LET THE CHURCH BE THE CHURCH

A number of years ago there was a popular gospel song titled “Let The Church Be The Church”. Unfortunately, the church, as we know it today, is no longer the church of the New Testament. In order to have the impact on the world the New Testament church had on the world some changes need to be made. We desperately need to get back to the pattern of the New Testament church

There are two distinctions of the word “church”. First of all there's the church – the corporate body of Christ. Secondly, there's the local gathering of believers. There are more than 110 New Testament references to the church. Ninety of these refer to the local body or gathering of believers.

What is the origins of the New Testament church? When did the church begin? Opinions vary on this. Some say the church began at the time of Peter's statement to Jesus – Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God (Matthew 16:16). Others say the church began at the cross. Some say at the resurrection. While others say the church began at Pentecost. God's church, corporate Body of Christ, and the local assembly, likely began at the same time. When people came to know Jesus they would gather with other believers.

Jesus established His church. The Holy Spirit built (and continues to build) it. The apostles promoted it – spreading the gospel every where they went. The Bible regulates it. The local church is voluntary, but not optional. We are to gather with our brothers and sisters for instruction, teaching and body ministry. The local church gathering of believers need not be an organized group. Since we, as Christians, are the church, we can gather anywhere at anytime. Numbers aren't important

Recent polls, both secular as well as Christian, tell us that many people are leaving the organized church, today for their own spiritual welfare. They are literally dying spiritually sitting there in the pew. When they leave for the right reasons, “out of church” Christians will thrive when they escape the chains of bondage organized religion puts them in.

There is something drastically wrong with the local organized church, as we know it today. Jesus is no longer the Head! Men have replaced Jesus as head of the church. Programs have replaced the Holy Spirit in an attempt to build the church.

Jesus gave the church its authority. It has authority to deal with its own problems in accordance to Scripture. The church can even care for certain legal matters (1 Cor 6:1-8). The church has specific areas of authority. That authority is God-given. This authority is vested in the church, not in the pastor. The Bible lays out and even defines the limit of that authority

The church is sometimes looked upon as a problem in today's society. It just doesn't fit in to what we want to do today. It appears better suited for New Testament times than for today. It runs against the grain of much of today's thinking. The church is considered outdated by many. In reality, most churches have compromised to better fit in to today's society

Rest assured the church, today, is still relevant! The church is a shelter from the world. It's a loving fellowship of believers. It's a place of genuine concern for one another. It's a place we come to minister and be ministered to – it's a body ministry.

We need to settle some issues regarding the church. It's not an institution, but rather an organic expression of church life that we should be looking for. Our greatest need, today, is to let the church be the church God ordained us to be.

If you want to be a part of the church Jesus is building then you need to get away from the one man is building.

Until next time...enjoy the journey!

Ray

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