— Critical issues concerning the Church —

Fellow Soldier,

A largely unnoticed effect of the local church’s departure from its biblical mandate has been the swelling exodus of earnest saints who are giving up on the institution, but not on God or the Church.  Tired of programs, entertainment, diluted expositions and powerlessness, they’re now exiting by the tens of thousands weekly, to pursue a more meaningful walk with God.  Most CODfish don’t yet realize they’re one of millions and part of a divine church upgrade that is profoundly changing the worship landscape.

This overhaul will impact every one of us as no other move of God in our lifetime.  If you are one of the outward-bound, this article will encourage you by giving your plight and flight comforting context.  But buckle up, the trail is narrow and primitive!

CODfish Update

Church Of the Displaced

(Part 4 of 4)

"See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." — Isaiah 43:19 NIV

“CODfish” are unwitting members of the “Church Of the Displaced,”¹ handles we coined to help identify a burgeoning body of earnest believers who leave the institutionalized church in their quest for a more robust Christian life.  We’ve also noted, “These folk are distinctly different from the “dissed,” disaffected or disgruntled ... Most are seasoned and sincere saints who have previously been in leadership or ministry.  Feeling displaced in their home churches, they opt to leave — often after praying and agonizing for years.  They head out into the unknown; the wilderness.”² We believe CODfish are the evidence and vanguard of a divine move to strengthen the Church.

Two moves; one of God.

As we consider the C.O.D. phenomenon, it’s important to understand that two such moves are currently under way — one a counterfeit (predictably, Satan arrives on the scene before most even realize there is a scene).  Although these moves began at least a decade ago, they are just now being defined and quantified.  Pollster, George Barna, terms the godly one a “revolution”4 though we prefer the more generic, “denomination” (the name of a class of things).  The counterfeit is sometime referred to as the emerging church, but blurring their distinction, so is the real one.³ We must be discerning.

Key differences.  Leading unwary  followers astray, the counterfeit is touted as the local church’s replacement, using today’s transitional confusion for cover as it seeks to undermine it.  Obviously, the Spirit-led move honors the biblical, blood-bought Church.  Although most CODfish do not significantly interact with a local church, they’re not against it — only the corrupted version which many exitees view as having impaired their spiritual growth while misusing funds.  Some fortunate enough to be plugged into a reasonably sound congregation, maintain fellowship to supplement their primary — outside-the-stained-glass sources for worship, accountability, spiritual training and ministry.

Another telling distinctive is their respective rationales.  Those gravitating to the counterfeit often display a rebellious spirit — more against something, than for the Church or for living the crucified life.  Many come across as fault-finders, often characterizing themselves as getting away, rather than a more constructive, going to.  However, whether fleeing to a house church, scripture-at-Starbucks or Schuller-on-the-tube — they’re out of order.  In fact, it’s fair to say that some are using the opportunity to  drop out of church altogether.  Under cover of the transition, they now feel justified in their decision to violate Hebrews 10:25: "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching."  They exhibit more selfish motives than spiritual.

Conversely, CODfish revere God’s Church and have no intention of leaving; it’s the centrality of their lives.  Instead, they see themselves exiting a time and resource-wasting institution to become the Church.  Some are distilling into cells for worship, training, accountability and outreach — believing that version of corporate life to be more biblically sound and fruitful.  Love-bound in community, they redirect their time, energies and God’s finances.  After much prayerful anguish over the worldly agendas of leadership caught up in “bigger-n-better-equals-success” type thinking and incessantly pressed to fund underutilized facilities while a pittance is budgeted for the lost and needy — they’ve quit.  They’ve given up on the institution, but not on God.  As one Jesus-passionate believer we’ve known for decades put it: “Though laboring in vain to avoid it, I’m now a ‘CODfish.’  After groping for years to belong somewhere in the system, the combination of doctrinal doctoring, tradition, ‘Hollywooding’ of worship and the impersonal format finally drove me out.  Hungry hearts are not satisfied with the king’s dainties or the animal’s straw ... they need nourishment.  I’m tired of ‘audience-performer’ Christianity ... I just couldn’t gut-it-out any longer.”  He’s since gravitated to the House Church movement, reaping satisfaction and fruit as an apostle of that New Testament expression of the local church.

