FINDING A CHURCH THAT IS STILL RELEVANT TODAY BEGINS WITH SEEKING GOD'S TRUTH
Often there are times when I find myself having a discussion regarding the Relevance and Purpose of Christian Churches around the world today. I see a great number of articles that suggest the Church has lost its foundational moorings. I see a great number of articles that say the Church is teaching and accepting positions that are in direct conflict with Scripture. I see a great number of Pastors that have embraced a number of positions of Faith that seem counter productive and in conflict with basic ideas regarding Sin, Confession, Repentance and THE GOSPEL ITSELF! Jesus has been redefined in a manner that leads to a questioning of His Identity, His Deity, His Character, and His Purpose. A simple Myth that can be reimagined into whatever one wants Him to be in the moment. HE has to fit Our times and Our culture to be of interest. If He is not meeting OUR SELF IDENTITY AND NEEDS, then what good is it to give Him the time of day, let alone follow Him. Why on earth would I spend my valuable time FOCUSED ON HIM….unless He makes it all about ME and what I WANT ! And so we march forward, spewing Elitist Denominational Superiority as we make things up, add things and subtract them. Grace becomes “Cheap”. “Prosperity and Comfort replace Generosity and Righteous Love for Others FIRST. GOD becomes Diversity and Inclusion and justice that actually Promotes just the Opposite of those things. Love isn’t born of sharpening or correction with Forgiveness, it becomes celebration of what God Stands Against, because it might look like Judgement. SO, CAN I SUGGEST A SIMPLE TRUTH ? WE ARE THE CHURCH, AND IT IS WHAT WE MAKE IT TO BE ! THE CHURCH IS US, AND WE ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST. GOD”S HOLY TEMPLE. We gather together to WORSHIP GOD; giving thanks for His Love and Mercy. Loving Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength that WE might Serve Him and Be His. His Son Jesus is the only Way to Him, His Truth, and A Life Everlasting. Those were the Foundational Beliefs of His Disciples. THEY were the first Followers of Jesus, and We Must Follow Their Example. All different but ONE COMMONALITY. A belief in and love for Jesus and a desire to BE LIKE HIM. A reverent and fearing approach to a GOD that created us and is way beyond our simple knowledge and wisdom to question. How amazing that all the TRUTH is right there for us to Have in the Word Of God !
BUT YOU ARE A CHOSEN RACE, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR HIS OWN POSSESSION, THAT YOU MAY PROCLAIM THE EXCELLENCIES OF HIM WHO CALLED YOU OUT OF THE DARKNESS INTO HIS MARVELOUS LIGHT. ONCE YOU WERE NOT A PEOPLE, BUT NOW YOU ARE GOD’S PEOPLE; ONCE YOU HAD NOT RECEIVED MERCY, BUT NOW YOU HAVE RECEIVED MERCY. 1 Peter 2:9-10
SO THEN YOU ARE NO LONGER STRANGERS AND ALIENS, BUT YOU ARE FELLOW CITIZENS WITH THE SAINTS AND MEMBERS OF THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD, BUILT ON THE FOUNDATION OF THE APOSTLES AND PROPHETS, CHRIST JESUS HIMSELF BEING THE CORNERSTONE , IN WHOM THE WHOLE STRUCTURE, BEING JOINED TOGETHER, GROWS RICHLY INTO A HOLY TEMPLE IN THE LORD. IN HIM YOU ARE ALSO BEING BUILT TOGETHER INTO A DWELLING PLACE FOR GOD BY THE SPIRIT. Ephesians 2: 19-22
LET THE WORD OF CHRIST DWELL IN YOU RICHLY, TEACHING AND ADMONISHING ONE ANOTHER IN ALL WISDOM, SINGING PSALMS AND HYMNS AND SPIRITUAL SONGS, WITH THANKFULNESS IN YOUR HEARTS TO GOD. Colossians 3:16
“ The Church is to prepare the way for the final establishment for THE KINGDOM OF GOD on earth. Jesus lives in us if WE BELIEVE AND ARE REBORN. We are His Kingdom and His Citizens RIGHT NOW ! It is our duty and purpose to Proclaim Him and His Truth. If we are His, We Walk In His Ways. We are sojourners in this life, eagerly awaiting the Eternal Life that He Has Promised Us In Him ! God’s Word is full of Truth and Path and Purpose. Loving God, Helping Others, Sharing The Gospel to Everyone, Everywhere. Humility, Kindness, Teaching, Sharpening, Admonishing, Self Control and a myriad of other things in Wisdom and Love; always in line with God’s Character and Truth. WE ARE THE LIGHT AND SALT. Hopefully all this begins to make sense to us and shows us that Church is important because it is the COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS, BUT IT MUST BELIEVE, SPEAK AND WALK IN THE TRUTH AND WAYS OF GOD”S WORD. It requires the recognition and willingness to WALK THE NARROW PATH and SEEK THE NARROW GATE. A path where God and His Word Rule and Show The Way. Jesus didn’t seek out Lukewarm followers that were sometimes in and sometimes out. HE asked his disciples to give up everything and FOLLOW HIM. He taught them GOD”S TRUTH AND WAYS, not the Religiosity of Man. Many have asked me “Why a Kingdom Principled Life ?” “What is it, what do you mean ?” For Me, it is simply “A Desire to Live For God and Be His, striving to Live and Grow in His Grace to thirst for His Love and His Truth.” “Giving up myself to Be His Slave, under His Authority and Will” “His Kingdom is where my Heart will Be, forever. “
AS YOU COME TO HIM, A LIVING STONE REJECTED BY MEN, BUT IN THE SIGHT OF GOD, CHOSEN AND PRECIOUS, YOU YOURSELVES LIKE LIVING STONES ARE BEING BUILT UP AS A SPIRITUAL HOUSE, TO BE A HOLY PRIESTHOOD, TO OFFER SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES ACCEPTABLE TO GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. 1 Peter 2:4-5
Do you have a Church Home ? Seek One ! Be among the other Living Stones ! Be in a Community of Believers and Followers of Christ. Make sure it is a Church that teaches God’s Truth and Proclaims Jesus as Lord, Savior and King. A place with a focus on God and His Word. A Church that WILL NOT COMPROMISE ON SIN TO PREACH A FALSE LOVE.. Be in a Church that Worships God and Praises His Grace and Mercy while also emphasizing Walking In His Commandments. Pray for guidance by The Holy Spirit to just such a place and Share It with others. I am blessed to have two churches and pastors that have greatly helped me in my path to get closer to Jesus, and I am ever Thankful for their Love and Encouragement. Blessings be on Brave Church and Jeff in Denver, and Illuminate Community Church and Jason in Scottsdale…..because through Christ In Their Hearts, the message is clear… I Am Loved:)
GOD”S TRUTH IS REAL/JAA
SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD, AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL ELSE SHALL BE GIVEN UNTO YOU. Matthew 6:33