What is “the church”? The church is an assembly of people
across the globe who have trusted in Jesus Christ, God the Son, to be Lord
(owner-master) and Savior of their lives. They have died with Christ to sin,
and they have been resurrected with Christ to newness of life in him, created
to be like God in true righteousness and holiness (Rom. 6:1-23; Eph. 4:17-24).
They are those whom God called out from the world and unto
himself and into his eternal kingdom. He called us to be his holy people, his
possession, for his glory, and for his purposes. We are his body.
What the church is not: It is not a building. It is not an
organization of human origin. It is not a church denomination or a corporation
under the federal government. And, it is not a business of men. It is also not
a civic organization or a social club or a group of political activists. And,
it is not a group of people who do community projects or have bazars, and the
like. As well, it is not a place to get clean family fun and entertainment.
Although these things, and more, have often been what it was
turned into, this is not the church. The church is the people of God, believers
in Jesus Christ. It is a living organism, not an organization. It is of God,
not of men. And, it is led by the Holy Spirit, not by human marketing schemes.
And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. Acts 2:42-43 ESV
So, when the church gathers together, it should be a body of
people who have genuine faith in Jesus Christ, who have the Spirit of God
living within them, and who are following our Lord Jesus in obedience and in
surrender to his will.
Yet, even in the early days of the church they had
unbelievers in their midst, at times, and they had problems with people living
in sin, and falling into error, and being led astray by false doctrines, so
they weren’t perfect.
But, these things were being dealt with by the apostles, and
they were exercising church discipline, and the apostles gave many instructions
to the early believers on holy living, and on the meaning of God’s grace and his
salvation. And they gave many warnings, too, against falling into sin, and into
error, and against being led astray by false teachers.
But, when they gathered together, it was to give honor and
praise and glory to God and to God alone. The purpose of their gatherings was
for instruction in the Word of God, for Christian Spirit-filled fellowship, for
community prayer in the Spirit, and for the breaking of bread in communion, in
memory of our Lord and of what he did for us in dying on the cross for our
sins.
And awe came upon every soul! Wow! And, many wonders and
signs were being done through the apostles. Double wow! And, why was this true?
Because they were filled to overflowing with the Spirit of God, they were
living separate from the world of sin, and they were following the Lord in
obedience to his will and to his ways. And, the people witnessed this, and they
were filled with the awe of God, because God was among them.
And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. Acts 2:44-45 ESV
They didn’t suddenly become socialists, though. This was not
forced upon them. They did what they did out of the free will of their own
hearts out of love for God, love for their fellow believers in Jesus, and love
for the people of this world. Because God was living within them, by his
Spirit, his love was also dwelling within them. And so they were just doing
what people do when they are filled to overflowing with the love of God. They
minister his love and grace to other people, and they help meet others’
legitimate needs.
Jesus said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Jn. 13:35 NIV
And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. Acts 2:46-47 ESV
It is my understanding that the early Christians, by meeting
together at the temple, were meeting out in the court and porches of the temple
which were open to the Gentiles. And, it was a place where they could worship
together in public and where they could also preach the gospel of Jesus Christ
to all who were there who would listen. Jesus spoke there, as I believe did
also the apostles. But, not everyone is agreed on this, and I will not debate
it.
The point is, they didn’t just meet once a week. They met
daily, and out in public, as well as they met together in one another’s homes,
and they shared meals together, too. And, they were thankful to God, and they
praised him at these gatherings, too.
Basically, their faith in Jesus Christ was not tied up in a
once a week worship service in one specific location. They lived their
Christian lives around the clock. And, they worshiped God and talked about
Jesus, and they had Spirit-filled fellowship together whenever they got
together, it appears.
They lived out their faith daily, and it showed! They
witnessed for Jesus Christ daily, and they worshipped him out in public daily
where everyone could see. And, their fellowship together was not just getting
together to eat a lot of food and then talk about everything but Jesus. They
shined for Jesus on a daily consistent basis, and because of that, many people
came to faith in Jesus Christ.
The Church of Today
The church of today, at least here in America, seemingly for
the most part, is not like the early church. Often their “fellowships” are more
about just eating food (too much food) and then just being entertained, or
playing games, or watching TV or movies together. And, often, it would appear,
conversations are not about Jesus Christ but about sports, movies, video games,
Facebook, the news, careers, and entertainment, in general.
There is not much of a distinction at all between the
gatherings of the church and the gatherings of the world, at least those that
occur on a daily basis or on an informal basis. The church has become so
worldly, and so much like the world. They are often even encouraged to blend in
with the world, and to be immersed in the world, so that the world would feel
as though they are “one of them,” and so the people of the world will feel at
home among us. But, we are supposed to come out from the world, Jesus said.
And, the more formal gatherings of the church appear to be,
on a large scale, more about attracting the world to their gatherings by
entertaining the world and by softening the message so as not to offend the
world. And, instead of being led of the Spirit of God, they are more often than
not, seemingly, designed by men and human marketing schemes geared at meeting
the felt needs of the people of the world.
And, is it any wonder then that our nations (at least mine)
are on a spiritual and moral decline, and immorality and wickedness are running
free? And, Christians and the people of this world are most often
indistinguishable? And, the grace of God has been cheapened to allow anyone “believing”
in Jesus to continue in their wickedness without guilt?
So, we need to go back to the beginning, and we need to
start all over, and we need to follow the example of the church at the very
beginning, and we need to put into practice honoring God, and worshiping him
with our lives, and having true Christian fellowship with one another daily.
And, we need to be encouraging one another in the faith and
in walks of holiness. And, we need to be cautioning against worldliness and
immorality, and helping one another to live godly and holy lives, for the days
are evil.
Songs
in the Night
An Original Work / December 18, 2013
“About
midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other
prisoners were listening to them.” Acts 16:25 NIV ‘84
Lord, I praise You forevermore.
You, my Savior, I now adore.
Hope in heaven awaiting me,
Because You died at Calvary.
I have been forgiven,
And I’m bound for heaven.
Jesus set me free from
All my sin, I say.
I will praise Him always!
Lord, I love You for all You’ve done:
Overcame death, my vict’ry won!
Jesus saved me, and now I’m free!
I rejoice in His love for me.
I will walk in vict’ry!
My sin is but hist’ry!
I am free to please Him
With my life today.
I will love Him always!
Lord, I thank You for giving me
A new life bought at Calvary.
Loving Jesus, I meet with Him.
Tender mercies now flow within.
Lord, I am so thankful;
Through my Lord, I’m able
To sit at His table;
Fellowship with Him.
I will thank Him always!
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