and to make disciples unto
Him.
You Shall Be Witnesses
Jesus left the Church with a promise
and a commission.
It is possible to "go to church" all
your life and never receive the promise nor fulfill the commission. On
the other hand, "being the Church" means we will experience both
promise and commission.
In these passages we find the key to
fulfilling the great commission -- power. Jesus said all power was
given to Him. The commission came from him who has power and
authority.
This is where the promise comes into
play. Because all power was given to Jesus, He has the authority to
delegate power to the Church. It is this power that we need to get the
job done.
Peter, James and John needed the
power that came with the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Why is it that the
church today doesn’t believe they need the same power to do the same
job? The commission to the Church has never changed. God’s promise of
power to get the job done has never changed either.
Being the Church means that we
understand the task and the means to fulfill it. It means that we seek
God for the same power He promised the early Church. Being the Church
means we seek to allow God to use us as instruments of that power to
impact the world in which we live.
Go Teach
In the King James Version of the
Bible, the word "teach" is used twice in the giving of the great
commission. One comes before the command to baptize and the second
comes after. While technically both words can be translated "teach",
Jesus actually used two different words here.
Many other versions translate the
first "teach" as "make disciples," which is accurate. The second time
Jesus says teach, it means to provide ongoing instruction. These two
words give the twofold thrust of the great commission.
The first is to make disciples, while
the second is to continue teaching them everything Jesus taught.
As I have already said, it is
possible to go to church your whole life and never experience the
reality of what the Church is all about.
How many people sit in church, yet
have never led another person to the Lord. They go to church, but have
never experienced the joy of helping another person become a strong
follower of Jesus.
Yet this commission and power was not
just for the apostles in Jesus’ day, it is for all who call upon the
name of the Lord.
"...ye shall receive the gift of the
Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to
all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call."
Acts 2:38-39
What Does It Mean To Be A
Witness?
Notice Jesus did not say, "You shall
go witnessing." Jesus said "you shall be witnesses."
If you mention being a witness in
some churches, they automatically think you mean you have to go
knocking on doors passing out "Four Spiritual Laws" tracts. While this
may be a part of being a witness, it isn’t what Jesus had in mind when
He said this.
The difference is the same that we
have been discussing throughout this study. That is the difference
between "going" and "being".
You can go witnessing, without ever
being a witness.
A witness is a person who has
first-hand knowledge about an event or subject. A person "witnesses" a
car wreck, so he has personal knowledge. He receives a summons to
appear in court to become a "witness" concerning the wreck. He
is simply asked to tell what he knows.
The same is true about being a
witness for Jesus. It isn’t hard. You must first have a personal
encounter with Jesus and then find someone to share what you know
with. It isn’t hard at all.
Jesus said He would supply the power
to be witnesses. In other words, I don’t have to convince anyone that
what happened to me is real. That is God’s Job. I just need to tell
people that the same thing can happen to them. The rest is between
them and God.
Evangelism or Discipleship?
What did Jesus tell the Church to do,
evangelize or make disciples? Think about it again. And Again! We were
told to make disciples, which is somewhat different then
evangelizing.
Evangelism is a part of making
disciples, but it is not the totality of what God expects from the
Church. Our idea of evangelism today is very askew. We look at it as a
traveling minister who comes to preach a revival in the church, or
someone who leads people into salvation.
Many "evangelists" preach great soul
winning messages and see great numbers of people respond to alter
calls for salvation. What happens afterwards though?
Statistics show that only a very few
people "converted" in evangelistic meetings today still actively
follow God after the first year.
What is wrong with this picture? This
in not what God intended. While it is unrealistic to think that every
person we "lead to the Lord" will actually stay committed, I think the
problem lies in the area of discipleship.
I think that is why Jesus said, "Go
make disciples." Our responsibility to the great commission is not
fulfilled with evangelism alone.
It is one thing to lead a person to
pray a prayer for salvation, it is another to walk with that person as
they make a wholehearted commitment to Jesus Christ.
