A Dead Church

A Dead Church

I have posted a host of questions and advanced numerous scenarios in my attempt to understand this thing called the organized and proliferated church.  There is a problem with that which is and that which is not, the word church is used to describe both.  The problem is not with the intent of the scripture; the problem is in the use of the English words to interpret the scripture.   A simple analogy, if I defined shoes as footwear, then boots and sneaker would be shoes.   Because of the need to separate that that is and that which is not, it is necessary to use such designators as the visible and invisible church.  In some instances, I have referred to the church as the "organized church", because this was a thing that Jesus hated.

It has been the intent of the Devil to dominate the church from the day of conception, the same as it was his plan to dominate man from the day of creation.  For reasons we shall not delve into, he chose Eve to put his infamous plan of divide and conquer into action.  The church conception was that of a spiritual entity that existed within the heart, thus creating a strange paradox.   For the Devil to attack the church, it was necessary to recreate the church as a natural body.   If the Devil were to enter the secret chambers of the heart in search of the church, he would not be able to find it, therein is the paradox.  The Holy Spirit is the protector of the church, and both exist within the heart.  The Devil and the Holy Spirit do not enjoy a shared existence.   If we allow the devil to take up residence in our Heart, the Holy Spirit and the church is long gone before The Devil moves in, thus an interesting paradox.  The Devil cannot destroy the church.

Thus, Jesus, speaking of the spiritual church, proclaimed that the gates of Hell would not be able to stand against the church.  To circumvent this proclamation and to achieve it ends, the Devil realized the necessity of recreating the church or assembly as a natural, organized and most importantly a corruptible body.  It is the opposite of Christ church.   Christ's church is invisible; the devil's church is visible.

The road to the domination of a church or the church as an organized earthly body began with making false claims in the name of God.  Like the rock star of the sixties who proclaimed that, “God is dead”, church leaders began to preface their message with, “God spoke to me.”  In the face of such stunning proclamation, there was no questioning the validity of the message, as the church marched down the wide road of emotional bliss.

The organized church that exists as an earthly entity is attempting to overshadow the spiritual church that exists within our heart and serves a definite purpose within the home, community, and the world.    Many leaders of these finely organized churches have opted for money, fame and are operating as well-paid motivational speakers; they have become guilty of manipulating and perverting the word of God. The church never was about making money or lording over God's people. The church was a refuge from the storm. The church is supposed to help us be ready as we prepare for the coming of the bridegroom.  The question that we need to address is, do we believe in God, or are we just play-acting?

There is a failure or disconnect between the organized church and the emerging generation. The church, the Bible and even the God of Abraham no longer hold the sacred place that they once enjoyed. The fault is not the new translations that are emerging.  The different interpretation of the Word of God is causing confusion in the community of faith. It is easy to see why those who are, "of the world," as Jesus would say, find it hard to believe the message of the church today.  Many who attend church on a weekly schedule are finding the polluted messages hard to believe.

Why has the Church erased the true gospel that saves perfectly from sin, and in its place, created another gospel without any power at all?  The fail church has transformed the gospel, and God into a money machine. Making money to provide for one's well-being and salvation is two separate entities that exist on two extremely different planes, one is natural, and the other is spiritual.  When we mix the natural with the spiritual, we are committing spiritual fornication.

New doctrines and new leaders are emerging, and the visible churches are lifting them up the same as the Children of Israel lifted up the golden calf.  Casting aside, the ancient end-time prophecies of Daniel and Revelation, men and women of piety with impressive titles before and after their name are now debating the relevance of God in modern society.  As the new day dawns, humanity embraces a new and politically correct deity

The message of salvation has changed into a message of deliverance.  God is delivering his people from all types of adversities.   The unscrupulous make promises of healing, deliverance, and financial blessings to draw people into a cult type relationship.   Often our eagerness to hear God speak causes us to step outside of the sheepfold allowing our ears to attune to the voice of the Devil.   Maybe the message should be, “God has already spoken.”

