Latching on to my last ‘church post’ (cleverly titled, ‘The Church’), I would like to spend just a little more time expressing these matters that just keep grinding in my heart.
Dear saints, please keep in mind that I realize that some who read this are ‘active’ in the mainstream mode of church as it is most commonly known today.
Furthermore, yes.
I know.
Your church really is different.
Also, I fully realize that many of you who read this blog (or who may not be reading any longer) are involved in ‘the ministry’ to some degree or another.
I use quotation marks there for the sake of making a point. This is something that, although I totally believe most of my readers already understand, I must state it for clarities sake.
The ministry is Christ.
It is not an organization, or a denomination. It is not a ‘non-denomination’. It is not a building or a plan, a program, doctrine, or an agenda.
It is Christ.
Now we all know that wherever there is a Spiritual reality, there is also a corresponding physical reality, a ‘real life’ manifestation of that Spiritual reality.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was made flesh…”
God Himself was manifest in this very way.
We know that God is Spirit, and that whoever worships Him truly, must do so in Spirit and truth (or reality), and yet on the other hand we also know that God is also manifest in the flesh as Jesus the Christ.
Now there is a Man in the Glory, a great high priest who is before God making intercession for His people, and yet He is still so much more.
Hallelujah!
Now, it is true that God in the flesh died on a cross and was taken up, and the Man Jesus Christ no longer dwells on the earth.
But He did not leave us alone.
He imparted His Spirit unto us, so that we might truly be one with Him and with one another. Now there is a new expression of the Spiritual Reality, which also has a physical manifestation.
This is the reality of Christ in the church.
Before I am accused of heresy , I ask that you hear me out. I’m not implying that the church is God or even that the church is Jesus, but I am saying that the church is One with God and is One with Jesus…
I am saying that Christ is the Head, and the church is His body. They are different, yet they are One. This is God’s design.
This new manifestation has, in truth, been a part of God’s original plan from before the foundations of the world.The Spiritual Head was to have a physical body, and the Lord has always been set on having a people, the manifestation of the sons (and daughters) of God.
The Church
She wasn’t to be only physical, she was also, by her very nature, to be Spiritual as well.
A mystery yes, but a mystery revealed. So what exactly constitutes the church?
Well, we know that the Greek word for church, ecclesia, means ‘the called out’ or in essence ‘gathering’, so we know that it is a gathering. A gathering, not a scattering, although it is a scattering of gatherings all over the world!
But what is the criterion of those who are gathering together? What qualifies them to be considered as being a part of ‘the church’? They must possess the Spirit of God. They must be born from above.
That’s it. That is the qualification.
Now it’s not that unbelievers can’t come gather with the church. They can. But only so that they might come to truly worship God…in Spirit and truth.
So this covers, to some degree much of the Spiritual reality of the Church…
But what about the physical aspects? What about the practical nature?
Do we have, in the scriptures, at least a rough sketch as to what this whole ‘church’ thing is supposed to ‘look like’?
And if so, is it important?
If it’s not important, then using that line of thinking, may we also consider the practical matters of this life we find ourselves in as equally unimportant?
I ask you this:
Is it Spiritual to neglect the practical?
No more than it is practical to neglect the Spiritual!
If the ’spiritual only’ way of life is indeed the true ‘Christian’ way of life, I believe our Bibles would have been much smaller books.
Paul’s letters might have looked more like this:
To the Saints in (Your Town Here),
Grace and Peace in the Lord Jesus Christ.
~Paul
But they don’t.
They are filled with a mixture of Spiritual and physical matters. Paul understood that the two cannot truly ever be separated (not in this life anyway). Certainly we are to set our minds on things above, but we are also to do everything that we do as unto the Lord.
What we find in the new testament writings is that the writers often cite old testament scripture and proceed to communicate the spiritual meanings behind them.
Let me give an example of one such instance, one that has been brought to my attention recently:
For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more?
Now the old testament scripture that he was citing was, on the surface talking about ethical and moral principles as related to…well, oxen.
This is all very practical and earthly.
If the ox is working the field, he should be allowed to eat from the grain. Simple common sense.
But there was another side to this…
There is a spiritual field and there are also those who are led by the Spirit to work that spiritual field. If the above principle is only common sense as applied to an ox, how much more so to those brothers and sisters called of God to the work of the Lord?
Now I want to be careful to be as transparent as I can be in expressing what I believe in this matter.
It shouldn’t be a huge matter for a church or a group of churches to help support the needs of those who are called to the work of itinerant ministry. The same goes for those elders who are local and who really care for the church, who also preach and teach among the saints.
Either way we have local churches contributing both to the needs and welfare of the ones who are sent out preaching the gospel, and also to the needs and welfare of the local caring elder brothers and sisters who also teach and preach.
This is what we find in the new testament.
