In this Post, the word "Church" refers to the Body of Christ (that is, people who are true followers of Jesus Christ), not the building. In this Post, I want to talk about how a local church's (and denomination's) leadership and habits -- that is, its way of doing things and understanding things, whether those ways are new or inherited -- can either cooperate with or hinder the work of God in people's lives. In this Post, you may recognize the church you attend. You may also get a better idea about the kind of Church you want to be a part of.
I'm not at all against church organizations. There's good and there's bad. You might ask, "What about the middle-of-the road churches, those that aren't really good but not really bad, either?" Check out Jesus' comments in Revelation 2 and 3. He speaks about churches losing their first love (Rev. 2:4), about churches having a name that they are alive but in His eyes they are dead (Rev. 3:1), and about churches being lukewarm when He would prefer them being either hot or cold (Rev. 3:15-16). Those words from the Bible still apply today. So, ask the question again: What about "middle-of-the road" churches?
After you read those two chapters in Revelation, what do you think God says about "middle-of-the road" churches?
Here's at least some of how I would answer that. Some churches that are unacceptable now started out well but somewhere went off the rails, while others were seriously flawed from the get-go.
The Bad
The New Testament tells us that the Jews had a strong, dedicated, and highly regimented religious structure. It was built around the Sanhedrin (the top Jewish council), the Priesthood, the Pharisees and Sadducees, the Rabbis and Scribes, and the Temple and Synagogues where Jewish people worshiped, prayed, and learned the Law of Moses and Jewish tradition. These were the religious leaders and institutions of that day. But the New Testament shows that those groups had vicious, violent conflict with Jesus, the Apostles, and early believers in Christ, attempting to hinder the work of God in people's lives. That's what badly flawed religious organizations do: they attempt to replace God's life-giving move in people's lives with man's efforts, ideas, and rules.
The Good
The New Testament also tells us about good and godly organizations -- Jesus-focused frameworks of Believers -- that flowed with what God was doing in people's lives. They had God-directed structure. The early church was fairly well organized by leaders such as Paul, Peter, and the other Apostles. For the most part, it did a good job of supporting the true work of God in people. A good portion of the New Testament tells us about the leaders' efforts to keep the early groups of Believers on the rails.
So, in today's world, what's the difference between a church organization that supports the work of God and one that hinders the work of God? You may find this discussion offensive, but that's not my intention. I'm hoping here to stir up your thinking, maybe even to lead you to more closely examine your own church experience.
This much should be obvious: Many present-day churches have lost touch with the active presence of God in their midst, when God wants His churches to be alive with His presence.
I recall an old story about a young man who had recently become a true follower of Jesus. He was from the wrong side of the tracks. He didn't have Sunday go-to-meeting clothes and looked rather scruffy. He tried to visit a nice, fancy church in his town, but the greeters at the door turned him away because he didn't "fit-in". As he sat on the curb in front of the church, close to tears, discouraged and down-hearted, he looked to his left and saw Jesus sitting next to him. Jesus said, "What's the matter?" The young man answered, "They won't let me in." Jesus said, "Don't feel too bad. They won't let Me in, either."
I've adapted the following list of contrasts from a sermon my Pastor, Jim Leggett, gave on May 17th, 2015. In this list, the "Consumers" are the people that attend church. The "Presence" refers to the active and direct working presence of God through the Holy Spirit. You can link to Jim Leggett's sermons at http://www.whatisgrace.org/sermons.
I'm not at all against church organizations. There's good and there's bad. You might ask, "What about the middle-of-the road churches, those that aren't really good but not really bad, either?" Check out Jesus' comments in Revelation 2 and 3. He speaks about churches losing their first love (Rev. 2:4), about churches having a name that they are alive but in His eyes they are dead (Rev. 3:1), and about churches being lukewarm when He would prefer them being either hot or cold (Rev. 3:15-16). Those words from the Bible still apply today. So, ask the question again: What about "middle-of-the road" churches?
After you read those two chapters in Revelation, what do you think God says about "middle-of-the road" churches?
