Recently, I read the following post on Facebook, "If we cannot enjoy a few hours in God’s service once a week in this world, it is plain to see that we could not enjoy an eternity in His service in the world to come... Too many have no heart for God’s service." This message spoke volumes of truth, and yet, I could not help but think how many churchgoers would miss the point of the message altogether. Most modern day "Christians" define God's service as an event (a church service) that happens in a church building for a few hours each weekend. There is a big difference between serving the kingdom of heaven (living for Christ 24-7) and being one who goes to church and follows the rules of today's defined Christianity. Unfortunately, most churchgoers fall into two categories. First, so many of these folk's live religious lives and do not have a personal relationship with Christ. Secondly, far too many who do have a personal relationship with Christ remain spiritually immature and incapable of understanding the truths of God.
Therefore, most who are caught up in today's local church system fail to see the difference between simply "going to church" and truly "serving the kingdom of heaven." Imagine what would happen if we all turned away from the many doctrines falsely claiming to prepare people to serve the kingdom found in today's local church system? First, this would enable us to begin to lean on the Holy Spirit for pure truth from above instead of trusting in manmade doctrines passed down over time from one generation to the next. This was the same error that the Israelites made and why their Scribes and Pharisees had it so wrong when Jesus came to this earth. Jesus said, "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you." John 14:26
Furthermore, once we turn our hearts from manmade intuitions that cause its followers to practice non-fruit bearing traditions and doctrines we can truly begin to live by faith. True followers of Christ, now being discipled by Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit (as the Lord intended), will mature and grow spiritually truly preparing them to serve the kingdom in spirit and in truth. This will break the chains of the humanistic mindset now found throughout the local church system that teaches that we should follow their doctrines and practices. Regrettably, the teachings in today's local churches, painstakingly designed by mankind, are presented in the form of sermons prepared by, and passed along to others, with the intention of "spiritually educating" their congregations. However, most of these sermons do little more than leave their congregations with a good handle on biblical history and an understanding of the doctrines followed by that local church. Unfortunately, these ongoing teachings and practices are the cause of division and confusion from one local church to another.
Thus, what would it look like if ALL who are truly in Christ would turn to the Lord for His wisdom and guidance? "Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head. From Him the whole body, fitted and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love through the work of each individual part." Ephesians 4:14-16 Imagine a world where those who are "truly" in Christ are tightly woven together in the unity of love Jesus prayed for us to experience in this world (see the Gospel of John chapter 17).
Therefore, most who are caught up in today's local church system fail to see the difference between simply "going to church" and truly "serving the kingdom of heaven." Imagine what would happen if we all turned away from the many doctrines falsely claiming to prepare people to serve the kingdom found in today's local church system? First, this would enable us to begin to lean on the Holy Spirit for pure truth from above instead of trusting in manmade doctrines passed down over time from one generation to the next. This was the same error that the Israelites made and why their Scribes and Pharisees had it so wrong when Jesus came to this earth. Jesus said, "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you." John 14:26
Furthermore, once we turn our hearts from manmade intuitions that cause its followers to practice non-fruit bearing traditions and doctrines we can truly begin to live by faith. True followers of Christ, now being discipled by Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit (as the Lord intended), will mature and grow spiritually truly preparing them to serve the kingdom in spirit and in truth. This will break the chains of the humanistic mindset now found throughout the local church system that teaches that we should follow their doctrines and practices. Regrettably, the teachings in today's local churches, painstakingly designed by mankind, are presented in the form of sermons prepared by, and passed along to others, with the intention of "spiritually educating" their congregations. However, most of these sermons do little more than leave their congregations with a good handle on biblical history and an understanding of the doctrines followed by that local church. Unfortunately, these ongoing teachings and practices are the cause of division and confusion from one local church to another.
Thus, what would it look like if ALL who are truly in Christ would turn to the Lord for His wisdom and guidance? "Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head. From Him the whole body, fitted and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love through the work of each individual part." Ephesians 4:14-16 Imagine a world where those who are "truly" in Christ are tightly woven together in the unity of love Jesus prayed for us to experience in this world (see the Gospel of John chapter 17).
