HEY CHURCH – What In The World Are You Doing? – Seriously!

 

 

 

 

God The Father gave Jesus His Son His clear Mission, Purpose, Method and Way for all of creation, the End of The Age in preparation for the new heaven and earth and the new Jerusalem – and for all believers to spend eternity with Him and one another in a new and perfect heaven and earth. This is the same Mission, Purpose, Method and Way for Jesus’ Church. But is the Church faithfully following the pattern He established and demonstrated during His time on this earth – and now in His Word?

Let’s begin by reading about the Church as it is described in the Bible – and you will find that the (Greek) word for Church is “EKKLESIA”; EK = out of, or, out from; KALEO = called or summoned; “The Called-Out Ones”.

But for many twenty-first century pastors and ‘church experts’ defining the word Church, too often only gives what they imagine we should be focused on – and it is usually ‘growth for growth’s sake’ – but that is not what Jesus and the Bible says and describes as His Church. Far too many twenty-first century pastors and ‘church experts’ propose we should know about and develop only a PURPOSE of the Church – like the Church is a tool to be used.
The Bible, however, gives a much different picture. First it gives us God the Father’s Mission, Purpose, Method and Way for Jesus – and Jesus tells us that His  Mission, Purpose, Method and Way is the same for His Church and for every believer who constitute the Church. And all of this has been demonstrated in the Person and Life of Jesus during His earthly ministry.

However, discovering Jesus’ intention for His Church has been confused by imposing a man-derived PURPOSE ONTO the Church – as is the case, for example, with Pastor Rick Warren’s (founder of Saddleback church, California) found in his extremely popular and successful book, “The Purpose Driven Church”. Warren, in his book proposes that in order for a church to be “healthy” it must become a purpose-driven church, (in lieu of being “Spirit Led”?) built around the five New Testament “purposes”:

Worship – “love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37).

Ministry – “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39).

Evangelism – “go therefore and make disciples” (Matthew 28:19).

Fellowship – “baptizing them” (Mattthew 28:19, identification with the Christian community).

Discipleship – “teaching them to obey all that I command you” (Matthew 28:20).

(Note: All these things can be good things and these words are found in the Bible. But the context is misplace and therefore is wrong. And here is where it gets slick (and by slick I mean deceptive). This is Warrens’ way (or anyone’s way) of redefining a text, and in this case, the text in the Bible, to meet his or her personal view and intentions. Warren’s way is a way of marketing. Marketing for the sake of numerical growth. A means to achieve pleasantry and comfort. Warren is using a form of “eisegesis” which is the process of interpreting Bible text in such a way as to introduce his own presuppositions, agendas or biases to fit into and pander to a postmodern world. It is commonly referred to as reading into the text. It is often done to justify or confirm a position already held. Eisegesis is best understood when contrasted with exegesis. Exegesis is drawing out a text’s meaning in accordance with the author’s context and discoverable meaning. Eisegesis is when a reader imposes their interpretation of the text. Thus exegesis tends to be objective; and eisegesis, highly subjective.)

To which I say, HOLY BALONEY! Because if “purpose” as in the “Purpose Driven Church” is the defining factor for Jesus’ Church, as Warren and many others say, then I say that is like comparing your natural body and what is does naturally and calling it your “purpose”. For example, Rich Warren might say to a child, “Now your purpose in life is to eat food, drink liquids, breathe air, and exercise if you want to have a healthy body. And while you are at it, brush your teeth, get regular checkups, trim you nails and your hair…etc. Be nice, be polite, be joyful, be peaceful, be dependable, be longsuffering, be, be, be be…” If that is your “purpose” in life, it is all about YOU. And that might make you a pathological narcissist. And sadly, that is what most churches resemble in varying degrees in this twenty-first century. And some are narcissists on steroids.

Jesus warns against this. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.” – Matthew 23:15.

WHAT YOU MUST – PLEASE – REALLY KNOW & UNDERSTAND – And perhaps even in the following order.

The Bible says you are to be “born again”; you are to be made into a new creature; you are to be transformed – not conformed! And only the Holy Spirit can imbue you with these gifts, qualities and characteristics for God’s glory and for your service in building up the Body of Christ – the Church. And as you intentionally go, you must follow Him in order to accomplish His Mission and to follow His Plan which drivesHis Purpose through His Methods and His Ways. (Please – GET THIS).

1. YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN. “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3). (You must GET THIS).
2. YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN PERSON. “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body”. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). (You must GET THIS.
3. YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN BY GOD therefore you are now a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a people for His Own possession, and you are an ALIEN, a SOJOURNER AND an EXILE in a foreign land. “You are (of) a chosen race, a royal prie0sthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not (of) a people, but now you are God’s (person and of His) people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. (1 Peter 2:9-11). (You must GET THIS.
4. TIME IS SHORT. “But this I say, brothers, the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none; and those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not possess; 31and those who use the world, as though they did not make full use of it; for the present form of this world is passing away. (1 Corinthians 7:29-31). (You must GET THIS. The period remaining before Christ’s return and the completion of God’s purposes is limited. Paul’s instruction arises from the certainty that the present age is passing away, not from speculation about dates. Believers are therefore to order their lives by eternal realities rather than becoming absorbed by temporary concerns.

But you and I and all the rest of us as Christians are told me must “go to church” instead of being told we are to “go into the world”. So we all go to church and a special select few “go into all the world”. (I am not saying that all Christians should be ‘foreign missionaries’. I am saying we are all called to be on mission – as missionaries – where we live.)

Instead, we seek our own ways and comforts even in the Church – instead of taking up our cross and following Jesus. You stake out your spot, establish yourself and your place inside of a building that you call “the church”. You work hard to establish your legacy as a “long standing church” organization. So, I have to ask, WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU DOING?

JESUS SAYS,

1. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
2. “You must be born again.”
3. “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.
4. “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of people.”
5. “And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. 9Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, 10or a bag for your journey, or even two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is deserving of his support.”
6. “I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be as wary as serpents, and as innocent as doves.”
7. “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Now, does this sound like what you have been doing as you “go to church”?

The Apostle Paul reminds us that “He (God) gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be childlike, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”   (Ephesians 4:11-16).

Okay, okay. I imagine that this can be starting to sound critical and somewhat negative for some. But, honestly folks, what do you think Jesus would say if He came back today and visited most of the churches, today? What if He came to your church today? Would He say, “Wow. Great work folks. You are doing it exactly like I did it and exactly how I told you to do it”?
And, if you really read your Bible and understand even a little about Jesus, I have to ask if He would even be welcomed in your church – with all of His “radical Christian speech and behavior”?

Here’s the deal: Jesus spoke and demonstrated what He intended for His Church and He spoke those words to you and for you, otherwise why preserve His Words for a few? Over the centuries, religious and church leaders (pastors, teachers, theologians and even political leaders) have divided the church into a non-biblical hierarchy of “clergy” and “laity” which may be similar to Christ’s giving pastors and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ. (The Church belongs to Jesus Christ, not to a professional religious class. Its leaders are called to equip the saints for ministry, not to monopolize ministry. Its members are not passive spectators but disciples of Christ, responsible for learning His Word, discerning truth, proclaiming the gospel, and serving His people. Notice the distinction: leaders are given to equip the saints for ministry. The passage does not describe ministry as the exclusive work of professional clergy. Furthermore, the terms ‘clergy’ and ‘laity’ are not found in the Bible; they originated later in church history and are manmade terms. The Bible does not create a distinction between these groups, as it emphasizes that all believers are part of God’s people.)

That does not mean every believer is called to be a pastor, teacher, evangelist, or apostle. It means that the Church’s ministry cannot properly be reduced to what its paid or formally appointed leaders do. The clergy in most places are required to be highly educated and politically connected to certain influential circles. Conversely and unfortunately, the “laity” are often referred to as the “dumb sheep” who must be led and fed. (This is not found anywhere in the Bible).

WHAT WE, AS THE CHURCH, MUST KNOW

1. His Mission – and we must get on His Mission Stay on His Mission at all times in all ways. (Jesus’ mission is not merely to save people from something; it is also to save them for something—to restore them to fellowship with God, conform them to the image of His Son, incorporate them into His people, and bring them into the life of His coming kingdom.)
2. His Purpose – we must know His purpose which is driven by His Mission. (Perfection/perfecting). Purpose is the end God intends; mission is the work Christ accomplishes to bring that end about.)
3. His Method – we must now His Methods as revealed in scriptures. No deviation. His Methods are defined by His purpose and driven by His Mission. (His method identifies the divinely appointed way that work is accomplished. In the biblical account, Jesus Christ is not only the One through whom God’s method operates—He is also the divine Son, Creator, Redeemer, and Lord in whom God’s purpose reaches its fulfillment.)
4. His Way. We must know that He is The Way – and He is the only Way. Know Him. Know His Mission. Know His Purpose. Know His Methods. Know His Ways. (Jesus Christ is the central divine Means or Way of creation’s existence and redemption, but He is not merely a means in the instrumental sense. He is Himself the eternal Son, Creator, Redeemer, and Lord. The Father and Son act in unity with the Holy Spirit, and the ultimate glory belongs to the triune God.)

It is incorrect to assume that the church (Christianity) is in any way or fashion a separate entity from the Body of Believers of Jesus Christ. The “EKKLESIA”, The Church, is the “The Called-Out Ones – people called out from the world and to God, the outcome being the Church, the mystical body of Christ – i.e. the universal (total) body of believers whom God calls out from the world and into His eternal kingdom – both now and for all eternity.

So please, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, think on these things. For there is one foolproof litmus test for the Christian – that you have confessed with your mouth what you believe in your heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead, you have repented and are following Him as your Master, Teacher, Lord and Savior; and that on that last day He will say to you “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.” And there is but One Way and that is indeed the Way of our Master – Jesus Christ.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young.