In general, what it comes down to is that the brothers and sisters died for one another, and they learned this example from the Lord Jesus, followed by the apostles.With this in mind, it shouldn’t be a huge matter for us to all help meet one another’s needs within the church as well, and yet, in many ways and in many places this is still a major issue and it is one which I do not exclude myself from.
Nowhere in scripture do we find a pastor or an apostle living lavishly at the expense of a ‘congregation’. Same thing goes for prophets, elders, ‘deacons’, teachers, or anyone else.
The scripture says that they are worthy to reap earthly things, and even double honor. They have the ‘right’ to eat, drink, have a spouse, and not have to work, that’s it.
Nothing in there about jet airplanes, gold door knobs, $2000 suits, and this list could go on and on and on.
What about Paul?
As I have stated before, I simply believe that Paul took the higher way. Paul took the way of the cross.
Consider his words here (which actually proceed the old testament reference I mentioned earlier) :
This is my defense to those who would examine me. Do we not have the right to eat and drink? Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?
Then he goes on…
Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.
But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting. For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.
For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.
Do I always take the higher way? No. In fact, I fail regularly…, but I tell you the truth, I preach the gospel more here on the web than anywhere else. But I will say this, I am coming to know the Lord Jesus just a little bit, and this because of my weakness and not because of my strength.
What more can I say?
God knows…
These are not words of condemnation, brothers and sisters, but to me, and hopefully also to you, they are words of encouragement.
These are not laws which we must obey in order to ‘qualify our ministry’, but rather this is a peering into the heart of one who was utterly consumed with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Paul did not imply that the other disciples were wrong for exercising their rights, He just wanted to present the gospel utterly free!
But even so, all of this was not my original point in this post…. it was a timely reference to what my point is, and I couldn’t use it while trying to ignore the tension around the matter.
My point is that there is always a physical manifestation to the Spiritual reality.
The ‘flow’ behind it all is that the ‘earthly’ points towards the spiritual. Jesus Said to Nicodemus, “How can you expect to understand heavenly things when you do not even grasp the things of the earth?”
It always came down to , “Do you have the ears to hear”? But even so, He would often need to explain in private the things He spoke to even His closets followers.
Every letter written by Paul to the various churches begins and ends with grace and truth. Just look at each letter by Paul and you will understand what I mean.
But in between, we have a mixture. This is especially true of his two letters to the church at Corinth.
No, this is not a mixture in a bad sense, but a mixture in a good and healthy sense. While the beginning and ending of each letter is full of mercy, grace and peace, it is in the middle sections where we find all sorts of practical matters and instructions.. yet still, even these are thoroughly entwined with Spiritual truth.
In fact, every bit is God breathed.
So many things are covered…, but as far as practical matters are concerned I dare say that it is the matter of relationships that are covered the most.
Husbands and wives, parents and children, masters and servants, neighbors, but most of all there is that one word:
Brothers.
(which in many cases essentially means ’siblings’).
Now this is something that I have come to see so clearly here in the world of on-line Christian Journaling.
I have truly discovered and continue to partake in genuine Christian fellowship right here on the web and I tell you, I am most thankful for the Lord and His Spirit within each and every one of my brothers and sisters here.
I say this in all sincerity. I thank God for you all.I see a picture here of the functioning body of Christ.
And what a beautiful picture it is!!
I have come to realize that I do not have an addiction to the internet. I have an addiction to the Body of Christ!!! HALLELUJAH!!!!
But, since it is still only a ‘virtual’ body, it does have it’s trappings.
So what about the real thing? What about the local expression of the Body? You know it’s all throughout the scriptures.
But what comes to your mind when you ponder ‘the body of Christ’?
Is it the ethereal, mystical truth that we know something of in our minds or perhaps to us it is merely some form of doctrine?
Perhaps you have truly experienced it spontaneously in the coming together of two or more brothers or sisters and the Lord just shows up so fully in your spirits and He is glorified and magnified among you corporately.
Perhaps you have tasted it here or somewhere else on the web.
How glorious are these times together!!!
Perhaps you have had a bad experience with whatever ‘church’ is to you and now you just can’t do it anymore.
Believe me, I understand.
Maybe you just received what was handed to you…, some thing that is all but completely mis-interpreted.
Now in your case, this doesn’t mean that there must have been ‘bad’ intentions behind it, but as the scripture says, “My people die from a lack of understanding”. (or in my case, a lack of scripture recollection!!)
Maybe it is not a mis-interpretation at all, but rather a super imposition of a body of doctrine, handed down from man to man and laid over the top of a most simple reality.
How can we tell what the physical manifestation might look like when the body gets together? What might the collective functioning body of Christ look like when it is expressed according to scripture?
The corporate meeting
This is when the whole Family in a given location gets together.
Now what I am saying here has nothing to do with some ‘new teaching’. It may be new to us, but it certainly wasn’t new to the churches in the first century.
