A recent post on Facebook by a friend of mine got me to thinking.. Is the local church a necessary facet of Christian life? Or are we to experience God, His Word, and His people on OUR own terms? Of course the answer is YES! The local church is indeed necessary. We partake and contribute to it because of simple obedience; the Bible tells us to. While this of course seems like an obvious answer, you would be surprised how many "believers" casually ignore the instruction manual written by the very God whom they claim to believe in! How ridiculous!
It saddens me when people claim to follow God, yet they refuse His divine Book! The very Bible they use to prove Jesus is God also instructs them toward particular obedience, and for good reason.
Can we label ourselves as Christians, yet all the while openly neglecting Christ Jesus and His Word? There can be no CHRISTian without CHRIST! And if we truly do love Him, we will obey him - it's an automatic response (Jn 14:15; 1 Jn 5:2-3; Lk 6:46).
"And this is love, that we walk after His commandments..." (2 Jn 6).
A heart of true love for Jesus will ALWAYS be one that lives actively for Jesus. Love and obedience are conjoined twins that cannot be separated. We do not desire to live in blatant sin; our spirits have been awakened and joined to One better! When we fall, we get back up immediately. You see, the most solid proof you can give of your attachment to and affection for Jesus is to keep His commandments. Mere lip service is never evidence of one's true colors.
Too many self-professed believers casually ignore the obvious patten of fellowship set forth in Scripture. They then use a form of "pseudo New Covenant freedom" to justify their blatant disobedience. "I am the church; I can experience God anywhere", they claim. While this is true, we should never use such liberty as an occasion for the flesh to survive, and our bitterness to flourish (Gal 5:13)! There is no perfect church, unfortunately. But we should never use the abuses that we see as motive to deter us from simple obedience.
The Bible presents the local fellowship as a pattern established by God: Heb 10:25; Matt 18:20; Acts 1:13-14; 2:42, 46; 13:1; 14:23; 20:7; Rom 16:1; 5; 1 Cor 1:2; 5:4; 1 Cor 11:18-20; 14:23; 2 Cor 1:1; Eph 4:11-16; 1 Tim 4:13; 1 Thess 1:1; 2 Thess 1:1; Jas 5:14; Rev 2:1; etc.
One writer has said that "any idea...of enjoying salvation or being a Christian in isolation is foreign to the New Testament writings" (Stibbs, God's Church, p. 92).
Clearly, for the early church, regular gathering was a part of life! From the preceding verses, we can see the obvious Biblical pattern of organized fellowship. While we can of course experience God anywhere, He has instituted the local church body nonetheless. He has done so for good reason. Upon salvation, we enter into a relationship with God (1 Cor 1:9), but ALSO with other believers (1 Jn 1:3; Eph 4:11). Why should we neglect something so precious?
In fact, those who neglect a local body are said to be "sensual, having not the Spirit" (Jude 19).
So why are we encouraged to partake of a local fellowship? Why should we take heed to the Biblical example (apart from simple obedience)? What benefit is there in being a part of a local church body? The benefits are innumerable!
1. A local fellowship is a place where real growth and edification occurs, via the use of spiritual gifts. Peter instructs us to corporately minister our individual gifts, as good stewards (1 Pet 4:10).
2. A local fellowship is a place where mutual ministry can occur. Paul tells us that we are a "body", and all are in need of one another (1 Cor 12:21). "Lone Ranger" Christians are an insult to the pattern already established, and they often do more damage than good. We are to comfort one another (1 Thess 4:18), build up one another (1 Thess 5:11), confess our sins to one another (Jas 5:16), pray for one another (Jas 5:16), etc. How can we obey these directives if we stay away from the gathering of believers? As I said, genuine Christianity births a desire for reckless obedience!
3. A local fellowship is a place of accountability. God designed the church as a place where spiritual leaders could watch out for our welfare, as a shepherd guards the sheep (1 Pet 5:1-4; Heb 13:17). A Christian who answers only to himself can easily rationalize sinful attitudes or actions; regular contact with other Christians can keep us sharp. Being a "bed-side Baptist" or attending the "Chapel of the tube" will obviously frustrate one's potential in God. Attending church on the Internet is not sufficient! Genuine face-to-face fellowship exposes sin, and catalyzes real growth. We should desire such purging processes (Jn 3:30). If we do not desire these things, then we're in trouble!
2 Samuel 7:10 "Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime..."
To Be Continued ...
No comments:
Post a Comment