The State of the Church
"God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired..." (1 Corinthians 12:18)
Once upon a time it was understood that the body of Christ was the church. That the body was composed of people chosen by God and resided in the hearts of its diverse members. Families of its members would meet together in homes, and then in separate buildings constructed for that purpose. Each Sunday they would gather with other members in the area to study the bible, sing the old hymns, listen to a sermon, and when necessary help those of their community in need. The church residing in those families would then go to their individual homes having felt good about being with friends. They were not concerned with growing the numbers, they grew in numbers as they helped people in the community who saw in them the love of God.
Then one day it all began to change when some decided the church was an entity residing in the buildings and if they would incorporate and cooperate together they could win the world for Christ...and as an added benefit their gifts would qualify for an income tax deduction. So they incorporated and built bigger buildings, hired professional ministers and missionaries, went on mission trips, bought sound systems, televised services, started choirs and bands, dimmed the lights and started programs in the buildings to attract and entertain people. And now....
Many years have come and gone. Those gathering in buildings have split into many tax exempt groups and conventions. People still gather on Sunday in the buildings, but now they teach denominational doctrine and support the programs of the various conventions they agree with rather than focus on the physical needs of the community. Much money is collected in tithes and gifts but most is needed to pay salaries, utilities, insurance and the the convention programs. Little, if anything, is done to help with the physical needs of people in the communities.
As for the true Church, the body of Christ...well it is still alive and well and God's plan for it has never changed and its success is certain. For the church has never been about buildings, conventions and the associated programs. The Church resides in the homes of people - in the hearts of families who love God, the Lord Jesus Christ, and their neighbors. And each day, God still places people in the body all across the world "just as He desires". Jesus continues to build his Church in homes, and the doors of the buildings, nor the various doctrines and programs of the conventions of men, shall prevail against it...
"And Jesus said...I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it...thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Matthew 16:17-18; 22;37-40)
Once upon a time it was understood that the body of Christ was the church. That the body was composed of people chosen by God and resided in the hearts of its diverse members. Families of its members would meet together in homes, and then in separate buildings constructed for that purpose. Each Sunday they would gather with other members in the area to study the bible, sing the old hymns, listen to a sermon, and when necessary help those of their community in need. The church residing in those families would then go to their individual homes having felt good about being with friends. They were not concerned with growing the numbers, they grew in numbers as they helped people in the community who saw in them the love of God.
Then one day it all began to change when some decided the church was an entity residing in the buildings and if they would incorporate and cooperate together they could win the world for Christ...and as an added benefit their gifts would qualify for an income tax deduction. So they incorporated and built bigger buildings, hired professional ministers and missionaries, went on mission trips, bought sound systems, televised services, started choirs and bands, dimmed the lights and started programs in the buildings to attract and entertain people. And now....
Many years have come and gone. Those gathering in buildings have split into many tax exempt groups and conventions. People still gather on Sunday in the buildings, but now they teach denominational doctrine and support the programs of the various conventions they agree with rather than focus on the physical needs of the community. Much money is collected in tithes and gifts but most is needed to pay salaries, utilities, insurance and the the convention programs. Little, if anything, is done to help with the physical needs of people in the communities.
As for the true Church, the body of Christ...well it is still alive and well and God's plan for it has never changed and its success is certain. For the church has never been about buildings, conventions and the associated programs. The Church resides in the homes of people - in the hearts of families who love God, the Lord Jesus Christ, and their neighbors. And each day, God still places people in the body all across the world "just as He desires". Jesus continues to build his Church in homes, and the doors of the buildings, nor the various doctrines and programs of the conventions of men, shall prevail against it...
"And Jesus said...I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it...thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Matthew 16:17-18; 22;37-40)