In the first part of this we discovered what church is not. We found out that there are many false teachers out in the world that have confused people with their lies of what church is. This is probably not going to change until the coming of Christ. But if we can start focusing and getting the truth out there the Lord can and will use it to touch the hearts of many. My hope is that many of the pastors and teachers that are telling these lies will come to repentance. The other part of my hope is that many will realize that just because a man holds a title or a peace of paper of pastor or teacher and stands behind a podium does not mean that they are placed there by God.
The word church comes from the word ekklesia which means the called out ones. So what is church. It is a group of believers that live to love the Lord Jesus Christ. Its worship has only 2 rules, To have complete faith in the lord and to worship Him with a whole heart. Any other rule is made up by man along with any other format. It is not an issue of being told how to worship or what to do to worship. It is a stirring of the Holy Spirit within our souls. A desire that has been placed their by our Lord. All of this being told how to worship is to look good for people that may come into the building. Through out the Bible we see many different ways to worship the Lord. Music, dancing, singing, praising, holding up of holy hands etc......!
So now i guess to really come to the knowledge of the truth about church. We really need to know what the church body is for. How the church was actually ran in the days of the first church. What does the Bible say that the church body is for? If we read through the bible we see quite a bit about the church body and the functions of it. This being ver different from the church function of the business that we see as church today. I believe that the first thing we should look at, is the way that we should be treating each other. Possibly focusing on standing one with another through all things. This has been a problem with "christians" in America for a long time.
To often we are focused on our wants and desires and what makes us look good to the crowds. Many of our brothers and sisters in Christ are left out in the cold hungry and naked from the truth. Because many claim to be but either are not or they are to selfish to pick a brother or sister up out of the pit. There are way to many out there trying to get themselves noticed for their status or for a status so much that souls are left in the balance. Trying to build up your membership is not church nor is it evangelism.
So what is church. Church is simply people that have decided to accept the call of Christ into their lives and hearts. Putting all of their faith and hope in Him. A group that has been given the love of Christ into their hearts and the desire that they do not wish to see any soul with out Him. Knowing that they will serve an eternity in hell without Christ. This in turn is more than just a group of people. It is a family, that sticks by one another in and through all things.
As a family we all have a part that makes us unique. While one is a healer another may be a prophet. and another may speak in tongues and another interpreting. Just as it is written by the apostle Paul. In this we all work together by the moving of the Holy Spirit, not the moving of man. This being very important because of the fact that no man can tell us what our gift from God is nor can they perfect it within us. This being another problem with in the churches of today. Believing that we are the ones that give and perfect gifts. However there is still a lot more to what the church is and its function.
One thing that i think of when i think of the Body of Christ is how families share each others burdens. They ban together to see that the weaker or those with out have and are protected. This i think that we all struggle with. We all have a tendency to not pray for wisdom in many instances when it comes to the real needs of those we call brethren. The point that through out scripture we are called brothers and sisters above all else. Before we hold status in the church we are first brothers and sisters in the Lord. This making the point more of a family and just cause for us to stand together in one common thought. That being that Christ is the Lord over us and in us.
I like to look as family more of as a team. A team that bonds together to stand and join together in all areas of life. Not only when things are good. But sharing the burdens that we all go through together. Just as scripture talks about. We are not going to allow our brothers or sisters in our families to fall in our biological families so why would we allow our eternal brothers and sisters to fall? Which should in fact be held at a higher esteem. Yes i do believe that we should definitely hold our spiritual family at a higher esteem and keep them from falling or being mislead by this wicked world.
There will be more to this but this is the discussion that i am sending out for now. Please feel free to to discuss or share what the Lord puts on your hearts.
Your Brother in Christ,
chris overy
The word church comes from the word ekklesia which means the called out ones. So what is church. It is a group of believers that live to love the Lord Jesus Christ. Its worship has only 2 rules, To have complete faith in the lord and to worship Him with a whole heart. Any other rule is made up by man along with any other format. It is not an issue of being told how to worship or what to do to worship. It is a stirring of the Holy Spirit within our souls. A desire that has been placed their by our Lord. All of this being told how to worship is to look good for people that may come into the building. Through out the Bible we see many different ways to worship the Lord. Music, dancing, singing, praising, holding up of holy hands etc......!
So now i guess to really come to the knowledge of the truth about church. We really need to know what the church body is for. How the church was actually ran in the days of the first church. What does the Bible say that the church body is for? If we read through the bible we see quite a bit about the church body and the functions of it. This being ver different from the church function of the business that we see as church today. I believe that the first thing we should look at, is the way that we should be treating each other. Possibly focusing on standing one with another through all things. This has been a problem with "christians" in America for a long time.
To often we are focused on our wants and desires and what makes us look good to the crowds. Many of our brothers and sisters in Christ are left out in the cold hungry and naked from the truth. Because many claim to be but either are not or they are to selfish to pick a brother or sister up out of the pit. There are way to many out there trying to get themselves noticed for their status or for a status so much that souls are left in the balance. Trying to build up your membership is not church nor is it evangelism.
So what is church. Church is simply people that have decided to accept the call of Christ into their lives and hearts. Putting all of their faith and hope in Him. A group that has been given the love of Christ into their hearts and the desire that they do not wish to see any soul with out Him. Knowing that they will serve an eternity in hell without Christ. This in turn is more than just a group of people. It is a family, that sticks by one another in and through all things.
As a family we all have a part that makes us unique. While one is a healer another may be a prophet. and another may speak in tongues and another interpreting. Just as it is written by the apostle Paul. In this we all work together by the moving of the Holy Spirit, not the moving of man. This being very important because of the fact that no man can tell us what our gift from God is nor can they perfect it within us. This being another problem with in the churches of today. Believing that we are the ones that give and perfect gifts. However there is still a lot more to what the church is and its function.
One thing that i think of when i think of the Body of Christ is how families share each others burdens. They ban together to see that the weaker or those with out have and are protected. This i think that we all struggle with. We all have a tendency to not pray for wisdom in many instances when it comes to the real needs of those we call brethren. The point that through out scripture we are called brothers and sisters above all else. Before we hold status in the church we are first brothers and sisters in the Lord. This making the point more of a family and just cause for us to stand together in one common thought. That being that Christ is the Lord over us and in us.
I like to look as family more of as a team. A team that bonds together to stand and join together in all areas of life. Not only when things are good. But sharing the burdens that we all go through together. Just as scripture talks about. We are not going to allow our brothers or sisters in our families to fall in our biological families so why would we allow our eternal brothers and sisters to fall? Which should in fact be held at a higher esteem. Yes i do believe that we should definitely hold our spiritual family at a higher esteem and keep them from falling or being mislead by this wicked world.
There will be more to this but this is the discussion that i am sending out for now. Please feel free to to discuss or share what the Lord puts on your hearts.
Your Brother in Christ,
chris overy