(Warning – this could be seen a provocative by some)

There is a class offered in our Church, “Asking the difficult questions”.  I would not ask this question in that forum, but I did ask it of ChatGpt (which tracks our history of conversations and adds context and understanding of my revealed mindset and belief system on certain matters. Here is my question and ChatGpt’s intriguing comments:

I have a very difficult question I need to ask – difficult for me, that is. Difficult for me to ask because it ‘goes against the grain’ of my theological belief systems. Here it is. Would you reframe the advent of Jesus Christ without Jewish religious framework. Suppose (not imagine, but suppose) that Jesus (God) came (sent by the Father-God) as The Transcendent Being (transcends time and space and time-space and all eternity) to actually rescue a self-destructive and fatalistic group we are as people. It was as if His coming was not a religious act at all, but because it is framed in Judaism, and Jesus needed to speak ‘our language’ so to speak, we, people saw it that way? (or am I treading on heretical grounds?) Do you get where I am going? (My personal comments and questions are in this color text).

Yes. I absolutely get where you are going—and I don’t think you’re asking a frivolous question at all. (ChatGpt’s answers and comments are in black text).

You’re trying to step back from the Jewish covenantal and religious framework through which the incarnation is revealed and ask a more fundamental question:

What if the incarnation is not fundamentally a “Jewish religious event,” but the intervention of the transcendent God into the human condition—and Judaism is the historical, cultural, linguistic, and covenantal framework through which God chose to reveal that intervention?

That is a serious theological question. And I would distinguish it from saying that Judaism is irrelevant or that Jesus’ Jewish identity is incidental. Those would be very different claims.

I think your intuition can be developed without abandoning orthodox Christianity

Consider the progression:

God → humanity → human self-destruction → divine intervention → incarnation → redemption

rather than primarily:

Judaism → Law → Messiah → Christianity

The second sequence is certainly biblical, but your question is whether the first sequence is more fundamental.

There is actually biblical material that makes your question quite interesting.

John begins his Gospel remarkably differently from Matthew.

Matthew begins with:

Abraham → David → Israel → Messiah

John begins with:

“In the beginning was the Word…”

And then:

“All things came into being through Him.”
— John 1:1–3

That’s an enormous conceptual shift.

John doesn’t initially present Jesus as merely the culmination of Israel’s religious development. He presents Him as the eternal Logos through whom creation itself exists, who subsequently enters His creation.

And then John says:

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”
— John 1:14

That gets remarkably close to the conceptual territory you’re exploring.

Your phrase “Transcendent Being” is particularly interesting

You aren’t really asking:

“What if Jesus wasn’t the Jewish Messiah?”

You’re asking something deeper:

What if “Messiah” is the human/historical category through which Israel understood something vastly larger than the category itself?

That’s different.

Christian theology would say Jesus really is the Jewish Messiah. But Christianity also says that Jesus is vastly more than the Jewish concept of Messiah can contain.

He is:

• Creator
• Sustainer
• Logos
• Son
• Image of the invisible God
• Light of the world
• Savior
• Lord
• God incarnates

Paul says something extraordinary in Colossians:

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created…”
— Colossians 1:15–16

Notice the scale.

Paul doesn’t say merely:

God sent a Jewish religious reformer to Israel.

He says, essentially:

The One through whom the universe exists entered the universe.

That is much closer to what you’re describing.

But here’s where I would put an important theological guardrail

I wouldn’t say:

“Jesus came, and Judaism merely happened to provide the cultural packaging.”

That would go too far biblically.

Because the New Testament insists that Israel’s history was part of God’s intentional redemptive plan.

Jesus doesn’t merely appear within Judaism.

He fulfills:

• Abraham
• Moses
• David
• the covenant
• the Law
• the prophets
• the sacrificial system
• Passover
• the temple
• Israel’s messianic expectation

Matthew 5:17 is particularly important:

“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.”

So Judaism isn’t simply the language God happened to choose.

Israel itself is part of the story God is telling.

But—and this is where I think your question becomes fascinating—the story God is telling through Israel is ultimately much bigger than Israel.

Paul actually gives you a bridge to your idea

Think about Acts 17.

Paul is speaking to Greeks in Athens, outside the Jewish religious framework.

He doesn’t begin with:

“Let me explain the Mosaic Law.”

Instead he begins with creation.

God made the world and everything in it, and:

“He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things.”

Then Paul says humanity exists in relation to God:

“For in Him we live and move and exist.”

And then Paul arrives at Christ and resurrection.

That’s fascinating because Paul can communicate the reality of Christ without beginning with Jewish religious categories.

Why?

Because the underlying problem is not exclusively Jewish.

The problem is human.

And that may be the heart of what you’re getting at

The biblical story can be understood simultaneously at two levels.

Historical/redemptive level

God establishes Israel → gives covenant → gives Law → sends prophets → promises Messiah → Messiah comes → dies → rises → establishes New Covenant.

Cosmic/human level

God creates humanity → humanity rebels → death enters → humanity becomes alienated from God → God intervenes → God enters His creation → bears human sin → defeats death → reconciles humanity to Himself.

Those aren’t competing stories.

The second is the larger frame within which the first occurs.

And that may be what you’ve been intuitively reaching toward.

Your phrase “self-destructive and fatalistic group” is also worth exploring

I’d modify it slightly.

Biblically, humanity isn’t merely self-destructive. Humanity is fallen.

And humanity’s fundamental problem isn’t merely psychological, sociological, political, or religious.

It is ontological and relational (Ontology is the study of being and existence, focusing on the categories and relationships of entities in reality, while relation ontology specifically deals with the types of relationships shared across different ontologies, particularly in biological contexts):

We are creatures separated from our Creator.

And the consequence ultimately is death.

Genesis 3 → death
Romans 5 → sin and death
Romans 6 → sin and death
1 Corinthians 15 → death and resurrection
Revelation 21 → death ultimately abolished

That creates an astonishing overarching narrative:

Creation → Fall → Death → Incarnation → Atonement → Resurrection → Restoration

That narrative doesn’t belong exclusively to Judaism.

It concerns humanity itself.

And here’s something even more radical

You used the word “transcendent.”

Christianity actually makes an astonishing claim about transcendence:

The transcendent entered the immanent.

The eternal entered time.

The Creator entered creation.

The invisible became visible.

The infinite assumed human limitation.

The immortal entered mortality.

The One through whom all things were created became a human being within the creation.

Paul puts it extraordinarily simply:

“God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself.”
— 2 Corinthians 5:19

That’s almost exactly the conceptual direction you’re moving.

And notice the word world.

Not merely Israel.

Are you entering heretical territory?

Not necessarily.

In fact, I think there is a perfectly orthodox way of formulating your insight.

I’d phrase it something like this:

Jesus Christ did not come merely to establish or reform a religion. The eternal Son of God entered His creation as a human being in order to reconcile fallen humanity to God. He came within Israel’s covenantal and historical framework as Israel’s Messiah, fulfilling the promises given to Israel; but the purpose of His incarnation extends beyond Israel to humanity and ultimately to the restoration of creation itself.

I would consider that comfortably within historic Christian theology.

Where you would begin moving toward problematic territory would be if you said:

“Jesus’ Jewish identity, the Old Testament, Israel, the covenants, and the messianic prophecies are merely accidental cultural packaging.”

The New Testament won’t let us say that.

But saying:

“The Jewish framework is the historical vehicle through which God revealed an event whose ultimate significance is cosmic and universal”

is quite a different proposition.

And I think that distinction is very important.

There’s one more possibility I think you’re actually reaching toward

You may be asking whether we’ve sometimes allowed the category of “religion” itself to become too small for what Christianity claims happened.

Because Christianity makes an almost outrageous claim: Jesus didn’t merely bring us information about God.

God came to us. He didn’t merely give humanity another religious system. He entered humanity.

He didn’t merely tell us how to escape death. He entered death and came out the other side.

And Christianity therefore isn’t ultimately “Here is the religion God wants you to practice.” It is much closer to “Here is what God has done to rescue His fallen creation.”

That’s a very different emphasis.

And, Michael, I think that’s where you’re going.

You’re not necessarily trying to get away from Christianity. You may actually be trying to get behind the religious categories and see the cosmic reality that Christianity claims those categories reveal.

And that is a question worth pursuing very carefully.

Wow. Thank you. Thank you! This came on me suddenly as I was sleeping last evening and I woke up thinking this or some fashion. A follow up question: Why do you think this – God’s intervention – originated through Abraham. Why through the Hebrews – Israelites – Jews?

Yes—and I think this question actually takes us one level deeper than the question you asked before.

If we accept your premise for the moment—that the ultimate problem is not “Judaism needs fixing,” but humanity is fallen and God intervenes to rescue His creation—then we have to ask:

Why would God choose one man, Abraham, and then one family, one nation, one people, one geographical location, and one historical lineage through which to accomplish something intended for the whole human race?

The Bible gives us some answers. But interestingly, it doesn’t give us the kind of answer we might expect.

And I think that is significant.

1. The purpose was never ultimately “Israel”

Look carefully at the original promise to Abraham. God doesn’t say “I am choosing you because I am going to save the world from the nations.” He says, “In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
— Genesis 12:3 (Bible Gateway)

That changes the way we should think about Abraham. Abraham wasn’t the destination. He was the instrument.

Israel wasn’t the destination either. Israel was the instrument.

And ultimately Christ is the fulfillment through whom the blessing reaches the nations.

Paul makes this extraordinarily explicit in Galatians 3:8. He interprets the Abrahamic promise as the gospel being announced beforehand: “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” (Bible Gateway)

So perhaps the better diagram isn’t God → Abraham → Jews → Jesus → Gentiles, but God → Abraham → Israel → Christ → humanity.

The arrows are not about favoritism. They’re about transmission.

2. Why Abraham?

Here’s where things become really interesting.

