My heart goes out to both the “new born”
babe in Christ, and those that have had a true desire to know God. Maybe
something has happened in the life of a “seeker” that caused them to “seek out”
God and have turned to where they believed they would find Him....the church,
but lasting answers are not there to be found.
As for the new “born again” believer, if given the opportunity, the institutionalized
church will shipwreck their faith as it has done countless others throughout
the last two thousand years.
"Jesus answered, Verily,
verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he
cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (6) That which is born of the flesh is
flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." [John 3:5-6]
When speaking of the “new born babes” in
Christ, we are not talking about the “seekers” here; we are speaking of those
who have been born again... “born of the Spirit” as Jesus said. They are ones that have come out from the
world and its desires and have received a new heart to live the rest of their
days for the will of God. To them,
religion or more to the point, “modern Christianity”, comes as an “angel of
light” with a form of Godliness that can be deceiving to these unaware new
believers, this false “light” the church offers denies them the power to be set
free (or remain free) from sin.
The new born child of God knows that he
is but a child and he longs for fellowship and instruction in this new found
faith that has become so alive in him.
Here in the western world and its brand of “Christianity” (which has now
spread throughout the whole world) he is told he must "go" to
“church” and submit to its leadership...get “plugged in” and they will tell you
what to do and how to “serve”. This
“seems” right...believing these “Christians” feel about God the same way he
does. He believes they have been “born
again” as he was (or why else would they call themselves Christians and go to
church if they were not?) and since they are older in the Lord...they must be
right, they have “been at” this a long time. Not realizing that it is all a
lie, a trap of the enemy, who has come to steel, kill and destroy his faith, it
(modern Christianity) has "become the habitation of devils, and the hold
of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird."
[Revelation 18:2] The “church” has
become an enemy of the cross of Christ and would “resurrect”, if they can, the
new believer’s old self life and hand it back to him...killing the new seed
that had once been planted in him.
Do the other members of the “church”
realize this? I believe most do not,
that is why it is called a deception...it is THE “great falling away” that the
scriptures have warned of. There are
many reasons people go to “church”. It
is sad, but most do not go because they were born again and were seeking fellowship
with like-minded spiritual brothers and sisters who would encourage each other
in the faith, but go for other reasons.
There can be as many reasons as there are people in the pews.
Some go because they want to “clean up”
their lives for some reason, become respectable, and maybe ease their
conscience. Going to church doesn't cost
them that much, a little time and maybe some money sometimes. But the music is good, it can be
entertaining, they feel like they did something for God, something that pleased
Him and that it makes them feel good, they feel justified for a while. They can hear an encouraging message on how
much God loves them and how they can receive all of God’s blessing, especially
if they “obey” God (all churches have their own set of “laws” to live by, some
more strict, some less), they go to church and “tithe” to it, God might be more
obliged to answer some prayers. Others go for the kids, thinking they are
giving them some good morals to live by and the church will teach them about
God, but none of these were ever born again.
"Then said Jesus unto his
disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his
cross, and follow me." [Matthew 16:24]
"Then Jesus beholding him
loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell
whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in
heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me." [Mark 10:21]
Some of these “church goers” think they
were “saved”, in fact, I would guess most think they were “saved” when they
said a prayer to “accepted Jesus into their hearts” while repeating a few words
after a pastor. But they were never
truly born again, they were never told the true Gospel of the Kingdom of God
and its requirements of true repentance, or even know what true repentance means,
the cross was never explained to them...the cross THEY would have to carry. They were not told to count the cost and see
if they were willing to go the distance with Him no matter the cost.
" And whosoever doth not
bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. (28) For which of
you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost,
whether he have sufficient to finish it? (29) Lest haply, after he hath laid
the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock
him, (30) Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. (31) Or
what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and
consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against
him with twenty thousand? (32) Or else, while the other is yet a great way off,
he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. (33) So likewise,
whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my
disciple." [Luke 14:27-33]
"Confirming the souls of
the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must
through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." [Acts 14:22]
These people had never even heard the true Gospel and they were lied
to, Christ is NOT living in their hearts ruling and reigning, but “self” is
still the master of their lives and the church gives them a false sense of security
that they are “OK” in their self-directed way of life. But in reality they are still in their sin as
they continue to eat of the “human opinion tree” (The Tree of the Knowledge
of Good and Evil) and the wrath of God remains on them.
But among the masses of people in the “churches”
there are some that were true children of God.
This is the great tragedy, they had come as new believers and new born
babes in Christ seeking fellowship, some might have even been born again there,
and thought the “church” had something to do with it, but later only received a
slow death, so slow and gradual they didn’t realize it was happening, or if
they did, they didn’t know why it was happening and was powerless to stop
it. There may have been times when
something just didn’t “seem right” to them or they saw error, but they excused
it, they might have thought they must have been wrong...they thought they HAD
to be in church...so...well....they didn’t want to be called a “church hopper”
or they would be disobeying God if they “forsook the assembling together”...
wouldn’t they? They might have convinced
themselves they were just being “critical” or judgmental...they just needed to learn
to get along with everyone, after all....no one is perfect....they think....
Wasn’t long before they were accepting
the “status quo” but deep down...if they let themselves think... they knew something was missing. Was this the way it was in the first century
church? Is this the manner of life the
apostles lived?
If the truth was known about the history
of the “church” for the last two thousand years, you would know WHY the so
called “church” doesn’t have any spiritual power in it today. All that is left is forms, traditions,
rituals and entertainment with emotions that fade away, but no power to change
lives to become true Sons of God that walk in the Spirit and no longer fulfill
the lust of the flesh. They have a “form
of Godliness but deny the Power thereof”, they have cleaned up the outside of
the cup; making it look pretty for all to see its (false) light, but the inside
they are ravenous wolves. They are
Christ’s in name only and they are a friend of the world. We see today, what has happened to the seven
churches in Revelations...Isaiah also prophesied about them...
