Okay I will probably fire up some people with this post. I want to get the individual believer to think. Lets play the what if game! What if every church building would cease to exist. In other words no more building, chapels, or cathedrals. What would happen to Christianity? Truthfully the answer should be nothing. A church is not a building, bricks and mortar, sound systems and pews. Church is a group of believers that are united for the cause of Christ. It is a group of believers dedicated to spreading the Gospel, discipling new believers, and praising God. Now why do I bring this up in this blog. 1 Corinthians 12:12- 14 says “12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body — whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free — and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many (NKJV). The church is the people not the rules, not the building, not the committees. When we understand this concept then we can become what Christ had in mind for us as a body of believers.
In China people meet in homes but call it their church. In Africa people meet in a field yet they call it a church. All over this world you can find churches centered around the cause of Christ. Unfortunately I can find many churches where the building is the focus, the color of the carpet, the physical nature instead of the spiritual nature. Worse yet I can find many “churches” where disciple making is the job of the pastor, where praising God is engineered and cold and where sharing the Gospel is non existent to the vast majority of the people who attend. Folks that is not the way it should be and I am reminded of the words of Jesus in Revelation Rev 2:4-5 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place — unless you repent (NKJV). As I am prone to preach “it is all about Jesus”. Once you understand that then you will come to the correct understanding that it is all about the Gospel. The first love was Jesus. the first works are sharing the Gospel and discipling. How many have left their first love and how many churches have the building, the possessions, or the constitution as their first love. Christianity is spreading like wildfire in 3rd world countries yet it is stuck in neutral in the United States and declining in Europe. Ask yourself why?
Now I will really make some folks mad. I think some preachers would rather argue the intellectual arguments found in seminary circles than share the Gospel with a lost soul. I believe more Christians are willing to argue Calvinism than give the Bread of Life to a person heading to hell. I believe more church members are willing to argue silly arguments at business meetings than tell someone about the hope that is within them. I have to tell you I am very embarrassed by it all. I liken it to being in a convention center and it catches on fire. Many of the exits are blocked but we have a group of pastors huddling together saying “But they are predestined to burn”. Over there is another group saying “There is no such thing as fire”. Over here you have a group of people saying “we can’t evacuate until the committee meets”. Another group is stammering saying “I am not called to share the exit strategy with others”. Meanwhile the whole shebang is going up in smoke.
I guess I get my sanity from missions. I see the way new believers look at the Scriptures and how they look at their responsibilities as believers to share the Gospel, disciple, and worship. I see the joy in their faces and how they step up to be used by Jesus for whatever, whenever, however. Unfortunately that is not common in this country. Now their are some churches that get this but I believe they are few and far between. You may not like my assertion, but if you are really honest, just ask your church one simple question. Is seeing one soul legitimately come to Christ worth every cent in savings and worth the building in which you worship. Most would say no because of the investment they have in such things. I tell you Jesus would tell you absolutely and to do so without question. Maybe the concept of what would a man give for his very soul should read what would a church give for there very building or savings account. How about answering question number two? Is seeing one, just one soul worth you getting out of your comfort zone, sacrificing your savings, your time, your energy, and your safety worth it. I will tell you that Jesus would say “absolutely”. Yet our churches are still playing church and the lost are lined up in droves to enter the gates of hell. And our churches fit more into the category of a club but not the body of Christ. Not good.
My daughter Chelsie introduced me to a Charles Spurgeon quote that says it all. He said “If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for.” That is the passion that is missing in churches today. We have to get back to our first love. Not buildings, not philosophies, not committees, but the Gospel of Jesus Christ. One more quick zing for those not sufficiently agitated with this post. I had a discussion with a pastor once and he told me “I am not gifted in evangelism so I don’t spend a lot of time witnessing”. I was mortified when I heard this, but he then spent the next hour pontificating on the merits of Calvinism. My friends, I am not as critical of his second action as I am his first. Did Jesus Christ tell any of us ever that we did not have to worry about the lost? NO! Did he ever tell us that it is not our job to share our salvation with others? NO! Did he tell us make sure you know everything there is to know about Calvinism (just kidding). My point is that we can get fired up about systems of religion but neglect the directive from the Almighty to go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them …. If you have lost your first love then repent and ask God to revive your spirit. We should be ashamed for our lack of zeal as a church in America. I for one will not be ashamed any longer. My resolve is to do the will of my Father. How bout you?
blessings
pc