Now, it is not acceptable to talk about false claims made in God name because the God of our salvation is capable of performing all acts.  God is redistributing wealth, buying cars and providing all of the necessities of life.  The acceptance of this conclusion, allow us to depend on God for deliverance in every situation.  Daniel wrote; “If it (be) so, our God whom we serve (is able) to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king” (Daniel 3:17).   Paul wrote to all of the saints in Christ Jesus which was at Philippi.   “ For unto (you)(it) (is) given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him but also to suffer for his sake;”(Philippians 1:29).  Paul, whose life was a true example of suffering was writing and offer consolation to the church who was enduring persecution.  "Thou, therefore, endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ" (2nd Timothy 2:3).  "Yea and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2nd Timothy 3:12).

The Church in Pergamum depicts the Era of Church-State Union (A.D. 312–590).  It denotes a visible church that began to organize itself under guidelines set forth by the State.  State acceptance and control of the church was now becoming a reality

Who was Balaam?  What was his claim to fame in the Word of God?  Numbers 22-23 detail the story of a man of God, whose focus was on the money.  Peter spoke of the leaders, “Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;” (2nd Peter 2:15).  "Woe unto them, for they have gone in the way of Cain and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core" (Jude 1:11).

Many leaders claimed to have the knowledge of Christ, but their motives are contrary to the teaching of Christ.  False claims became an indisputable road to power in an organized earthly church.  It was necessary because the church as a spiritual body offered no earthly enhancements of life.  Jesus often spoke of the suffering one must endure to follow him.  False claims or twisted the Word of God to deceive is a concept that has been in practice from the beginning of time.  In the garden, the Devil convinces the created that they could be like the creator by explaining what God meant.  Imagine a church whose message was to prepare its members to suffer, with all of the suffering going on in the world; people would run from the church.

In the early days of the church, the people came together, without any preconceived idea or notion of a blessing, their purpose was to search the scripture in the hope of obtaining everlasting life.  Whether they worked as a successful angler or had great wealth, they were aware that, "I am going to leave this place and leave this entire operation behind".  Jesus posed the question; “For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his (own) soul?   Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26).  Their joy and emotionally stimulate derived from remembering and reflecting on the promises that Jesus made.   "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2).  "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). "For (he) that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting" (Galatians 6:8).

"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, (that shall) he speak: and he will show you things to come" (John 16:13).  

In this final age when God is silent and after being rejected, Jesus returned to the right hand of his father.  The only thing that is standing between humanity and judgment in this final age and dispensation is the Holy Spirit within the heart of humankind, pleading and struggling to bring humanity into the way of truth.  If you were to read the Bible as the unfolding history of God’s interaction with his creation, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide you into the way of truth, this would be the inspired conclusion.  If it is your desire to establish a conduit of control and manipulation, then you will overlook ages and dispensations and use the Word of God to create a cure-all for the common ills of humanity.  In doing so, we create a sellable product; we also create an impotent god whose derive power from those blinded by the glitter.  The same as we create “stars” whose value is of an irreverent nature, whose purpose is to entertain. Entertainment is a sellable product, and the visible church has now become dominated by entertainers.

Visualize a church without walls, a church without denominational restrictions.  Visualize a church whose sole purpose is the spiritual enlightenment and empowerment of its members.   The church that Jesus founded ruled over by a mere man; how profane when Jesus referred to himself as being a servant.  What the visible church has become was what the spiritual church was never intended to be.  If asked the question, what is the church?  The researched and studied answer should be, the church is a spiritual body, referred to as the bride of Christ.  Many noted theologians agree that the blood of Christ has purchased the church. Therefore, it is infallible.  This grand ideology as Jesus spoke of the gates of Hell not being able to stand against the church, but there is a “but” included here for Jesus himself condemned what the visible church had become and issued threats against the visible corruptible church

Is the church of today a conduit to salvation?  This question screams for an answer if the church wishes to regain its relevancy. 

Abusing the Role of Leadership, Part #2

Abusing the role of leadership Part #1 

"Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you" (Hebrews 13:17).