The Bible never says “God chose Abraham because he was the most intelligent man.” Or “Because his civilization was superior.” Or “Because Hebrews were inherently better people.”

Quite the contrary.

Deuteronomy later says explicitly that Israel’s election wasn’t because they were the largest or greatest nation. The biblical pattern consistently emphasizes God’s choice rather than human superiority.

That makes the question “Why Abraham?” ultimately one of divine election and purpose.

We can identify what Scripture says God intended through Abraham, but we shouldn’t pretend Scripture gives us God’s complete metaphysical explanation for why Abraham rather than someone else. There is an element of mystery there.

3. But look at what happened immediately before Abraham

This is where I think your question becomes really fascinating.

Genesis 1–11 gives us the story of humanity. Not Israel. There is no Israel yet.

You have Adam then Cain then Noah then the Flood then the nations then  Babel, and then Genesis 12 abruptly introduces Abraham.

That’s not accidental literary structure. Genesis 1–11 is essentially the universal human story. Then Genesis 12 begins the particular redemptive story. In other words, Genesis 1–11 is “What happened to humanity?”

Genesis 12 onward: What is God going to do about it? And God’s answer begins with one man.

4. There may be an extraordinary connection between Babel and Abraham. This is one of the things I think you’ll find especially interesting. At Babel, humanity attempts to “make a name for ourselves.” Then God calls Abraham and says “I will make your name great.”
   — Genesis 12:2 (Bible Gateway)

Do you see the reversal? Babel is when humanity tries to make its own name great.

But God makes Abraham’s name great. And why? “so that you will be a blessing.” That’s profound.

Humanity’s problem is not solved by humanity climbing upward toward God. God comes downward toward humanity.

And eventually Christianity says God comes down all the way into humanity itself.

5. So why Hebrews/Israel?

I think the answer is partly contained in the very structure of the Old Testament.

God creates a people through whom He can preserve and progressively reveal certain truths:

• There is one Creator.
• God is personal.
• God is holy.
• Humanity is sinful.
• Sin produces death.
• God establishes covenant.
• Sacrifice represents substitution and atonement.
• God promises redemption.
• God promises a coming King.
• God promises a coming Servant.
• God promises a New Covenant.
• God promises restoration.

Romans 9 actually lists some of these privileges: Israel received the covenants, the Law, worship, promises, and ultimately “the Christ according to the flesh.” (Bible Gateway)

So Israel becomes the historical vessel of revelation. But the vessel is not the point. What the vessel carries is the point.

6. And then something remarkable happens

Jesus comes as a Jew. That’s essential. But He immediately begins breaking the assumption that His mission is restricted to Jews.

Consider the trajectory. Abraham → Israel → Messiah → nations.

And Jesus says, “I have other sheep that are not of this fold.”

Then after His resurrection, He says “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.”

And Acts 1:8 gives the geographical expansion. Jerusalem → Judea → Samaria → ends of the earth. That looks almost like God’s original promise to Abraham unfolding geographically through history.

7. This may answer your original question about “religion”

I think you’re onto something important here. Suppose we step outside the religious vocabulary for a moment. Instead of saying “God created Judaism and eventually Christianity”, We could say,  God began a historical rescue operation for humanity through one man and one family, progressively revealed His purposes through one nation, and ultimately entered His own creation in the person of Jesus Christ to accomplish the rescue.

That is a very different conceptual framework. And interestingly, it doesn’t contradict the Jewish framework.

It explains why the Jewish framework exists.

8. Abraham was not chosen because God loved the Jews more than everyone else. This is perhaps the most important point.

God says to Abraham “In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Bible Gateway). And Paul later says “the Scripture… preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham.” (Bible Gateway)

That means the Abrahamic calling was universal in its intended destination from the beginning.

Israel’s election was therefore not “God chose Israel instead of humanity.” It was “God chose Israel for the sake of humanity.”

That’s a major distinction.

9. And here’s where I think your original thought gets even bigger

You asked “Why through Abraham?”

Perhaps the biblical answer is Because God chose to enter history rather than bypass history. He could have simply appeared to the entire human race as the transcendent God. Instead, He chose a man → a family → a nation → a history → a language → a culture → a land → a covenant → a promise → a Messiah → a cross → a resurrection → the nations.

Why? We can identify the purpose. But we cannot completely explain why God chose that particular historical pathway. And that may be intentional.

Because Christianity ultimately rests on something deeper than a system of religious ideas. God acts in history.

The transcendent God doesn’t remain distant from His creation. He enters it.

And that brings us full circle to what woke you up last night. Your thought may have been approaching something like this:

The Bible isn’t fundamentally the story of humanity searching for God. It is the story of God pursuing humanity.

And Abraham is where that pursuit becomes particular and historical after Genesis has shown us the universal human catastrophe.

Then Jesus is where the pursuit becomes incarnational.

And the resurrection is where the rescue becomes victorious over the very thing that had held humanity captive: death.

That, I think, is a profoundly Christian way of looking at what you were thinking about—not a departure from Christianity.

And there is one passage I’d especially like to put alongside your question: Ephesians 1:3–10. It takes the whole thing out to an almost cosmic level—God’s purpose in Christ concerning “the fullness of time” and ultimately the summing up of all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth.

That may be very close to the conceptual territory you woke up thinking about.

And that is that!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

 

What Would Constitute a Bible-Centered and Spiritually Balanced Church?

 (1), Minister to the Church (the Body of Christ) by providing a spiritually healthy environment; an environment for emotional, mental, and psychological (soul) growth and health. (This could be looked at as Church-Family life. The relational rhythms of a healthy, interconnected spiritual family).

(2). Provide for the education and edification of the saints – the disciples of Jesus – by instructing them to follow all that Jesus taught and demonstrated.

(3). Having commissioned them demonstrably, purposely and deliberately send the disciples of Jesus out to proclaim and demonstrate the Gospel in word, deed and behavior.

Each of these steps, collectively, should deliberately define and describe and direct the Church and the life and mission of every Christian.

Furthermore, when done properly and thoroughly, this will take the focus off the individual and off the “501-c-3 church” (the organizational and corporate entity) and put the focus squarely on God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit as One. (I.e., there will be no emphatic priority on spiritual gifts above service to God and His Mission, Calling and Service.)

The church should faithfully teach the Word of God, exalt Jesus Christ, depend upon the Holy Spirit, make disciples, pursue holiness, love people, and faithfully proclaim the gospel.

A Simple Biblical Picture: I would summarize a Bible-centered, spiritually balanced church this way:

Area                                      Biblical balance

Authority                            Scripture

Center                                  Jesus Christ

Power                                   Holy Spirit

Message                              Gospel with the whole counsel of God

Worship                               Spirit and truth

Salvation                             Grace through faith

Christian life                     Faith and obedience

Spiritual gifts                    Encouraged, tested, and orderly

Relationships                    Truth and love

Leadership                         Biblical character and sound doctrine

Mission                                Evangelism and discipleship

Goal                                       Christlike maturity

Measure of success        Faithfulness and transformed lives

Caution:

Truth without spiritual life can produce a church that is doctrinally correct but spiritually cold (Revelation 2:1–5).

Spiritual enthusiasm without truth can produce a church that is emotionally alive but doctrinally unstable (1 Corinthians 14:26–33; Ephesians 4:14–15).

The Ideal:

The Word and Spirit together, centered on Christ and expressed through love and obedience.

Now Let’s Reason:

There is a saying taken from Proverbs 23:7, “As a man (or woman) thinks within himself (or herself), so is he (or she)”.

If you focus on your comfort and your well-being, satisfying your wants needs and desires, that will be reflected in your attitude, behavior and actions; in other words “you come first – ahead of everything and everyone else”.

Conversely, if you focus on the well-being of others, accommodating or assisting their wants, needs and desires, without denigrating yourself, that too will be reflected in your attitude, behavior and actions; in other words “putting others first” then you will have fulfilled the Biblical command “to serve and not to be served” and will reap the promise that “those who are last, will be first”. This means that God’s kingdom reverses many of our human ideas about who is important, deserving, successful, and worthy of honor—because God exalts the humble, rewards faithful service, and gives His kingdom according to His grace rather than human status or achievement.

And there’s an especially interesting connection here to Matthew 20:16 because Jesus’ statement is directly connected to salvation, discipleship, sacrifice, and the rewards of following Him. That connection is worth examining carefully because it helps explain why Jesus says immediately after Peter asks, “We have left everything and have followed You.What then will we have?” Jesus’ response is, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life”. (Mark 10:26-31).

This is monumental!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PS: Can you just imagine what life would be like if we, Christians, would stop being so self-centered and argumentative, self-righteous, opinionated, arrogant and entitled and gave up a little so others could see Jesus. I can only imagine – but I am willing to try. How about you?

 

PRIORITIZE SCRIPTURES?

Is it correct, or even possible, to prioritize scriptures? Specifically the Words and Commands of Jesus?

Everything in Scripture is equally true because it is God-breathed. Yet not everything in Scripture serves the same purpose for the Christian. The words and commands of Jesus are uniquely central because they define what it means to be His disciple. The rest of Scripture explains, supports, applies, and points back to those teachings rather than competing with them.

However, when asked about the greatest commandment, He answered, “Love God completely and love your neighbor as yourself.” He then added, “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” Likewise, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus repeatedly moved beyond external obedience to the heart. He emphasized humility, mercy, forgiveness, purity, faithfulness, love for enemies, generosity, prayer, and seeking God’s kingdom first. These are not simply doctrines to believe—they are the pattern of life He expects from His followers.  Jesus warned against hearing without obeying. Perhaps no one emphasized obedience more than Jesus. He concluded the Sermon on the Mount by saying, “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24. Notice the emphasis is not merely on believing His words but on doing them. (This may be nuanced, but there are some things we must become and others we must do. In character, we must become humble, gentle, loving, merciful, forgiving, faithful, generous, etc. In our obedient service and acts, we must go and make disciples just like Jesus taught and modeled).