This is where the two "teachings"
come into play. We need to teach people what God has to say about
salvation, but we also need to teach them that salvation means making
Jesus both LORD and SAVIOR. This is discipleship. Discipleship is much
harder than evangelism because it requires more personal time and
energy. It requires that you get involved in another person’s life and
actually help them become established in the kingdom of God.
Evangelism can be fun and exciting.
The fruit is quickly seen (or so we assume). We get to brag about how
effective we are and what a great work we are doing. But discipling
takes time and doesn’t necessarily show quick results.
This is why most churches don’t
emphasis discipling new converts -- it’s messy. Discipling takes time
and energy and the "P" word (patience). It’s easier to invite them to
"GO TO CHURCH" then it is to help them "BECOME" a part
of the Church.
This is exactly why we have so many
people who "go to church," but never really experience the reality of
God there. "Being the Church" means we must step up to the plate and
accept our command and commission to make disciples of those we have
led to the Lord.
A Word of Caution!
A great danger can occur when a
Church begins to disciple people. If the leadership isn’t careful the
church will begin to make disciples to themselves. They end up making
followers of the church, the pastor or its particular doctrinal views.
This isn’t what Jesus had in mind either. We are to make disciples for
Jesus, not disciples for ourselves.
Setting aside the errors of the past,
and the dangers presented, we still have a mandate to make disciples
of the world, not just to evangelize it.
GO!
Our churches do not grow for two
reasons. The first is because we do not GO! God never told the world
to go to church, He told the Church to go to the world. It is
unfortunate that much of evangelistic effort revolves around inviting
people to "GO TO CHURCH."
While people do get saved at church
meetings, I still have to wonder if this is God’s best.
The second is they do not take
seriously the command to make disciples. When this happens the new
converts either quit after a while or they never grow to maturity to
become "fruit-bearing" Christians.
The 20/20 Vision of the Church
Years ago I heard a sermon preached
by a good friend of mine, Matthew Dow, entitled The 20/20 Vision
of the Church.
In medical lingo 20/20 vision is
perfect vision. It is balanced vision. Both eyes are operating
together at optimum performance. Nothing is out of focus. This was
precisely the point Matthew made in his sermon.
Using Acts 20:20 for the basis of his
message he spoke about the need for the Church to have a balanced
focus in fulfilling the great commission.
"And how I kept back nothing that was
profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you
publickly, and from house to house . . ."
Public meetings were a part of the
early Church and are still a major part of the Church today. However,
equally important were the meetings in homes. Paul modeled house
ministry to the churches he started. This is a lost practice in the
modern church.
Much evangelism and discipleship can
be done more effectively in homes. This would involve both meeting one
on one with people or families and gathering in homes for prayer,
Bible study and fellowship.
One great weakness of the church in
America today is its emphasis on GOING TO CHURCH. As we have already
seen in this study, relationship and function are key elements to a
strong Church. These elements are best developed in small group
settings such as occur in home fellowships.
Many of the problems that exist in
the traditional church of the ‘90's are solved by teaching "house to
house."
Evangelism comes much more naturally,
as people will come to a home meeting when they might not come to a
"church building".
Relationships are formed as people
actually interact with each other in a small group setting. It has
been accurately said, "it is hard to develop a relationship with the
back of someone’s head" (as everyone sits facing the front of the
church where one or two people do all the work.)
Spiritual gifts and ministries are
encouraged and developed in the home fellowship. Whereas in "church,
the emphasis is on the ministries of a select few, with little time or
place given for "body ministry".
Real questions and problems can be
discussed and ministered to in the small group, where trust and
confidence has been developed.
These are just a few of the benefits
of having perfect 20/20 vision for both public and house meetings.
Conclusion
While there are other aspects of
church life, these thoughts should provide ample challenge for those
who are striving to be all they can be in the kingdom of God. We can
be satisfied to continue "going to church," or we can determine
that we will "be the Church".
For every person who has ever said,
"There has to be more to Christianity than this," I say, "God Bless
you as you BECOME THE CHURCH!"
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