Enterprising preachers use this verse to establish a domain, power base, and denomination within the religious community.  The scripture does not support this ideology.  The interpretation of the Word of God based upon our perspective is often subject to error, especially when we use it to bend the will of the people for self-promotion. Understanding the Word of God teaches us that the perspective must always be that of the author.  When we surgically removed Bible verses from their supporting scripture and presented as a complete thought, the context and perspective greatly suffer.

What does the scripture mean when it says, "Obey them that have the rule over you?  First, those who desire to establish a power base and Lord over the church should not attempt to interpret this scripture.  Second, the reference here is to the religious teachers, and not to civil rulers. The church was to show them proper respect and submit to the authority in the church, by the precepts of the Savior.

The obligation to obey does not extend to anything which is wrong in itself, or which would be a violation of one's conscience. The doctrine is that subordination is necessary to the welfare of the church and that there ought to be a disposition to yield all proper obedience to those who are over us in the Lord.

Also, submit yourselves, that is, to all, which they enjoin that is lawful and right. There are, about society,

(1.)  We must always obey those things that God positively commanded.

(2.) Many things which have been agreed on by the community or church as needful for its welfare--and these are to be submitted to unless they violate the rights of conscience; and,

(3.) Which there is no expressed Divine command and of no formal enactment by the church or community. They are matters of convenience; things that tend to the order and harmony of the church or community, and of the propriety of these, "rulers" in the church or community and elsewhere should be allowed to judge, and we should submit to them patiently. Hence, in the church, we are to submit to all the proper regulations for conducting public worship; for the promotion of religion; and for the administration of discipline.

For they watch for your souls. They have no selfish aim in this. They do not seek "to lord it over God's heritage." It is for your own good that they do this.  The church should submit to these arrangements, but, those selected to serve should not abuse this authority.   Their service should be in such a way as to promote the salvation of the people, and all the arrangements should be to that end. The measures adopted, therefore, and the obedience enjoined, should not be arbitrary, oppressive, or severe.  It should be such as will promote unity within the church and salvation. 

Pastors often seek to impose their will on the church under the guise of a new message from God.   The path that many appointed or elected leaders follow leads to division within the Church and community and cause the believability of God to suffer.  

In Paul's time, the elders retained the rulership of the churches.   Elders of the church did not necessarily denote members of the clergy.  During the early church years, the church was an intricate part of the community, not a building or assembly set aside by a particular denomination or preacher.  Therefore, church rulers were members of the community, and they ministered to the needs of the community through the church.   

The interpretation of the scripture to suppress the people of God and bring them into bondage is not according to the will of God (Galatians 2:4).  Often our resolve to question the wolves who come to us in sheep clothes with a credential is tempered by the indoctrinated belief that whatsoever or whosoever proclaim to be of God is of God.  1^st John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.   The scripture teaches us how to treat the messengers of God; it also teaches us how to test those wolves that come in sheep clothes.

New leaders are emerging overrunning the church and community.  The emergence of these leaders or the proliferation of the role of leadership has created a divided platform.   This platform needs to be reconciled for the organized church to regain its once held status.  Many communities and church leaders' objectives are to stir up a type of dissension or hatred necessary for establishing a different base. The aim is to enhance their self-proclaimed position. 

How can the organized church, a fragment body, a divided house reconcile itself through the fragmentation that it has suffered for more than one thousand years?  How will this be reconciled within the Kingdom of God?  Maybe there are other guidelines in place that determine who is saved and who is not. Is it possible that much of the doctrines will have no value in the Kingdom of God?  These are the issues that the organized church and its array of leaders must resolve to maintain the light that Jesus threatens to remove from the church.

The desire to stand out, the desire to be a superstar, the desire to be in charge is the driving force behind many new denominations and ministers entering into the vineyard of Christ.  To make such statements is opening myself up to criticism, but there is an urgent need for the telling of the truth.  Hiding behind scriptures out of context and making false claims on God has placed the church in a tenuous position.  To sustain itself in a blatant attempt to remain relevant, that which is a part of the world is acceptable to the church, not for edifying God, but for attracting more people to the church as a place of entertainment.  Modern day churches are seeking to merge worship, workshops, and entertainment, and there are those who are good at this, they are reaping the benefits of Christ church while Jesus is left standing at the door knocking.  How profane.

