If the Bible's so great, why don't the churches of today look like the church of the New Testament? |
It seems as if the Scriptural order of the Church is widely rejected by religious people. There are several reasons. First, any precept of God is spiritual in nature. Spiritual things must be revealed. They are not reasoned out. Even the Scripture says that spiritual things must be spiritually discerned. How can someone walk according to something they can't understand. Every Christian should be in constant prayer for God's continual unfolding revelation. There are things that God would love to reveal to each of us, but we have not yet become alive enough to God that we can receive them. We all walk at a much lower level than God intends. Jesus bought a lot for us on Calvary, which we have not yet been able to receive. May we continue to learn how to yield to the Spirit of God. Sometimes, a Christian may see God's order in Scripture, and God may begin to reveal the meaning and application, but tradition and the pressure of organizations prevent the Christian from obeying God in the matter. When we disobey God, our senses become dull. Once a person has failed to follow the leading of God, that person may make up a different way or try to explain away the Scripture. Often, theologies about God and the Scripture will keep us from moving forward with God. We have been brainwashed by theology. It doesn't take much leaven to leaven the dough. Speculation and rationalization take place without our conscious effort. This theology becomes a veil in front of our eyes so that we can't understand Scripture just as it did of the religious people in the days of Christ's incarnation. The Scriptural order has very little for the flesh. The lure of money, power, and prestige may keep a person from receiving the revelation of God. There is also the natural human tendency to want to do what we want to do. The flesh does not want to be led by God and is very deceptive. It cannot be emphasized enough that Jesus paid the price for much more than just our being saved and remaining in rebellion against God. He means to transfigure us by renewing our minds. The Church plays a central role. These are not laws or rules. The ability to follow the Scriptural principles is the outgrowth of being born again and walking in the Spirit of God. People, even though they are Christians, do not want to be led by the Spirit of God. There is much for the Church to walk into, much that Jesus died for on the cross, but to receive what Jesus has for us requires that we let go of our own ways. This is how we were born again, and this is how we will receive the fullness of what God has for us. As with everything that God has given, this must be revealed to every person. Many just don't have ears to hear and a heart to understand. There are many who have been obedient to the restoration of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. There is that which started at Sharon Schools, and this is not exclusive to Sharon Schools. There may be others who have experienced the same restoration. There are many folds now and one Shepherd, Jesus, but there will come a day when there will be one Shepherd and one fold. Unity is coming, but it will come in God's timing and in His way, not through ecumenical movements and human efforts. We know that this unfolding is counterfeited. Every gift of God, including salvation, is counterfeited. By their fruits shall you know them. The Scriptural order is very plain. The counterfeits: There are many instances where authority is claimed but a man or an organization is glorified. Anyone would know that this is not from God. A friend of mine went to a seminar where anyone who wanted it could purchase the right to be a "five-fold ministry." Anyone would know that this is not from God. There is a group that saw, in Scripture, that there has to be apostles in the Church. They didn't see any, so they decided to be the apostles. Anyone would know that this is not from God. There are groups of apostles that function under a one-man ministry. Anyone would know that this is not from God. There are those who are called apostles but are not under the headship of all the other apostles. They desire to be maverick. Anyone would know that this is not from God. Some have thought that there should be apostles under the headship of a local pastor. Anyone would know that this is not from God. Author/Compiler Last updated: Sep, 2011 Bread Crumbs Main Foundations Home Meaning Bible Dictionary History Toons & Vids Quotations Similar
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