What does the Bible say about church? First, let’s remind ourselves that “Church” defines the universal body of Jesus’ followers; the “called out ones;” Christians — not facilities.  Jesus frames its introduction in the form of a guarantee: "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" — Mt 16:18.  In all the N.T.’s hundred references in which the apostles define Church essentials, there can be found no single formula for meeting format; it being left open to Spirit-led expression.  Realize that today’s typical church-service is the evolving product of tradition.  Within apostolic limits, meeting details (format, frequency, times, places, etc.) are left up to locals — not scripturally mandated.  Of utmost import, such gatherings must serve God’s purposes.  Note also that neither Jesus nor His Apostles harangue about attendance, tithing or adherence to religious forms.  Believer “fruit” is their prime concern.

To formulate a God-pleasing believer meeting, wisdom suggests we start with HIS priorities.  Thus, if to Jesus’ oft-repeated command to pray, we couple His concluding Church orders: "go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you" (Mt 28:19,20a) — meeting ingredients emerge.  It would seem that prayer, evangelism and discipling of believers should be dominant themes (also the conclusion of a leading Home-Church advocate⁶).  Of course, this is against the backdrop of all the “when you come together” scriptures such as: "When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation." All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church — 1Cor 14:26b.  Rightly assuming this meeting outline is well within biblical compliance, we now have a standard with which to help evaluate any local church and around which to model CODfish meetings.

Observations.  Not only does this meeting model highlight the Lord’s priorities, it reveals two major ingredients conspicuously absent from the vast majority of today’s assemblies: attendee participation and the Holy Spirit.  First Corinthian’s 14:26 meeting directives can neither be misunderstood nor misinterpreted.  It paints a picture of lively family involvement — no doubt moderated by an elder (likely the head elder/pastor).  Attendees participate, and Who enables them?  None other than the other largely ignored essential in today’s church gatherings: the Holy Spirit.  Only He can provide a harmonious and relevant hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation.  And why must the Holy Spirit orchestrate the agenda? "for the strengthening of the church."  To even suggest such a spontaneous, Spirit-led agenda to much of today’s leadership would likely brand that believer a trouble maker.  But it’s scriptural!  It’s deemed by the Holy Spirit necessary — "for the strengthening of the church" (1Cor 12:4-27).  How does your church stack up?

Where to from here? CODfish should take time to generously praise God.  Praise Him boisterously!  Praise Him with everything at your disposal for He’s doing a new thing "... to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise" — Isa 43:20b.  AND  He loves you enough to send an invitation.  It’s time for downcast, maligned and guilt-laden saints who love God enough to leave corrupted local churches, to: "Clap your hands (and) shout unto God with the voice of triumph" — Ps 47:1.  This is a new day for the Church.  Rejoice!  It’s being strengthened.  A stronger wineskin has been sewn to contain the exuberant Holy Ghost power bubbling at the Church’s unseen level.  Drink and become “drunk” on the joy of the Lord.  The Church will victoriously reign in apostolic power as distinctively separate from the compromised, as Christianity is to Judaism.

Let’s move away from church thrashing and bemoaning its ills.  Instead, forget "... those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before ... press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" — Php 3:13b,14.  Above all, pray fervently for wisdom and discernment so you don’t miss God and become content with compromise.  Pray also that you’ll never be charged with lukewarmness.  The CODfish revolution is already impacting your life.  Rejoice in the Lord!

ABOUT US:  Founded in 1993, Hallelujah Living Ministries is a donation-based, non-denominational Christian outreach to uplift, inform and challenge followers of Jesus Christ.  For more information or a copy of our always-free print newsletter, please include a  postal mail address along with your comments and prayer requests. Thank you for visiting  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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