— Critical issues concerning the Church —

Fellow Warrior,

“Are you a ‘church person’?” is a question I often pose to a new acquaintance.  It’s a non-threatening way to steer the conversation God-ward and to get a sense of their spiritual condition.  Professing Christians frequently answer “No” — then proceed to explain their reasons why.  Some answer to the effect, “Yes — but not in the traditional sense.”  They too will often detail their church alternative(s).  Many explanations sound reasonable, nonetheless troubling, because they lack biblical support.

Like many believers, we’ve had a difficult relationship with the local church; our pain deriving from a deep love and commitment in the face of so many spots, wrinkles and our own eye motes.  We pray this will enlighten and help us all walk in the Truth.

Why the Church?

Do Christians really need be knit into a local church?

"I say also unto thee ... I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it ... And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." — Mt 16:18b; Acts 2:47b

“If you are not a member of the church you regularly attend, you may well be going to hell” — is the provocative way a Washington, DC pastor often opens a sermon on this subject.  The room gets quiet as he then quickly qualifies that a person does not literally need to have their name on a church membership card to go to heaven, because justification is by faith alone in Christ alone and by God’s grace alone.  But, he DOES see the local church as an imperative, without which, a believer can go dangerously astray

Indeed, a vital church function is to challenge one’s claim to being a Christian — the man sleeping with his father’s wife, referred to in First Corinthians five, being an example.  He apparently saw himself as a follower of Christ ... until corrected by the church.

To understand just how important the local church SHOULD be to every believer, all we need do is gauge how important it is to Jesus.  It’s certainly fair to assert that, those things important to Him, should surely be so to His followers.  How important is it?  Enough for Him to view it as His own body: "And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way ... you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it" — Eph 1:22,23; 1Cor 12:27.  And, hey guys — is a bride important to a groom?  You bet!  More so than that fancy car which sometimes gets swapped for her ring.  Well, Jesus, having the greatest of all loves, traded His physical life for His “bride” — the Church (Rev 21:9).  Now that’s important!

So, what’s the problem?

Why are so many questioning or bailing out of fellowships, while in other quarters, churches appear to be on steroids and running out of seats??  It’s because the U.S. church is undergoing major change, especially since the 60s.  Church in America is no longer the staid and safe bastion of historic Christianity that nurtured our forebears.  A believer today simply cannot join just any Sunday assembly with the assurance of being Scripture-fed by a Spirit-called, prepared and sent man of God.  In fact, one cannot even assume it’s Christian!  This is a season when many questionably anointed and appointed men (and women) pulpiteers, some with vast followings, dominate the church scene; when delineation between God’s people and the rest of the world has become so blurred, that a recent Barna poll found scarcely any difference in their lifestyles.

Another reason for today’s widespread unrest among Christians might be because of a generally higher scriptural literacy than in previous generations.  Many today have a better grasp of God’s agenda, purposes and plan of action.  This corresponds to that great outpouring of God’s Spirit from 1959 to the late 70’s, and the proliferation of expositional teaching.  More pew occupants now have a clearer picture of the doctrines of our faith, the church and its intended functioning.  But, many since are also being woefully misled.

Today’s church upheaval might also be caused by drastic changes in our culture.  In 60 years we’ve gone from a more self-reliant and physically engaged people in a slow-paced and border-defined world, to an entitlement minded, more intellectually engaged society, competing in a global market that runs 24/7 on fast forward.  We’ve gone from, “Wow!  We’ve finally got a single-party family phone line and a black and white 10-inch TV” — to where it’s commonplace for adolescents to tote a candy-bar-sized gadget by which they can contact the world (also download pedophiles and porn) and to viewing color TV with wall-sized screens.  We’ve gone from slow and easy to fast and furious; from “Leave it to Beaver” and playing checkers, to Jerry Springer and Grand Theft Auto; from a people that only read about miraculous things in Ripley’s, “Believe-It-Or Not” — to where techno-miracles are the norm.  We’re a more demanding, “Put up or shut up!” people.  We’re also in that Holy Ghost-forewarned season of “pick-and-choose” theology:  "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears" — 2Ti 4:3.