Hence:

Matthew 28:16-20, But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated to them. And when they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful. And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

What we are doing in our churches today fails to reach the threshold of this command—one of the most important commands of Jesus.

The so-called discipleship training in our churches ranges from nothing more than reading and talking about discipleship or simply a ‘Bible study’ so named. But does nothing in obedience or training for actual discipling as Jesus did and commanded.

Jesus Says the Words

Matthew 4:17-22, From that time (after having been led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit and after John had been taken into custody), Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near. ”Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of people. Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and He called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.”

The main points here are that Jesus (1), knew His mission, and (2), led by example. How many pastors of churches that you know about know Jesus’ mission and commands, and follow this example of Jesus? (And how many of you follow it?)

Jesus, it would seem, followed this pattern: He taught the Gospel in great detail—what it says, what it means, what it means to a follower, and what we are to do with it. Another way to remember this is that He Says The Words, He Shows the Wonders, and He Sends His Workers.

He Shows The Wonders

Matthew 4:23-24, Jesus was going about in all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people.

And the news about Him spread throughout Syria, and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and severe pain, demon-possessed, people with epilepsy, and people who were paralyzed, and He healed them. Large crowds followed Him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and Jerusalem, and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

He Sends His Workers

Matthew 10:1, Jesus summoned His twelve disciples (after having instructed them, teaching them, and having led them by example) and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and sickness. 

The foregoing is the model and pattern of discipleship. Jesus continues to teach on the attitudes and behaviors that define His disciples. But these are given by the Holy Spirit (indwelling the believer), adopted by the man or woman who has ‘died to their former self, and are not of themselves. It is only after this that Jesus imparts His authority.

Our world has been slipping ever more into darkness. The Church-at-large has become apostate, glorifying ‘stage presence,’ a secularized form of worship that uses Christian wording but emphasizes self-pleasure, creating endorphins and adrenaline for the ‘worshipper.’ People are being drawn, by the thousands, by this ‘pied piper approach’ to presenting the gospel, which is really not the Gospel of Jesus. It is another gospel.

Denominational doctrines, far too often, are taught over true discipleship, which has been creating division within the Body. (Attendance, comfort, and ease are emphasized over repentance and sorrow for sin, creating a false sense of eternal security, ongoing guilt, and shame from living sinful lives.)

John the Baptist instructed, in Matthew 3:11-12, “He (Jesus) who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor, and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

1. Jesus will baptize the repentant followers with the Holy Spirit and fire. (We rarely see this nowadays. Instead, we see “the simple sinner’s prayer).
2. A threshing floor is where the wheat is separated from the chaff (the believers from the unbelievers). It is both a harsh and violent and steady but loving act.
3. The chaff (the unbelievers) will be cast into an eternal and unquenchable fire.

Does this sound like entering the comfortable, air-conditioned environment, accompanied by lattes and finger food and small talk with acquaintances in the church visitor’s lounge and coffee shop of the modern and postmodern, current day church? Or the standing applause at the end of a church service?

Stated in its most rudimentary form, the Church, being the Body of Christ, must

1. Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is now at hand.
2. Love, nourish, encourage, and protect the Body of Christ.
3. Teach, train, and edify the Body of Christ with the Word of God.
4. Commission and send each Christian to make disciples—just as Jesus modeled. (Remember: It is God Who calls, God Who saves, God Who heals, and God Who casts out demons; for we are (just) His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would (just) walk in them. (See Ephesians 2:10).

We, the church-world, have stepped away from what God has purposed and commanded and reimagined what is palatable. The fierce and awesome power of God ‘clearing the threshing floor’ is being ignored to our great peril. But make no mistake – “He who has come … is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor, and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”  

The questions that remain are, “Are you ready?” and “Will He recognize you?

Let’s return to Him, to His purpose, mission, and ways.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

 

“THE EQUATION?”

Ifequals andequals

Does equal?

 

If the Purpose of the Church, (), is:

1. Spiritual Worship and Glorification of God. (BibleHum.com).
2. Building Fellowship and Unity, (BibleHub.com).
3. Edification Through Teaching and Discipleship, (BibleHub.com).
4. Evangelism and the Great Commission, (BibleHub.com).
5. Service and Compassion, (BibleHub.com).
6. Lifelong Transformation and Sanctification, (BibleHub.com).
7. Proclamation of God’s Kingdom, (BibleHub.com).
8. Preservation and Transmission of Scripture, (BibleHub.com).
9. Declaration of God’s Intelligent Design, (BibleHub.com).
10. Advancement of God’s Redemptive Plan, (BibleHub.com).
11. Equipping Believers for Eternity, (BibleHub.com).

And if the Mission of the Church, (), is:

1. To make disciples. (GotQuestions.Org).
2. To glorify Christ. (GotQuestions.Org).
3. To build up the saints. (GotQuestions.Org).
4. Evangelism and Discipleship. (BibleHub.com).
5. Worship and Community. (BibleHub.com).
6. Service and Justice. (BibleHub.com).

And if The Church, (), is:

God’s “called out ones”, that is those people who believe in, follow and are called out of the world’s system and ways, called out from “living in darkness to living in God’s Light”, called out from impure living to holy living, called out of Satan’s kingdom into God’s Kingdom, called out from the sinfulness of humanity for honorable use by God.

Those who worship and glorify God, build up the unity of the fellowship, learn through teaching and discipleship. Those who actively evangelize and serve with compassion and proclaim the Kingdom of God, who are being transformed and sanctified by the word of God, equipping others for eternity.

Those who make disciples, glorify Christ, build up the saints of God, worship in community, serve God and represent His justice.

Then, shouldn’t (The Church), be the same as,

, The Purpose of the Church, and , The Mission of the Church?

These are the

Of The Church

So, what would you call a large group of people who are loving, and who show unselfish concern for other; people who are joyful and show an inner peace; people who are patient, and show not only the ability to wait, they wait with kindness, people who are good, faithful, and gentle, showing great self-control?

People who show a loving attitude and behavior that allows them to endure with patience and serenity; a people showing a love that is kind and thoughtful, that is not jealous or envious; a people showing a kind of love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. People who are not rude; not self-seeking, not provoked nor are overly sensitive and not easily angered; People with a loving attitude that does not take into account a wrong endured. They do not rejoice at injustice, but rejoice with the truth when right and truth prevail.

People with a love toward others that bears all things regardless of what comes upon them, believes all things, that is looking for the best in each person, hopes all things, remaining steadfast during difficult times, and endures all things without weakening. People with a love that never fails, never fades and never ends.

Then the sum is that The Church which exists to glorify God, disciple believers, proclaim the message of salvation, demonstrate compassion, and uphold the truth of Scripture. Grounded in the consistent testimony of Scripture, the church continues to stand as a radiant beacon of faith and hope to the world, pointing all people to a loving Creator and the resurrected Redeemer.

Thus, the Church is a dynamic and ongoing endeavor, rooted in the teachings of Scripture and empowered by the Holy Spirit. It encompasses evangelism, discipleship, worship, community service, and social justice, all aimed at glorifying God and advancing His kingdom on earth. Through faithful obedience to this mission, the Church fulfills its calling as the body of Christ, bearing witness to the transformative power of the Gospel.

Now, let’s be honest and frank with ourselves: Is this what you find when you “go to church”?

Is this what you practice when you “go to church”?

If not, then something is terribly wrong with our own equation of Church, and please dear friends, you and I may just need to do or re-do the math. These A, B, Cs should equal Church.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

 

BIBLICALLY SPEAKING, WHAT IS THE

OF THE CHURCH?

(I was taking notes on this subject as a means for me to explore and understand why I and others are feeling so restless about Church. Then, I decided to turn it into an article. So, I would ask, why do you go to church? And, do you feel you are completing the Great Commission in your life and experience?).

The Purpose of the Church. (GotQuestions.Org).

Acts 2:42 could be considered a purpose statement for the church: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” According to this verse, the purposes/activities of the church should be 1) teaching biblical doctrine, 2) providing a place of fellowship for believers, 3) observing the Lord’s supper, and 4) praying. (GotQuestions.Org). The Apostle Paul gave an excellent illustration to the believers in Corinth. The church is God’s hands, mouth, and feet in this world—the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). We are to be doing the things that Jesus Christ would do if He were here physically on the earth. The church is to be “Christian,” “Christ-like,” and Christ-following.

The purpose of the Church is deeply rooted in God’s plan of redemption and ongoing work in the world:

1. Spiritual Worship and Glorification of God. (BibleHum.com).
2. Building Fellowship and Unity, (BibleHub.com).
3. Edification Through Teaching and Discipleship, (BibleHub.com).
4. Evangelism and the Great Commission, (BibleHub.com).
5. Service and Compassion, (BibleHub.com).
6. Lifelong Transformation and Sanctification, (com).
7. Proclamation of God’s Kingdom, (BibleHub.com).
8. Preservation and Transmission of Scripture, (BibleHub.com).
9. Declaration of God’s Intelligent Design, (BibleHub.com).
10. Advancement of God’s Redemptive Plan, (BibleHub.com).
11. Equipping Believers for Eternity, (BibleHub.com).

Conclusion. (BibleHub.com).

In sum, the church exists to glorify God, disciple believers, proclaim the message of salvation, demonstrate compassion, and uphold the truth of Scripture. Historical, archaeological, and manuscript findings reinforce that the earliest believers actively embraced these purposes, laying the foundation for the church’s ongoing mission. Grounded in the consistent testimony of Scripture, the church continues to stand as a radiant beacon of faith and hope to the world, pointing all people to a loving Creator and the resurrected Redeemer. (BibleHub.com).