It hasn’t been ‘new’ for well over 1800 years.
Just so that you know, I am not addressing the issue of speaking in tongues.
Furthermore, I am not even addressing what Paul meant concerning the ‘women being silent‘ in the church issue.
What I am sharing here deals with the freedom that the Lords people possess in Christ, IN THE CHURCH MEETING.
Period!
Since that is the case, I’m going to post here only the verses within 1st corinthians chapter 14 concerning this issue:
“…What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret.
But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.
Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.
If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent.For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.
……
Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached?
If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.
So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But all things should be done decently and in order”.
Okay.
There you have it.
At this point, I realize that I have two main ‘categories’ of believers who are reading this and I want to say something to each one.
Group one: ‘Pew Sitters’
You have a right to express your heart. Not only that, you also have a responsibility to function as a living member of the body of Christ. In fact, many of you do function in some way, but what is in consideration here is the functioning in the corporate gathering.
Chances are you feel one of two ways right about now. Perhaps your heart is stirred up because what you are reading resonates with something deep within your own heart, something that, although it has been muffled for sometime, has never left you.
Perhaps you have always felt a calling to something greater and more meaningful than just sitting, listening and giving money, but at the same time ‘the ministry’ just never really set right with you either.
Your calling is true.
But there is so much more to the Christian life than only saving souls and reading your bible!
You are called to function!!!
~Or~
…perhaps this sounds like just too much work.
‘You mean I’m expected to bring something to share?”
“You mean I actually have to do something?”
Well….you don’t have to do anything…but I would hope that as you begin to see Christ and apprehend Christ and as you begin to see How Christ has apprehended you, that you will want to share with others, the riches of Jesus Christ.
Group two: ‘Pulpit Bangers’
Well you are probably either irritated or illuminated. Maybe a combination of both.
Perhaps you are already aware that something just isn’t right with the way things are in the church…that it all seems just ‘a bit’ un-natural…, a bit forced. Maybe you wonder just how much longer you or you and your handful of elders can keep the ole’ ship afloat.
Maybe sometimes you just get tired of having all these people look to you for all the right answers, but at the same time you feel a legitimate (or illegitimate) concern to answer their needs.
~Or~
…maybe, in you, there is something that lights up when you read the scriptures above. Maybe you find hope in the fact that the ministry of the church was never designed for only one or even a couple of people to carry in the first place.
Maybe you are encouraged that it is at least a possibility that the Lords people have more of a calling than just getting to church and listening to you speak. Maybe you find hope in the fact that all of Gods people have His Spirit, and therefor have something to share with the body.
Maybe this answers so many of the questions about what kind of ‘programs’ you need to come up with to just keep the people involved.
Now this approach to church isn’t a very lucrative one. In fact, it might just cost you everything…but then again…even that resonates somehow, doesn’t it?
Hopefully no one in the ‘pulpit banging’ category feels threatened by the truth that is within this post. Reason being is that if you are behind a pulpit in the first place, then certainly you have a desire for the things of the Lord, and a desire to be faithful to His way, His calling, and His Word (in spite of your failures).
Again, ‘this approach’ sounds like something new…maybe ‘emergent’ even.
Well…it is based in NEW life, the eternal life that springs forth from God through Jesus Christ, and it EMERGED from the grave and was implanted into all those who believe on Jesus Christ!!!
And it is ALIVE!
But it certainly is not ‘new’ in the sense of it being ‘cutting edge’ or even novelty (although it may seem that way to most of us).
Does all of this mean that He will not work in and through or bless some other ‘format’ of church?
Of course not.
God is merciful. God is gracious. God is creative.
But God desires His people to be free…
You will find that theme running straight from the beginning to the end of the scripture.
I know this post is going to disturb many folks. Partially because of what is being said, but maybe even more so because of how I am saying it.
This is always my weak point, and I struggle anytime I issue forth a word of truth to those I know I will probably offend. But what can I do?
I am weak, brothers and sisters, Please forgive me in this area, but this post must go forth.
Now to be fair, I must also say this.
I have practiced this way of meeting, but my goodness…. this is not all about a meeting!!!
The corporate meeting is simply one aspect of LIFE TOGETHER, but it is an important aspect.
It is for the building up of the body and for the edification of the saints, and also for bringing the lost to Jesus.
But as I said earlier, this issue involves FREEDOM. FREEDOM is something that cannot be tolerated in the religious systems of mans imagination. To the flesh, true freedom is horrifying.
(Note that I say ‘freedom’ and not ‘CHAOS’.)
After posting this, I will soon be breaking for just a little while. I am exhausted.
Regardless, feel free to comment as you you please, and I’ll be back…
I pray that you all see my heart of hearts in all of this…All Grace and Peace in our Lord Jesus Christ
~Johnny
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