We’re now different: brasher, bolder, busier, but in as great a need of Christ as ever ... the real Jesus of the Bible and the real Church.  Many are no longer satisfied to simply warm pews and play at it.  Their need is too pressing and time too short.  Increasingly, believers, desperate for the power and presence of God in the assembly, question today’s “plantation” model of the local church.  Which concept busies believers with field chores to keep the plantation afloat for its business-oriented owners, rather than for biblical priorities.  Sober-minded believers are challenging the status quo: “platform/audience,” “entertainment/spectator,” “worship team/sing-along” and “speaker/listener” formats.  Their cry is, “Give me the real thing!  When we gather, help me feel a part of a genuine spiritual family that’s serving the Lord’s purposes.  Let’s dialogue rather than talking at me about another building, 12-step, 40-day or whatever, program.  And don’t try to con me with another office-run, home ‘Agape’ meeting, which in fact is another church-growth gambit in the guise of genuine sheep time.  And for sure — don’t try to feed me from the pulpit with another plastic meal of para-phrased, positive-only baloney.  I-need-the-REAL-deal!”

Eighty-seven times

... the KJ New Testament identifies the Church as Christ’s loving provision for His followers (CHRIST-ians).  In its essence, it is portrayed as a spiritual organism which He founded, heads and guarantees will one day stand before Him, complete and in pristine glory.  Aside from it, there is no biblical evidence whatsoever for the alternate care, equipping, edifying and accountability for one of His own.  Moreover, through apostolic writings, the Spirit went to great lengths to help us understand the Church’s purposes, operation, government, benefits, authority — and each disciple’s role in, and responsibility to it.  We can therefore safely assume it’s to our very great advantage to be an integral part of the local church, expressed as a community of believers.  Correspondingly, it’s with great temporal danger and eternal peril should we disregard, discount, discredit ... or divorce it.  “But,” you might earnestly inquire, “what constitutes the ‘real deal’?”

The Real Church

in apostolic times met both publically and in homes, much as today (Acts 2:46, 20:20).  So the issue is NOT where we meet, but how we conduct ourselves when we do gather.  Therefore, as appealing as today’s, Neighbour¹ and Kreider² popularized “Home Church” movement is, in the longer view, it too can falter if not truly submitted to the Holy Spirit.  With that caveat, the home-based model is the nearest and dearest portrayal of its N.T. origin.  In contrast to today’s denominational or mega-churches, it’s the “meta-church.”  The Greek prefix meta, means change; ie: metanoia: to change one’s mind, to repent.  Just as the spiritual eruption of Acts chapter two changed the entire religious landscape, today’s meta-church promises to do the same.  Indeed, it might well be that which the Holy Spirit is calling “CODfish”³ into.

Whether meeting in a home, theater or behind stained glass, a local church MUST conform to scripture.  To aid in your assessment, ask these questions:⁴ Is it a church where: •God’s word is faithfully taught?  •sound doctrine matters?  •the gospel is cherished and clearly proclaimed to the lost?  •members strive to live by God’s Word?  •one can find and cultivate godly relationships?  •members are challenged to serve?  •leaders are characterized by humility and integrity?  Is it a church:  •that’s it willing to boot me out?  •I’m willing to join wholeheartedly “as is,” trusting God to bring it and me to maturity?  If you’re presently attending one that falls woefully short of “yes” to these questions — pray.  Ask God if He would have you seek another.

Being part of a local church is not a believer option, but a biblical imperative.  Read in Eph 2:22 & 4:16 that it’s only through it, God’s aspirations for his entire body can be achieved.  It therefore behooves each of us to prayerfully locate one that conforms to our faith’s non-negotiable basics and as many of the “desirables” as possible.  Than join it!  Above all, join before God and in your heart.  Trust Him and the enabling of the Holy Spirit within you (His grace), to not only help you flourish, but to use you to edify other members.  Dare we also suggest you NOT view it as a venue to showcase your particular giftings, or try to to change it to suit your own needs?  If it’s truly a Spirit-submitted fellowship, He’ll make the way as He orchestrates your walk; trust Him.

P.S. Pain is the downside of a love relationship.  If you’ve suffered because of the Church, you’re in divine company; ask Jesus.  We, like Him, can never give up on it.  Please do re-read First John.

1. Where Do We Go From Here? by Ralph W. Neighbour, Jr., 1990 Touch Pubs.
2. House To House by Larry Kreider. 1995 DOVE Christian Fellowship International
3. CODfish Denomination? — Some 3 million seasoned believers join it each year. (Part 1 of 4)
4. Stop Dating The Church by Joshua Harris, 2004 Multnomah Pubs.

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