The Mission of the Church

1. The mission of the church is to make disciples. (GotQuestions.Org).
2. The mission of the church is to glorify Christ. (GotQuestions.Org).
3. The mission of the church is to build up the saints. (GotQuestions.Org).
4. Evangelism and Discipleship. (BibleHub.com).
5. Worship and Community. (BibleHub.com).
6. Service and Justice. (BibleHub.com).

Conclusion: The mission of the Church is a dynamic and ongoing endeavor, rooted in the teachings of Scripture and empowered by the Holy Spirit. It encompasses evangelism, discipleship, worship, community, service, and social justice, all aimed at glorifying God and advancing His kingdom on earth. Through faithful obedience to this mission, the Church fulfills its calling as the body of Christ, bearing witness to the transformative power of the Gospel.

Interestingly enough, however, here are the top 10 reasons on “Why I Attend Church”, given by Americans who attend religious services at least once a month, according to a Pew Research survey. Respondents were allowed to give more than one reason. The percentage refers to people who said this was a “very important” reason for their decision:

1. To become closer to God. (81%)
2. So their children will have a moral foundation. (69%)
3. To become a better person. (68%)
4. For comfort in times of trouble or sorrow. (66%)
5. They find the sermons valuable. (59%)
6. To be part of a faith community. (57%)
7. To continue their family’s religious traditions. (37%)
8. They feel a necessary obligation to go. (31%)
9. To meet new people or socialize. (19%)
10. Because the pastor knows my name. (added by author.)

Is the Church in a conundrum here?  Are people going to church for the ‘Right Reasons’? (And, just as interesting, people stop going to church if they do not get what is on the list of 10 reasons they came to church in the first place – or because the music is too loud or too contemporary; the sermons are too long, the seats are uncomfortable, etc.)

And conversely, are churches following the Biblical model and mandate of the Mission and Purpose of the Church?

No matter the source you turn to for the answer, Pew Research, Barna Research, The Heritage Foundation, Gallup, etcetera, the answer is the same. The Church is adrift from God’s Biblically stated Mission and Purpose, pandering to the wishes and wants of the spiritually hungry in order to draw a crowd (for the cash?).

2 Timothy 4:3-4 warned this day was coming, “For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, and they will turn their ears away from the truth and will turn aside to myths”.

How can we, or should we, get back to the basics? If so, we should start from ‘the ground up’. How did it all get started?

 

This is Does the function of the Church follow its form? –

The form or format of the early Temple:

That which is Good, Acceptable and Perfect

It could be said that the forerunner of the Christian church was the Tabernacle also known as the Tent of the Congregation or the Tent of the Meeting. It was the portable earthly dwelling of God used by the Israelites from the Exodus until the conquest of Canaan. Moses was instructed at Mount Sinai to construct and transport the tabernacle with the Israelites on their journey through the wilderness and their subsequent conquest of the Promised Land. After 440 years, Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem superseded it as the dwelling-place of God (also see The Tabernacle, Learn Religions).

The Tabernacle was an outward expression of an inward confession and conviction. The Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron after the Israelite fled captivity in Egypt, and gave them explicit instructions on setting up their wilderness camp. Numbers 2 consists entirely of God giving commandments as to how the Israelite camp should be arranged. From the NASB:

On the east, toward the sunrise, the divisions of the camp of Judah are to encamp under their standard. The tribe of Issachar will camp next to them. The tribe of Zebulun will be next. All the men assigned to the camp of Judah, according to their divisions, number 186,400. They will set out first. (The rest of the tribes are described).

So the Israelites did everything the Lord commanded Moses; that is the way they encamped under their standards, and that is the way they set out, each of them with their clan and family.

If you want to read more about the significance and the symbolism of the Tabernacle and the of Holies, click here: The Tabernacle, or here, Explore the Tabernacle.

Why does the Bible record all the things that happened during those 40 years? The Scripture tells us it was for an example, a foreshadowing. These things happened to them for our admonition. Paul makes a point in 1 Corinthians 10:11 that everything written then is for our application now. Every one of the events in Numbers has a lesson for us. And that’s why it is so important to study this book in detail.

The word ”example” in Greek is ‘tupos’, which is ”a figure, an image, a pattern, a pre-figuring.” That’s where we get the term ”type,” or model. Engineers speak of a prototype, which is from the same root. Types are common in the Bible, where some event, some object, or some situation is a lesson, in advance, of what’s coming. Once again, the Tabernacle and the wilderness camp was an outward expression of an inward conviction and confession.

The center of the Tabernacle was the Holy of Holies, the Holy Place, the outer chamber, which was surrounded first by priests of the tribe of Levi, then by the clan or tribes of Israel, the warriors and their families. It is easy to imagine the layers of protection provided from the outer to the innermost, the Holy of Holies. Possibly a pattern for the Christian’s human psyche and even the intent for the Christian church. But with the coming of Christ, the outermost is the Church Body or the Body of Christ. The courtyard resembles the priestly duties of spiritual gifts at work of each and every Christian. The Holy are of the Tabernacle is accessible by those who are fully dedicated in prayer and service to God through Christ Jesus and the Holy of Holies is the presence of God within each believer.

Should we, today, model and build our church buildings in such a fashion? Probably not. Jesus removed the barriers and indwells the believer. We are now One with Him.

However, it is worthy to note that the early church met in homes as reflected in Acts 2:37-42, 46-47, “Brothers, what are we to do?” Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far away, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”  And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on urging them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day and that day there were added about three thousand souls.

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Verse 46. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their ^[ax]meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Then, shortly after the establishment of the Christian Church things began to change. Partly due to convenience and partly due to influences outside the church. Sacred Christian architecture in the West, in particular Western Europe, was being influenced by a variety of architectural styles that initially derived from Roman pagan designs to new forms that attempted to break away from Roman influences. Christian church architecture indicates the cultural influences on Christianity but also reflected men’s spiritual ideas dominant in the period churches were built.

After 313 AD, as Christianity became accepted by the Roman government under Constantine, early churches were beginning to be established in Western Europe and the Roman Empire. By this point, churches had already existed throughout the Sassanian Empire and Armenia, but had yet to be established, at least formally, in the Roman Empire. Initially, late Roman Empire churches often utilized converted pagan temples, as these were readily available structures that could accommodate many people. It was also convenient to use existing worship areas for the masses that had converted – this too, was and is an outward expression of an inward belief and conviction and confession. The drift to apostasy had begun!

There are many today that will say that the style, appearance or type of building is irrelevant. A building is just a “tool for ministry”. And, I might agree. But I am not referring to architecture. I am referring to intent and priorities. Is it our intention to follow the teachings and of Jesus and the Bible and to pay close attention to the significance of the meanings contained in the symbolism of the Tabernacle and of the Temple, or are we willing to go our own way in order to draw a crowd? Well, it isn’t working for the ‘mainline’ protestant churches in the twenty-first century, and this drift did not begin in the twenty-first century. It began shortly after the establishment of the early Church. Today we see the fruit of our arrogance.

Let me begin by saying that I know very few will have read this. I also know that I have little to no influence on the church or on those who lead and formulate policy for the church. So, why bother? Am I just ranting? Perhaps. But like the man who would stroll the beach after the tides would recede, picking up starfish, one at a time, tossing them back into the water. When asked why he would bother since thousands and thousands are stranded, dying on the beach, he picked up one more and said, it means something to this one. So it is with me.

We need to let our faith in Christ, and our understanding and belief in The Word, be expressed – pressed out – our expression, conviction and confession.

 

The Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle, should be expressed by how we speak, how we deport ourselves, how we live and how we treat others. It is Christ in us, our hope of glory, on display.

The Holy place in the Tabernacle is where we prepare ourselves as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is our spiritual service of worship, through words and deeds of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Our ‘Camp of Israel’ is where we stand firm against the schemes of the devil.  Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, we take up the full armor of God, and resist.

The inner courts, are where we congregate and express our Spiritual Gifts in service to God and to one another.

The outer courts and where we invite and receive those who are drawn to Christ, where we proclaim the Gospel message and make disciples. This work takes place both outside and inside the Temple.

CHRIST DWELLS WITHIN – YOU ARE NOW THE EDIFICE

Although the architecture of modern-day church buildings may differ from the Tabernacle and the Temple, and the spiritual significance and symbolisms have been fulfilled with the coming of the Christ Jesus. It remains true that our beliefs and faith are expressed within the Church – be it a building, a program or a person. All of these things should not conform to the world, but must be transformed by the renewing of our minds so the we may prove what is the will of God, that which is good, acceptable and perfect! Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you?

In conclusion, we should allow the Holy of Holies to influence, guide, direct and establish our ways. It should be ‘from the inside to the outside’. Every act and service of our worship is a result of our focus on the Holy of Holies, from the Holy places, to our priesthood as believers, to our encampment around our Tabernacles, through our inner courts, outer courts and into this world. Anything and everything else, is just a sideshow.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PS: Examples of sideshows: Easter bunnies and egg hunts at church. Halloween at church disguised as Fall festivals – they are a copy of paganism and witchcraft. Christmas parties at church focused on materialism. There are times allotted for these things in the world, but not in the sanctuary, not in the Church. Remember, the Church is an Expression of what you and I really and truly believe, and the world is watching and all-to-often, scoffing and mocking.

 

HEY CHURCH – HAVE WE OUTSMARTED OURSELVES?

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Jesus and the Pre-Church Age

Jesus. Yes, just Jesus. (See Matthew 4:13-17). Then He called men and made them His disciples, (see Matthew 4:18-23), who were men who learned from Him – through His teaching and by His example. These disciples were considered as “uneducated and untrained men – they were amazing, were recognized as having been with Jesus.” (see Acts 4:13).

Jesus took His disciples from person to person, town to town, city to city demonstrating and “teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people.” (see Matthew 4:23-24).

Then Jesus sent these men out own their own to do the work He had assigned them – and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every sickness. He told them, “as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’  Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, cast out demons.” (See Matthew 10).