Abusing the Role of Leadership

If we are serious about the Church as the body of Christ, then there are questions to which we should demand answers.   Among them are why there are so many different churches and different leaders?  The reconciliation of these matters is necessary if the emerging generation is to maintain a belief in the church and the Kingdom of God.  Failure to address these issues is detrimental to the true concept of the church.

Our leaders are leading us on a path either toward the Kingdom or down a road of deception.  Jesus ministry focused on the coming of the Kingdom The focus of today's ministry is to lead us through a life of prosperity and blessings as the organized church competes with our institutes of higher learning and entertainment venues.   The failure of the organized church to address spiritual issues and police it leadership roster is aiding its digression into an irrelevant religious order.

The emerging of new leaders is common in the arena of human affairs, specifically, political, ethnic groups, religion, and communities.  Many of these new leaders serve no purpose other than attempting to manipulate the masses and to further their personal objective.  The creation of new titles and the resurrection of others appear to be a part of an overall scheme in the glorification of man.  Given the gift to speak or sing, and with the right initiative, a person can rise to a high level of power and glorification within the world, community, and organized church.  

What are the qualifications of a leader of a church?  Can we validate the calling?  In many of the denominational churches, it is possible to obtained credentials by simply saying, God has called you to the ministry."   These invalidated claims in many instances are nothing but a desire to be a person of interest and the desire for power.   There is a certain respectability obtain by claiming to be a minister. 

Those of us who are enduring a type of suffering harbor a level of gullibility; we look for that Moses-type to appear and lead us into the promised land.  We quickly succumb to the antics and rhetoric of the actors, the sports players the rock stars, the motivational speakers, the gospel singers, we place them on pedestals, we worship them and call them leaders.   The direction that they are leading us is irrelevant as long as these leaders possess the charisma of an enlightened soul.

"So hast (thou also), them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate" (Revelation 2:15).  Jesus spoke of his hatred for those that came into the church for establishing rulership over God's people.  Was it the temptation of money and power that caused the church organize and succumb to the rule of leadership?  Why is a level of salvation derived from collecting funds from a community and funneling it to groups outside of the community?  Why have the Saints of God emerged into an arena where the blessing of God is determined by the amount of money given?  Why are the programs always about raising money?  Even those programs touted as revivals; their success is determined by the sum of money collected.    Questions, questions, there are more questions than answers.

     

There is a type of sadness and suffering emulating from the household of faith.  Church members are suffering and dying, same as they did in the early days of the church.  The syrupy messages of sunshine and favor no longer hold sway as they once did.   The catchphrases such as, "come and get your blessing" or "get your healing" is losing their drawing power.  The realization of the manipulation has begun to set in, and the younger generation is turning their backs on this marketing ploy. 

The pomp and pageantry of idolatry injected into many of our worship settings allow men and women to adorn themselves in manners that separate themselves from the rest of the assembly.  Does this level of separation define their level of Godliness?  The organized church has become a place where fancy titles and "the God complex" is nurtured.

Let us revisit what Jesus had to say about clamoring for a title or position.   "But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren" (Matthew 23:8). 

Jesus forbade his disciples to seek such titles of distinction. The reason he gave was that he was himself was their Master and Teacher. They were on a level; they were to be equal in authority; as brethren, and they should neither covet nor receive a title either which implied an elevation of one above another, or which appeared to infringe on the absolute right of the Savior to be their only Teacher and Master. The command here is an express command to his disciples not to receive such a title of distinction. They were not to covet it; they were not to seek it; they were not to do anything that implied a wish or willingness to have these titles appended to their names. Everything, which would tend to make a distinction between them, or destroy their equality, everything that would lead the world to suppose that there were ranks and grades among them as ministers, they were to avoid. 

