Knowing the Church Series
The Church You Need To Know must have amended its ways.
I can imagine many readers saying, "Do you not realize how long the church has been like this." I would reply, "Have you not read the length of Israel's disobedience? We are talking about 1,200 years of repeating the same sins. Prophet after prophet spoke against a nation, and except for a few pockets of short-lived repentance by a few, it continued in disobedience.
In last Week's Post, I touched on an upside-down Church from 1 Corinthians 12:22-23. "On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; 23 and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable..." The factors that make such members unpresentable are in the eyes of men and not God; that's the problem.
The Church You Need To Know must depend on God and not Men.
Paul rebukes the Church at Corinth because of their arrogance over their superior gifts. Back in chapter 4 and verse 7, he says, "For who regards you as superior? And what do you have that you did not receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?" Paul did not consider the believers at Corinth to be superior. There is no such thing! He argued that there are no self-made men—only fruitful men made as they are by God. We don't pride ourselves on what God is doing. What sense does that make? Nevertheless, the devil will have us go there.
The Church, as God designed it, is the remedy for sinful pride. I quote, "On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary." What makes a pastor? A man with a passion for Jesus and enough self-confidence to attend the right school can obtain a position in a local church in America. What's his ability, and from where did it come?
He learned the school's teachings and how not to bore people when teaching them. Can such a man do his job with minimal to no prayer? In most churches today, that would not be a problem. Would he also be operating in the power of the flesh and not the Spirit? Yes also! Therefore, what is the exceeding necessity for seminary? Is it a help or a detriment?
The Church You Need To Know must learn how to learn for themselves.
How, then, do people learn properly? Let us learn from the Apostle Paul, "One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always ...lazy gluttons." This testimony is true. For this reason, reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith..." Titus 1:12-13. Paul did not say the pastor was lazy and the reason for the Church not being sound in the faith; he said Cretans, plural.
The burden of walking with God in the Church lands squarely on the shoulders of each and every member. Paul's teaching from 1 Corinthians 14:29 is unmistakable, "Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment." You know what that means? The Apostle blessed total involvement. Some will say that's before the scriptures were complete. Complete or not, the answer is to know God's revealed will. We have the completed scriptures; has that kept the Church united? Anything but!
The following is a list of guidelines for the Church to be faithful and not lazy.
Salvation is recognized by personal holiness, not accepted and observed etiquette.
All things must be done in humility.
The most humble should serve as deacons and, after fathering and grandfathering others through evangelism and discipleship, can become elders.
All must learn the rules of interpretation, so there is no using scripture for any private understanding, thereby sinfully dividing the body.
Much reading must be given to generations gone by, thereby not automatically discounting their diligence and suffering in the faith to inhibit pride in ourselves.
When you find a Church that values a heart of passion for Christ and not an achiever of worldly attainments, then you have a Church That You Need to Know.
"And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, "Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 "Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it [at] [all]." 16 And He took them in His arms and [began] blessing them, laying His hands on them." (Mark 10:13-16).
A healthy Church is neither lazy nor proud of themselves because they appreciate and honor God.
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