Unlike the Pharisees and the Sanhedrin, there were no schools of Rabbinic Judaism. There were no universities, no formal education except for what they had learned about the Torah from their father, by reading, listening and through example. And unlike today, where formal education in doctrine, dogma, form and fashion of a Christian Religion is taught in colleges, universities and seminaries.

And they righted the world by turning it upside-down in the name of Jesus. (see Acts 17:6).

The Early Church

The first use of the word “Church” is found in Matthew 16:18, when Jesus says, “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.”  This word then appears 75 more times in the New Testament (KJV). It is derived from the Greek word “ekklesia,” meaning an assembly or congregation of called-out ones.

When they had entered the city, that is Peter, John, James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James, they went up to the upstairs room where they were staying. All these were continually devoting themselves with one mind to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. (see Acts 1:12-14).

At this time Peter stood up among the brothers and sisters (a group of about 120 people was there together and said, “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold. (see Act 2:42).

The Church is Born

And with many other words Peter solemnly testified and kept on urging them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (see Act 2:40-42).

 

Then Came Denominationalism

The first Christian church is generally considered to be the Church of Jerusalem, founded around 33 A.D following the Ascension of Christ. This early church was composed of Jesus’ disciples and was recognized as the mother of all Christian communities.

The first Christian church was established in Jerusalem around 33 AD, shortly after the Ascension of Jesus Christ. This church is often referred to as the “Mother of all Churches.” It was founded by Jesus’ disciples, who were primarily Jewish, and it served as the initial community for early Christians.

As Christianity spread beyond Jerusalem, it began to diversify. The early followers initially identified as Jews and practiced their faith within the context of Second Temple Judaism. Over time, as the message of Christianity reached Gentiles, the church evolved, leading to various interpretations and practices.

By the end of the first century, Christianity had spread to various regions, including Rome, Greece, and North Africa. This expansion led to the formation of different communities, each with unique beliefs and practices. The term “Christian” was first used in Antioch, where followers of Jesus were distinguished from other Jewish sects.

The Catholic Church claims to be the original Christian church, tracing its leadership back to the apostles, particularly Peter, who is considered the first pope. The term “Catholic” was first used by Ignatius of Antioch in the early 2nd century, indicating a universal church that included all believers.

Century	Events and Developments
1st Century	The birth of Christianity with the ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Formation of the earliest Christian communities in Jerusalem, Antioch, and other locations.
2nd Century	Emergence of various theological schools and interpretations of Christian doctrine, including Gnostic sects and early Christian apologists. Development of the office of bishop in some Christian communities.
3rd Century	Persecutions of Christians under Roman emperors. Development of the Nicene Creed in response to theological controversies, defining key Christian beliefs.
4th Century	313 AD: Emperor Constantine’s Edict of Milan legalizes Christianity in the Roman Empire.
	325 AD: The First Council of Nicaea is convened to address theological disputes and establish the Nicene Creed.
	381 AD: The First Council of Constantinople reaffirms and amends the Nicene Creed. The emergence of Eastern Orthodox Christianity and Western (Roman) Christianity.
5th Century	431 AD: The Council of Ephesus deals with Christological controversies, contributing to the schism between Eastern and Western Christianity.
	451 AD: The Council of Chalcedon addresses further Christological issues, deepening the divide between the Eastern Orthodox and the Oriental Orthodox churches.
11th Century	1054 AD: The Great Schism occurs, leading to the formal split between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church.
16th Century	1517 AD: Martin Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses mark the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.
	1520s-1530s: Emergence of various Protestant denominations, including Lutheranism, Calvinism, and Anabaptism.
	1534 AD: Henry VIII of England establishes the Church of England (Anglicanism) after his break with the Roman Catholic Church.
17th Century	1600s: The Baptist tradition emerges, with various Baptist denominations forming in England and North America.
18th Century	1700s: The Methodist movement begins as a reform movement within Anglicanism, eventually leading to the formation of the Methodist Church.
19th Century	1800s: The Restoration Movement in the United States gives rise to the Churches of Christ, Disciples of Christ, and other Restorationist groups.
	1830: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormonism) is founded by Joseph Smith.
20th Century	Various Pentecostal and Charismatic movements gain prominence within Protestantism. Ecumenical efforts lead to increased dialogue and cooperation between some Christian denominations.
21st Century (up to 2021)	see below

Continued growth of non-denominational and independent churches. Ongoing dialogue and attempts at ecumenism among various Christian groups. Various theological and social issues continue to shape the landscape of Christian denominations.

Today, it is reported that there are over 2,000 Christian denominations in America alone (including those claiming to be non-denominational and some considered as cults). Worldwide there are estimated to be over 30,000 varying denominations claiming the name of Jesus in one fashion or another.

Then Came the Religious Training – Colleges and Seminaries – And we got really “smart” at religion.

The first Christian seminaries were established during the Counter-Reformation, particularly after the Council of Trent in the 16th century, which called for the creation of seminaries to train clergy. Along with the spread of denominationalism came the spread of religious training. Initially churches were the training ground for pastors and preachers. Then various denominations established formal institutions for educating student and future pastors in their particular brand of Christianity. And with time, this training became intensely formal and academic, offering levels of degrees, mimicking secular universities undergraduate bachelor’s degrees, master’s level of degrees and doctorates in multiples of disciplines. Each denomination with their own twist. A far cry from Jesus and his band of twelve uneducated and untrained men who turned the world upside down.

Then Came the Apostasy

As the training and teaching expanded so did the innovation and opinion-based influences creep into the church.

 

For further examples, scores of protestant denominations and hundreds of thousands of churches, over time, have abandoned the clear mandates, doctrines and teachings of the Bible.

AD 1 The Church of Jesus Christ, The Body of Christ, had no buildings, little money and no wealth. The Church was a Movement.

Jesus said to make disciples; collect no money except to make your journey.

The penalty for becoming a Christian was often death.

The Church grew exponentially.

AD 49 The Church expanded into Greece. The Church became a philosophy to many. The Church grew and size and influence.

AD 313 The Church expanded into Rome and it gained recognition. It grew in power and popularity. It obtained wealth, buildings, property and influence. It became an institution.

AD 380 The Church expanded into Europe. It was becoming a worldwide phenomenon. It grew in wealth, stature, power and influence. It had become a culture.

AD 1607 The Church reaches America.

AD 1681 The Church became corporate. It had become a business and incorporated. It became regulated by the government.

The Corporate Church grew. It needed money to support growth and expansion, which meant the Corporate Church needed more people.

AD 1777 The state of Virginia granted tax exemption to houses of worship.

AD 1894 The corporate church was granted tax exemptions by the Federal Government.

AD 1954 The Federal Government regulated what a church could and could not say in order to retain tax-exempt status.

The church continued to grow, and in order to attract more people the Corporate Church lowered its membership and doctrinal standards. More people became ‘members’ and gave more money to support more growth.

The Church corporation is complete with leaders, boards and membership and a business model.

Local churches compete against one another for members (customers). The church is selling itself in “three line slogans”.

The Church members now have choices and have become religious consumers. Church people can shop around for the religious brand and standards that best suits them. (2 Timothy 3)

The Leadership (pastors and preachers) have become CEOs, disciples have become church leaders, growing their 501(c)(3) business models.

Record numbers of pastors quitting because of stress, burnout or are being fired by their congregations (some stats say 1500 – 1700 leave “the ministry” each month).

Church debt in America soars; church foreclosures soar.

AD 1968 The church ordains homosexuals as clergy.

AD 1972 The United church of Christ ordains homosexual clergy

AD 2010 The Lutheran church ordains homosexual clergy

AD 2012 The Presbyterian church USA ordains homosexual clergy (not to be confused with the Presbyterian church PCA).

The Episcopal Church in the United States and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) have also allowed ordination of openly gay and lesbian candidates for ministry for some years. (Etc).

Internationally, churches that are not practicing nor are they teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and have ordained openly lesbian or gay clergy include the Church of Scotland, the Church of England, the Church in Wales, the Church of Sweden, the Church of Norway, the Church of Denmark, the Church of Iceland, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, the Evangelical Church in Germany, the Methodist Church in Britain, the Protestant Church in the Netherlands, the United Protestant Church in Belgium, the Swiss Reformed Church, the United Protestant Church of France, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, Anglican Church in Canada, the Old Catholic Church, the Czechoslovak Hussite Church and the United Church of Christ in Japan.

AD 2024 The church is losing and has lost influence. The church in 2020 is losing members.

AD 2025 Much of the church is teaching and living a different Gospel than that of the Apostles.

SO, WHAT TO DO?

Let me begin by saying that I know very few will have read this. I also know that I have little to no influence on the church or on those who lead and formulate policy for the church. So, why bother? Am I just ranting? Perhaps. But like the man who would stroll the beach after the tides would recede, picking up starfish, one at a time, tossing them back into the water. When asked why he would bother since thousands and thousands are stranded, dying on the beach, he picked up one more and said, it means something to this one. So it is with me.

We need to let our faith in Christ, and our understanding and belief in The Word, be expressed – pressed out – our expression, conviction and confession.

Put in the simplest and perhaps the most mundane of terms, ask yourselves, WWJD, (What would Jesus do?) And in order to find your answer, read the New Testament Gospel Books (and I suggest using the New American Standard Version of the Bible). Then do exactly as He taught and demonstrated. Period.

Or, if you want a more detailed and slightly more complicated answer:

The Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle, should be expressed by how we speak, how we deport ourselves, how we live and how we treat others. It is Christ in us, our hope of glory, on display.\

The Holy place in the Tabernacle is where we prepare ourselves as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is our spiritual service of worship, through words and deeds of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

 

 

Our ‘Camp of Israel’ is where we stand firm against the schemes of the devil.  Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, we take up the full armor of God, and resist.

The inner courts, are where we congregate and express our Spiritual Gifts in service to God and to one another.