The command is that they were not to receive the title. "Be not ye called Rabbi." The Savior did not forbid them giving the title to others when it was customary or not regarded as improper, (Acts 26:25 ;) but they were not to receive it. It was to be unknown to them. This title corresponds to the title "Doctor of Divinity," as applied to ministers of the gospel; and so far as I can see, the spirit of the Savior's command is violated by the reception of such a title, as it would have been by their being called Rabbi. It is a literary distinction. It does not appropriately pertain to the office. It makes a distinction between ministers.  An impressive title tends to engender pride and a sense of superiority in those who obtain it.    Lack of an impressive title creates envy and a sense of inferiority, and the whole spirit and tendency of it are contrary to the "simplicity that is in Christ".  The acceptance and use of these titles within the ministry involve a degree of pride.

The scribes and Pharisees explained the Law of Moses and enforced obedience to it. They were guilty of hypocrisy in religion. We can only judge according to outward appearance, but God searches the heart. They made phylacteries. These were scrolls of paper or parchment, wherein were written four paragraphs of the law, to be worn on their foreheads and left arms, (Exodus 13:2-10, 11-16; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; 11:13-21).  They made the phylacteries broad so they would look upon as being more zealous for the law than others are.  God appointed the Jews to make fringes upon their garments, (Numbers 15:38), to remind them of their being a peculiar people; but the Pharisees made them larger than common as if they were thereby more religious than others.

Pride was the darling, reigning sin of the Pharisees, the sin that most easily beset them, and which our Lord Jesus takes all occasions to speak against it.  Jesus taught us that giving respect to them that are teachers are commendable; but for them, that teaches, to demand it, to be puffed up, is sinful.  How much is all this against the spirit of Christianity!   Put in chief places upset the consistent disciple of Christ, but to look around in the visible church, one would think this was what the spirit required.  It is plain that some measure of this anti-Christian spirit prevails in every religious society. 

The desire to be president, the desire to be a Bishop, a pastor or ruler is intoxicating.   Driven by desire alone men and women have ascribed to high positions.  Often lacking the ability to lead they set themselves up as leaders.   The capacity to be a leader is often lacking, but the validation is, "whom God calls, he qualifies."  The qualifying of many is long overdue.  After listening to some messengers, one can easily get the impression that God is slow, or he isn't listening anymore.

In many churches, pastor worship has overshadowed the actual worship of God.  The fear of the pastor has replaced the fear of God.  A proper reading of the Scripture will not support the thesis of some man ruling over Christ Church. 

A pastor assigned to a (community built) church, by a state Bishop, proclaimed that God had sent him there, and he had the mandate to act as he saw fit.  The death of the last founding deacon and a younger deacon took on a strange interpretation.   Visiting pastors began to buy into this bizarre interpretation.  God move these people out of the way so he could have full control of the church.  How this would resonate within the community was of little regard as he sought to entrench himself within all of the affairs of the church.  He threatened other members with the same fate if they did not support his level of incompetence.  How profane.  A classic textbook example of abusing the role of leadership.  

The desire to be a leader, even the proclamation of being a leader does not make one a leader.   The desire to be a shepherd, even armed with the proper credentials does not make one a pastor.  Using the scripture to validate, 'whom God calls he qualifies', is a moot point when the calling is in doubt or none existence.  Even for the Bishop, there are guidelines set forth.   "For a Bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre" (Titus 1:7).   Casting aside these guidelines, more and more people began to enjoy the title of Bishops and claim they are prophets of God as they follow after filthy lucre. 

Jesus, as well as Paul, expressed their dread of false prophets, "For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders (witchcraft), to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect" (Mark 13:22).  "And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus that they might bring us into bondage:" (Galatians 2:4).  In the simplest terms, both Jesus and Paul are saying, beware of those who will come in using witchcraft and abusing the role of leadership.  Their objective is to make merchandise of you.


In the formative years, the church was concerned about serving Christ through their service to humanity.  The church members were concern about other church members within the community. The church of today is working the entertainment programs, collecting money, and honoring the pastor.  The amount of support a suffering soul receives from attending many services is equivalent to watching a football game.