“And in that day seven women
shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own
apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach."
[Isaiah 4:1 KJV]
" Wherefore come out from
among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean
thing; and I will receive you," [2 Corinthians 6:17]
I pray the Lord would open their eyes to
see the truth and to see that there is LIFE outside these dead institutions. It is a REAL life that doesn’t fade away
after the “programs” are over and all the hype and emotions are gone, but it is
a power that LIVES in them that will keep them from sin as they submit to it.
“...because they received not
the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong
delusion, that they should believe a lie:" [2 Thessalonians 2:10-11]
Some reading this may even remember having
that “Life” years ago but have been convinced that was there just because they
were “young” in the Lord and they have “out grown” it now.... COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM while there is still
time! If Christ is still not the most
important thing on your mind everyday....if He is not what you live for, if you
are not seeking Him with your whole heart every day, wanting to know what His
will is for this day, and asking for the power to do it, you will have to ask
yourself, have you become lukewarm and has He spit you out of His mouth? Has He answered you according to the idols of
your heart and has put you at ease in believing the lie? Seek
Him while He can be found!
As you “come out from among them”, (i.e.
false forms of religion) to be “received” of the Lord, you can expect to see tribulations
because of it. Those still in these false forms of religion will believe you are wrong for leaving and you “must have
backslidden”, all kinds of repercussion can happen because of it. But the root of the problem is....they cannot
afford for you to be right...if you are....where does that leave them? But the neat thing is, the Lord can use these
situations to bring a deeper death to “self” in you and teach you to really
live for God and not “man”. As He does
this in us, the Lord can give us a deep love for those that are still lost and
caught in the church trap with no “need” to defend ourselves and what we are
doing, but only answer them as the Lord gives us directions in it.
"For they that are after
the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit
the things of the Spirit. ... (9) But ye are not in the flesh, but in the
Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not
the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." (Romans 8:5, 9)
"For as many as are led
by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." [Romans 8:14]
Those that are His, He has given them
ears to hear His voice and to be led by Him.
He gives them the Grace (Power of God) to overcome the world. He will even direct them to true fellowship
with other brothers in sisters in the Lord.
NO it is not an organization with a “name” on it and has no “forms” with
so-called leaders, no “funds” needed for buildings or anything like that, and
no salaries to pay. Just people that
love the Lord and want His will no matter the cost and want to share with others
that are just as commented to Him as they are....He IS their LIFE. Fellowship with others is also called a body. It is a body that has many members spread out
throughout the world. In this ONE body
and we will find more mature brothers and sisters in it that we all can learn
from....in fact, we will all learn from each other, from the “least” to the
“greatest”. If all members of the body
of Christ are abiding in the “vine” and are learning of Him and feeding from
Him, there will be times that ALL will have something to share with
others. It is the Lord that puts these members
together as HE so wills it, no “human” hand has to “direct” it; it is led by
the Holy Spirit.
A sister posted a blog the other day
that put it very well the way of fellowship and what “church” is all
about.
Lots of Little Churches - by Loretta Heiden
“and to the church in your
house…” Philemon1:2
What Church do I go to? I
don’t. I don’t “go to” the ones on the corner with wood, stones, mortar,
steeples, pews, lobbys, offices, classrooms, donation envelopes, ATMs,
liturgies, confession boxes, “prayer rooms”, membership contracts,
State-incorporation, power-tripping Clergy, Spirit-squashing Church traditions,
mics, stages, sound systems, lighting systems and elevated pulpits.
But I am a part of lots of
little churches, and we are all united; one flock, with one Shepherd.
What do my lots of little
churches look like? Where are they located? Who are the leaders? Is there a
liturgy or order of service? Do we meet on Sundays?
I had dinner out with J.; we
are a little church. My friend K. came over and we sat in the living room; we
are a little church.
My daughter and I spent time
together; we are a little church. My daughter’s girl friend spent the evening
at our kitchen table.
We talked for hours; the 3 of
us are a little church. I chat with my blogger friends online, we are a little
church. I chat
with many friends via email;
we are lots of little churches. One Facebook friend came thru my city on her
way across the country and
she stopped by for tea; we
were a church of 2 sisters. On Skype, i meet up sometimes with 2 or 3 friends,
we are a little church. I talk on the phone to one
dear sister who lives in
another state, we are a little church.
I find the followers of Jesus
all the time out in public. We stand there on the sidewalk together, we are a
little street church. Out in the parking lot
with a girlfriend, we are a
little church in the sunshine. I send a letter in the mail…. the postman
delivers “love one another” to my far away friend.
P. comes over for dinner, we
eat, share, cry, read scripture and pray. We hang out in the backyard sitting in
lawn chairs near the vegetable garden, just being together. We are a little
church every time he comes over.
My FB friend sends me an
encouraging email. We are a little church thru the miles.
My little churches,
“gatherings” really, happen wherever I happen to be with another saint, and we
are sharing time together, and sharing encouragement together. Jesus is with
us. The leader is the Holy Spirit and there is no clergy, no order of service
or liturgy, there is no “Hierarchy”, no power- trips, no committees, no board
and definitely no “proper Church clothes”. There is no required day.
There are only a few of us at
a time, with Jesus, together with one another. We are a little church in my
house. When we communicate with one
another in any way, we are together and we are a little church. One body, one
Spirit. Lots of little churches.