Here's at least some of how I would answer that. Some churches that are unacceptable now started out well but somewhere went off the rails, while others were seriously flawed from the get-go.
The Bad
The New Testament tells us that the Jews had a strong, dedicated, and highly regimented religious structure. It was built around the Sanhedrin (the top Jewish council), the Priesthood, the Pharisees and Sadducees, the Rabbis and Scribes, and the Temple and Synagogues where Jewish people worshiped, prayed, and learned the Law of Moses and Jewish tradition. These were the religious leaders and institutions of that day. But the New Testament shows that those groups had vicious, violent conflict with Jesus, the Apostles, and early believers in Christ, attempting to hinder the work of God in people's lives. That's what badly flawed religious organizations do: they attempt to replace God's life-giving move in people's lives with man's efforts, ideas, and rules.
The Good
The New Testament also tells us about good and godly organizations -- Jesus-focused frameworks of Believers -- that flowed with what God was doing in people's lives. They had God-directed structure. The early church was fairly well organized by leaders such as Paul, Peter, and the other Apostles. For the most part, it did a good job of supporting the true work of God in people. A good portion of the New Testament tells us about the leaders' efforts to keep the early groups of Believers on the rails.
So, in today's world, what's the difference between a church organization that supports the work of God and one that hinders the work of God? You may find this discussion offensive, but that's not my intention. I'm hoping here to stir up your thinking, maybe even to lead you to more closely examine your own church experience.
This much should be obvious: Many present-day churches have lost touch with the active presence of God in their midst, when God wants His churches to be alive with His presence.
I recall an old story about a young man who had recently become a true follower of Jesus. He was from the wrong side of the tracks. He didn't have Sunday go-to-meeting clothes and looked rather scruffy. He tried to visit a nice, fancy church in his town, but the greeters at the door turned him away because he didn't "fit-in". As he sat on the curb in front of the church, close to tears, discouraged and down-hearted, he looked to his left and saw Jesus sitting next to him. Jesus said, "What's the matter?" The young man answered, "They won't let me in." Jesus said, "Don't feel too bad. They won't let Me in, either."
I've adapted the following list of contrasts from a sermon my Pastor, Jim Leggett, gave on May 17th, 2015. In this list, the "Consumers" are the people that attend church. The "Presence" refers to the active and direct working presence of God through the Holy Spirit. You can link to Jim Leggett's sermons at http://www.whatisgrace.org/sermons.
In a consumer-based church, the primary audience is the people.
In a Presence-based church, the primary audience is God and His Presence.
A consumer-based church tries to please the people.
A Presence-based church tries to please God.
A consumer-based church is seeker driven, small group driven, program driven, attendance driven, music driven, and tradition driven.
A Presence-based church is driven by God's Presence.
In a consumer-based church, Jesus is more like a mascot, the symbol and figurehead of the group.
In a Presence-based church, Jesus is the ever-active Master.
A consumer-based church is consumed with tasks and programs that keep people busy.
A Presence-based church is consumed with Jesus and a living relationship with Him.
A consumer-based church primarily measures and celebrates attendance and financial giving. It is considered successful when attendance and finances are up.
A Presence-based church primarily measures and celebrates encounters with God, tears, joy, changed hearts and lives, and people saying "I experienced God's presence today." It is considered successful when people have a life-changing, on-going, growing relationship with Him.
A consumer-based church is focused on what the human customer says will make him happy, interested, and entertained so that he will keep coming back.
A Presence-based church is focused on encountering God through worship, the Word, prayer, and godly relationships.
In a consumer-based church, the Sunday service is all about performing for the people.
In a Presence-based church, the Sunday service is all about the people offering all up to God.
Every church should be alive with the Presence of God, a place where the people seek and grow in the Presence of God, experiencing His touch. That's what He wants. Relationship, not religion.In a consumer-based church, the key question after the Sunday service is "Did the people like it?"
In a Presence-based church, the key question after the Sunday service is "Did God show up and move in people's hearts?"
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