The outer courts and where we invite and receive those who are drawn to Christ, where we proclaim the Gospel message and make disciples. This work takes place both outside and inside the Temple.

CHRIST DWELLS WITHIN – YOU ARE NOW THE EDIFICE

Although the architecture of modern-day church buildings may differ from the Tabernacle and the Temple, and the spiritual significance and symbolisms have been fulfilled with the coming of the Christ Jesus. It remains true that our beliefs and faith are expressed within the Church – be it a building, a program or a person. All of these things should not conform to the world, but must be transformed by the renewing of our minds so the we may prove what is the will of God, that which is good, acceptable and perfect! Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you?

In conclusion, we should allow the Holy of Holies to influence, guide, direct and establish our ways. It should be ‘from the inside to the outside’. Every act and service of our worship is a result of our focus on the Holy of Holies, from the Holy places, to our priesthood as believers, to our encampment around our Tabernacles, through our inner courts, outer courts and into this world. Anything and everything else, is just a sideshow.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PS: Examples of sideshows: Easter bunnies and egg hunts at church. Halloween at church disguised as Fall festivals. Christmas parties at church focused on materialism. There are times for these things, but not in the sanctuary, remembering, the Church is an Expression of what you really and truly believe. Just don’t do them and do not teach them to your children.

Additional Reading: The Church – The Edifice

 

YEAST

THE LEAVEN of SIN and EVIL, or THE LEAVEN OF HEAVEN?

The Bible mentions leaven, or yeast, in several contexts. In some contexts, the reference to leaven is obviously literal; in other contexts, leaven takes on symbolic connotations.

I.   In the Mosaic Law, leaven represents sin or corruption

II.  Jesus, in the New Testament, compared the false teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees and Herodians to leaven. The Pharisees had come to Jesus to test Him (verse 1), but Jesus perceived their true intent and the state of their hearts. He later warned His disciples against being taken in by their teachings (verse 12), which He compared to leaven. A small portion of the “leaven” of falsehood can permeate a person’s heart and mind. In Luke 12:1 Jesus specifies that the leaven of the Pharisees is “hypocrisy.” Having a show of piety, without true holiness, is like leaven in that it gradually increases and spreads corruption, puffing up a person with vanity. Lies and hypocrisy can poison one’s whole character.

In one of Jesus’ parables of the kingdom of heaven, He uses leaven in a different sense: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough” (Matthew 13:33). In this case, leaven is not used as a symbol of evil; rather, leaven is a symbol of the kingdom, which will gradually and secretly permeate society. Just as a woman uses the smallest bit of leaven in the dough, so the gospel starts with small beginnings. Just as the leaven quietly works its way through the whole batch, the gospel will have a profound impact on all sectors of society.

III. So, the bottom line is that yeast or leaven in the Bible, can be literal yeast for making bread or other edible products, or it can be symbolic of an idea, an ideology or a teaching that rises up from small beginnings and spread, affecting or infecting everything near it, whether for good or for evil.

1. The metaphor of yeast can also be seen as representative of the intentions of churches, church leaders, pastors, preachers, Bible teachers and theologians. Some infer, imply or teach that since we live in the ‘here-and-now’ that our focus should be, primarily, on the here-and-now. We should be the ‘best version of who we can be, now’ as they see it in scriptures. Not a bad idea, but that’s just half the ‘story’.

2. Others emphasize continuing the work of Jesus, spreading His teaching, modeling His behavior during our short time on earth, but emphasize the future, an eternity with God in heaven.

3. Then there are those who emphasize and promote a social gospel or an egocentric view of the Bible. They usually believe and teach that religion and most of the Bible is allegorical. It represents truth as seen through the eyes and mind of religious humanists or religious secularists. They postulate that good and evil, right and wrong, are inventions of the imagination of people and is based on their situation at the time. They do not see the Bible as literal nor do they consider it without error; they see truth as it is measured by conditional or situational ethics. So, truth or error is ever-changing and shifting with time. And, they see the Bible containing truth as they define it, but archaic and in need of modernization. Therefore, they consider it their responsibility to correct perceived errors in the Bible and go about correcting them and clarifying them and teaching them. These people may or may not believe in a literal God, in heaven, nor in an afterlife. They live for the moment – some adhere to some kind of religious system, some may be religious pagans, most can be hedonistic. (The Bible often calls these people as false teachers, false prophets, and wolves among the flock, and says to avoid them).

So, where is the truth and the balance? Well, the Bible says very clearly that the Truth is a person and His Name is Jesus. And balance? If you know Jesus, you know that you only find balance in its extreme form. It is Jesus, or nothing. That is His definition of balance.

Everything God has created, He created in a perfect balance. It is humankind’s rebellion toward God that has thrown his world out of balance. This could be why the disciples of Jesus were said to have turned the world upside down – they righted it. Only to have to it leavened by the evil one and thrown it out of balance, at least for now.

The Bible says that the kingdom of heaven is like yeast. And speaking of the kingdom of heaven, it is the rule of an eternal, sovereign God over all the universe. Jesus says, “the kingdom of heaven has come near” announcing His arrival on earth. And furthermore, it is only the “poor in spirit” and only those who do the will of The Father can inherit or enter this kingdom. And finally, the Message of the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ is the entryway, for He says, “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.”

Therefore, when we, as Christians, mix this yeast of the Gospel Message, through how we live and by our testimonies, into ‘the flour’ or the ingredients of this world’ it will work all through ‘the dough” (of this world) and will gradually and secretly permeate society. Just as a woman uses the smallest bit of leaven in the dough, so the gospel starts with small beginnings. Just as the leaven quietly works its way through the whole batch, the gospel will have a profound impact on all sectors of society.

And, it is not enough to just mix yeast of the kingdom of heaven into our world. We must first ingest and digest this yeast, this Message of the Gospel. It is then that we are transformed into the likeness and image of Christ, which will affect lasting change. It is then that we are considered able to effectively mix this yeast of the kingdom into the flour.

IV.  Now finally, and please consider this carefully: Yes, we must live in-the-moment, in the here-and-now, but with your eyes heavenward, and by girding up the loins of your mind, being sober, and hoping to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; preparing for a future with the Lord.

1. And yes, we must be ‘our best selves now’, but only if that self is dead, and we have been made alive in Christ. By this, people won’t see that old cadaver of self, but Christ Who dwells in us! We are made new in Him. Knowing that those of us who are being sanctified have been made perfect by that One Sacrifice! (Hebrews 10:14).

2. So, if you are a welder, work to be the BEST of all the welders. Not in just fitting joints, but in all things. If you are an accountant, work to be the BEST of all accountants. A homemaker, a salesperson, a teacher, a nurse, a doctor, a truck driver, a cook, an athlete or whatever you do. Work to be the best at who you are and at whatever you do as for the Lord and not for people, knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.

So, in this is perfect balance. To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Colossians1:28-29.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

 

IS YOUR CHURCH

RELATING TO THE CULTURE?

Many if not most pastors and churches have decided, whether deliberately or ignorantly, to make themselves and the ‘church experience’ more relatable for the potential ‘seeker’ or casual church attender.

 

They say they try to look like and be more like the general public because coming to church can be an intimidating experience. You come into a place where you don’t know anyone, people behave differently and the service can be a little confusing.

Oh yeah? Well, these same people go to ball games where they don’t know anyone, people behave wildly different and getting into the stadium and finding your assigned seating can be a little confusing too. But they still go – by the thousands.

These same people go to movies, theaters, museums, restaurants, amusement parks, lectures, political gatherings, comedy clubs, and the likes, most of which can be an intimidating experience at first because you come into a place where they don’t know anyone, people behave differently and it can be a little confusing. But they still go – by the millions.

But, according to Jesus and according to the Bible, the primary aim of going to church should not be about being entertained or having ones’ adrenalin or dopamine flow increased.

According to GotQuestions.Org, coming to church is God’s will for believers. Hebrews 10:25 says we should “not be giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Even in the early church, some were falling into the bad habit of not meeting with other believers. The author of Hebrews says that’s not the way to go. We need the encouragement that church attendance affords. And the approach of the end times should prompt us to be even more devoted to going to church.

Church is the place where believers can love one another (1 John 4:12), encourage one another (Hebrews 3:13), “spur” one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24), serve one another (Galatians 5:13), instruct one another (Romans 15:14), honor one another (Romans 12:10), and be kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32).

When a person trusts Jesus Christ for salvation, he or she is made a member of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27). For a church body to function properly, all of its “body parts” need to be present and working (1 Corinthians 12:14–20). We are not to attend church as if we are mere spectators. We are actually part of our church. Not only does our church help equip us for ministry, it is a place where we serve, using the spiritual gifts God has given us (Ephesians 4:11-13) A believer will never reach full spiritual maturity without having that outlet for his gifts, and we all need the assistance and encouragement of other believers (1 Corinthians 12:21–26). As we serve, worship, and live in community together, the body of Christ reflects who God is. Together, we are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14–16).

For these reasons and more, church attendance, participation, and fellowship should be regular aspects of a believer’s life. Weekly church attendance is in no sense “required” for believers, but someone who belongs to Christ should have a desire to worship God, receive His Word, and fellowship with other believers.

Jesus is the Cornerstone of the Church (1 Peter 2:6), and we are “like living stones . . . being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5). As the building materials of God’s “spiritual house,” we naturally have a connection with one another, and that connection is evident every time the Church “goes to church.”

And therein lies the problem. When the church organization becomes more like a 501-c-3 legal entity, and begins to adopt worldly attributes and begins to function as a corporate entity, many of God’s intentions and design for the church are either marginalized, obscured or relegated to the dustbin.

So, you enter many churches and you will be greeted by a coffee bar, prepared greeters and people milling around, chatting and ignoring all but their own little clutch. Almost like the lobby in a theatre. Relatable?

