THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH BEGAN WITH
Jesus
departing the earth leaving the command to his disciples to, "Go ye
therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I
have commanded you" (Matthew 28:16-20) It was the disciples job to be
ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20) and to bring the light
of Christ to the world (Matthew 5:14). They were to
preach from the housetops for all to hear the words they heard from
Jesus in private conversation (Matthew 10:27).
The early Christians
took the words of Christ to heart and soon found themselves in
conflict with the world around them. Though the early Christians
were meek and godly, there was nothing silent or subdued about their life. It
was their spirit of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance which shouted loudly in
the face of the world (Galatians 5:22, 23). It was this very spirit
that caused those opposed to Christ to scream at God�s people, cover
their ears, and seek to kill them (Acts 7:57). The early Christians
did not keep the work of the Lamb of God quiet in either their character or
conversation.
In contrast to the early Christians, there is a
silence of the Lamb in our culture today.
Th
i've taught this concept over the years, it did not strike me
as it did recently. In August 2008 I stepped down from my position
as a pastorï of a denomination and began to gather with my
family in our home. For the past four months the
denominational lifestyle was no longer part
of my life...and that was when I realized how silent the voice of
Christ is in our world today. In December I expressed my utter
amazement to my wife of this silence of the Lamb. I would never know that the church existed if it
weren't for the bake sales, church ads, and buildings announcing
some special event to attract people inside their walls. I
have yet seen or met anyone who is proclaiming the gospel or
distributing gospel tracts in the daily activities of life. Instead of
going into all the world
the denominations appears to have retreated to their own little world within
their four denominational walls relating to the world with fundraising for their next in-house project, instead of proclaiming the gospel.
Are we to relate to the world with fundraising and special events or
with the gospel of Jesus Christ?
Imagine the impact
within a community if the denominations broke their silence with the
world? Imagine that, instead of having a denomination on every corner
there would be a church in every work place, in every home, in
every trip to the grocer, in every convenience store, in every city council,
in every wherever you are. Imagine the impact denominations could have if
they took Christ outside their four
walls. I am afraid, to do that, we would have to destroy the
buildings, and then most people wouldn't know how to be the church
because there weren't four walls. We have lost the concept in
thought and practice that each individual Christian is the church,
not the buildings or the gathering of people.
Imagine this
scene: The Captain of a fire department told his men that men, women, and children
are in grave danger and they must go and rescue them.
Instead of going to help, the men remain in the fire hall to praise and worship the
goodness and compassion of their captain. Isn�t this how it is with
today's denominations, preferring to praise and worship the Captain of
their soul inside four walls instead of obeying his command to go
outside and save the perishing? Let's make this plain: souls
are perishing as we praise and worship the Captain of our soul�there
is something wrong with this picture.
In the last of the last
days deception will be so great that even the strongest of God�s
people will be tempted to compromise their faith in Christ (Mark
13:22). Revelation 2 and 3 is a picture of a deceived and
compromised church. Read these messages. Hear their message. Take
action to overcome, perhaps, your own compromise.
As we continue into the year 2009, make this your year to live determined and diligent
for Christ proclaiming
him to all the world. The time is short. The door to the
gospel may soon be closed. Let us redeem the time and
determine to be about the Father's business regardless of what it
might cost. God is in control of life and death...you are
in control of whether you go out your denominational doors or remain
inside warming the pews.
May God bless you and your efforts in keeping
a clear, loud voice wherever you are and in whatever you do.
With Prayer,
Steve
"The
time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and
believe the gospel." Mark 1:15
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