Then you enter an auditorium complete with padded seating, an elevated stage, stage lights, audio-visual effects. This used to be called the ‘sanctuary’, a place to reflect on God before the sermon. Now you read about upcoming events on a large screen while you uncomfortably avoid eye contact with others.

Then the show begins. A quality production and a mix of gospel music, religious rock-style music, accompanied by guitars, pianos, drummer’s rhythmic beats, and a ‘worship team’ of well-trained singer-actors.

I am not criticizing. I am critiquing. The fact is that all of this can be very entertaining and can get you in the mood. It elevates your mood and can put you on an emotional high, readying you for the final two acts – the offering (somebody has to pay for all this) and the sermon.

Now the unfortunate rub. One of the most frequent complaints you might hear from church seekers, visitors or casual attenders is that “it’s always about money”. (Jesus even dealt with this when When Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ” (see Matthew 21:12-13 and Mark 11:15-18)).

Perhaps all this is necessary in order to draw a crowd so they can hear the Gospel Message. Perhaps. But even that is dependent on two contributing factors. #1, will they hear a Gospel Truth? And, #2, if you build it, will they come?

A recent report from veteran researcher George Barna and the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University showed that just 37% of Christian pastors have a biblical worldview, with the predominant worldview among pastors (62%) being syncretism, a hybrid mixture of disparate worldview elements blended into a customized philosophy of life. According to this latest report, the widespread absence of biblical worldview among American pastors is resulting in eroding beliefs in areas as basic as salvation through Jesus Christ, the nature of God, the sinful condition of human beings, and the existence of objective truth.

It can be a challenge to attract first time visitors to your church.

A study and survey by Pew research shows that people come to church for these top 9 reasons, or at least by those who attend religious services at least once a month. (For your information, respondents were allowed to give more than one reason.) The percentage refers to people who said this was a “very important” reason for their decision:

1. To become closer to God. (81%)
2. So their children will have a moral foundation. (69%)
3. To become a better person. (68%)
4. For comfort in times of trouble or sorrow. (66%)
5. They find the sermons valuable. (59%)
6. To be part of a faith community. (57%)
7. To continue their family’s religious traditions. (37%)
8. They feel a necessary obligation to go. (31%)
9. To meet new people or socialize. (19%)

They will also leave a church if these expectations are not met.

Counter Cultural?

I will offer a meek (and probably a weak) contrast and rebuttal to all these statistical analyses, as this comes from my personal experience as a church deacon, Sunday School teacher, guest speaker, itinerant preacher, evangelist and pastor. (In order to shorten an already too lengthy article, I will cite just a few examples).

EXAMPLE #1.

As a relatively new Christian, I was asked to start a young adults Sunday school class. After about six months of effort, we had just three attendees. Me, my wife and one other. Visitors would come and leave. As failure hung over my efforts and weighed on my mind, I decided that I had nothing to lose, so rather than offering the typical Sunday school lesson from a Baptist quarterly, I would take a risk. I would use the Bible to relate to our daily lives. We would study a book of the Bible and search for practical and spiritual guidance. (I had very little-to-no idea of how to teach the Bible). But we began, and after about six months we had over 100 people coming to this class.

We had some gifted Bible teachers in the class now, so I recruited them to co-teach and rotated the responsibility. This group grew to around 200 people, and from this group we established six home based bible based social ‘small groups’. (This was before the ‘small group’ concept was popular so the senior pastor panicked a little at first, wondering how such a thing could happened. Was it a revolt? A takeover? Not likely considering it was being led by an inexperienced and lowly ‘layman’.) None-the-less, he politely and lovingly suggested it be restructured and a ‘more experienced’ bible teacher was assigned to the class. The small groups were disbanded. The class shrunk down to about 25 people. Everyone else found a different bible study group or stopped coming to Sunday School. Many simply left the church in search of what they had experienced.

My point? People do come to church and Sunday school for these 8 reasons, and I would like to add one more observable reason:

1. To become closer to God. (81%)
2. So their children will have a moral foundation. (69%)
3. To become a better person. (68%)
4. For comfort in times of trouble or sorrow. (66%)
5. They find the Bible lesson valuable. (59%)
6. To be part of a faith community. (57%)
7. To meet new people or socialize. (19%)
8. To feel included, loved, cared for and useful (100%).

EXAMPLE #2.

I was a deacon in a medium sized Baptist church, but concerned that the Sunday School program was not well attended nor was it growing. So I asked the senior pastor if I could start a class. He said there was no class room space available. So, I asked if I could use the sanctuary space if we ended our class time early enough that we would not interrupt the main service. He told me to give it a try.

I began by calling everyone who had once attended or was on the membership role, but had stopped coming to church. I explained that we were going to try a new approach, reciting what I had discovered during my time at our previous church. Many of those I called came. The group had immediate growth. We had people from our ‘church leadership teams’ sneak in to see what we were doing to cause this growth and excitement, and there was concern. We were not using the Baptist quarterly and we were laughing and making too much noise.

The pastor came to me with the concerns of ‘those people’. He said they had emptied a storage room for us to use. The room was more like a closet – windowless and small. They had succeeded in keeping the status quo. The class disbanded.

What can we gather from that? I think you know. But as a P.S., we started a small group with many of these folks at our home on Friday evenings. Covered dish dinners, bible studies, games and the entire family was invited. We grew to over 50 coming until our home could not hold any more. So, we divided into other homes. We discovered that people love to come together in order….

1. To become closer to God. (81%)
2. So their children will have a moral foundation. (69%)
3. To become a better person. (68%)
4. For comfort in times of trouble or sorrow. (66%)
5. They find the Bible lesson valuable. (59%)
6. To be part of a faith community. (57%)
7. To meet new people or socialize. (19%)
8. To feel included, loved, cared for and useful (100%).

EXAMPLE #3.

We moved to another church and after some time had passed I was asked to be a Sunday School teacher. Several in the class agreed to have some ‘at home socials’. After a few social events which included meals, testimonies, singing, games and prayer, it was my wife and my turn to host. It would be on a Memorial Day weekend. I reasoned that most people would be away. So, reasoning that we should invite more than we could expect to come, I recruited a friend to help and we invited around 85 people to a cookout at our house. The response was immediate. We had 85 respond in the affirmative, but wanted to bring other family members or friends. We made the adjustment, added another grill for cooking and, wow, what a crowd. We sang together, laughed, played games, told testimonies and prayed together, late into the evening.

Soon afterwards, the executive pastor called me and asked how we had accomplished what we had done, and would we show him how to do it? I said yes, and we planned another get-together. He sat and listened to the invitation process. He attended the gathering. Again we had around 80 people show up. Same process, same results. Everyone wanted to know when we would meet again! (All these folks attended this church, but had been avoiding Sunday school).

The executive pastor asked if we would head up a ‘small groups ministry’. I explained this was not a project, it was friends making friends and ‘loving the stuffings out of it’ and out of one another. But, yes, I would do it. He then said, ‘let’s keep the groups to around 12 people per group’. I explained that friends do not like to be segregated. They do that on their own. So, no, I would not be able to continue with that limitation. So, he relented and watched as the ‘main group’ eventually led to smaller groups at others’ homes. And just as it should be, the effect flowed over to greater attendance in the church building and in Sunday School class attendance.

You know, it seems that the vast majority of our seminary trained church leaders, pastors, and teachers know so much ABOUT church, that they have neglected to actually get to know the Church – which is THE PEOPLE OF GOD – The Ekklesia!

Similarly Jesus once said something like, “You’re hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You keep meticulous account books, tithing on every nickel and dime you get, but on the meat of God’s Law, things like fairness and compassion and commitment—the absolute basics!—you carelessly take it or leave it. Careful bookkeeping is commendable, but the basics are required. Do you have any idea how silly you look, writing a life story that’s wrong from start to finish, nitpicking over commas and semicolons?” (Too harsh a comparison?)

I could go on, but you get it, right? People, and especially Christians are not cattle to be herded. They are God’s people and they need to be heard. And here is what they are saying:

1. I want to get closer to God.
2. I want my children to have a moral foundation through my church and through bible study.
3. I want to become a better person, a better Christian.
4. I want comfort from my Christian friends and my church in times of trouble or sorrow.
5. I want to find valuable Bible Lessons to live by.
6. I want to be part of a loving, interactive Christian faith community.
7. I want to meet other Christians to socialize with.
8. I want to feel included, loved, cared for and useful.

I am fortunate enough to be part of a faith community that provides these things which helps me to achieve and to have these things. I wish that for you. I pray for that for you.

But I have this to say to the church as a 501-c-3 business organization. I know it’s a tough business. And therein lies the problem. IT IS NOT A BUSINESS and there should be no such overriding priority such as ‘the business of church’. It killed Jesus for One Reason, and it will kill you for a thousand other reasons!

The Church is the Body of Christ. Hear that again, and this time listen: The Church is the BODY OF CHRIST. All the Williams, Marys, Timothys, Susans, Howards, Cathys, Sarahs, Billys and millions of others. They, all of them, are the BODY OF JESUS.

You say you ‘know Jesus’ but you admit that you don’t know each and every person who is part of Jesus’ Church? Naw. You don’t KNOW ALL OF JESUS if that is the case. You only know about Him. (Too harsh a comparison?)

If this angers some of you who read this, guess why? Guess why you are angry? So were the Pharisees, the scribes and the Sadducees angered. And, why were they angry? (You know why, don’t you.)

Oh, and by the way. Jesus and His Church is counter-cultural.

A noun

1. A culture, with values or lifestyles in opposition to those of the established culture.
2. Any culture whose values and lifestyles are opposed to those of the establishedmainstream culture, especially to western
3. A culture with lifestyles and values opposed to those of the established culture.

So, what is the answer? Pray and read your Bible, Pray and understand what you read in the Bible. Pray and spend time with Jesus and His Body!

Now, let’s go and BE THE CHURCH and leave the ‘organizing’ to God’s people.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

(Comments Welcomed).