Church Shopping Anyone?
What SHOULD you look for in a church?
Maybe you have left one behind and now what? Maybe you are new to Christianity and now faced with a dilemma of which of the long list of churches advertised in the phone book to attend.
Maybe the church you were part of split, fell into immorality, or was just "dead and dry".
Maybe you are spiritualy stagnant and tired of the "next exciting thing we are doing" as the church goes around in circles adding a new family here, losing another family there.
What determines a “good” church? Is it good music, contemporary worship, a church where that is "comfortable", non-judgmental, friendly people, a nice charismatic pastor, adult programs, kids programs, good Bible teaching, Spiritual gifts, a good youth group?
How about friendly people, a place where you can meet successful business men, a pastor with impressive credentials and a degree, a nice clean, attractive building, or one that doesn't ask for money?
Does it really just mean to go inside a building on Sunday for some songs, announcements, passing the plate, and a sermon?
If you think in terms of Institutional Churchianity it might be so. But if you stop for a moment and try to think OUTSIDE THE BOX of what and where "assembling" is, then you might be on the way to understanding what we see may not be what it is.
Do you realize that for most of our lives we were all conditioned to think of a church as a building where services are held?
Although that was somewhat true in the Old Testament with the temple in Jerusalem, the building of synagogues" was also a common practice at the time of Christ.
Do you know there was no command or instruction under the Old Covenant to build synagogues, in fact, it may have been another manmade attempt at going beyond "that which was written in the law of the LORD".
It even appears the tradition of the Sabbath assembly in a synagogue was established and became an institution.
In my opinion, the synagogue system was one of the symptoms of ancient Israel's apostasy as there was no instruction given in the Old Covenant for them to build them. The structure of the synagogue gave rise to "one man show" in the personage of "the ruler of the synagogue".
There is nothing inherently evil about the building structure itself, but it has become of false substitute for what God said the NT temple really is.
The New Testament Church of Scripture
Although the believers of the early church should be our role models, very, very, very, few people ever think to look first at the Acts of the apostles to observe what the church looked like.
I GUARANTEE you the typical church service has NO EXAMPLE in the Book of Acts! Shocked? Disagree? -help me by showing us "service" consisting of 3-4 songs, passing the offering plate, a "special song", and a sermon in the New Testament... That's right, no programmed schedule, format, or service order. No mass. Not even a communion of a cracker and a thimble.
Don't you think these descriptions of the early church are far more important than the music, kids programs, building, and a smiling pastor?
1. Belief and faith in Jesus Christ according to actual scripture:
Jn 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, from within him shall flow rivers of living water.
Acts 16:31 "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved and your house"
Praise the Lord!, we can fill the building with folks that say they believe in Jesus. So far, so good...
2. Repentence would be preached.
Remission or forgiveness of sins would be preached in the name of Jesus. The first time the gospel was preached was in Acts 2:38 Peter included repententance and baptism for the remission of sins. Repentance? hmmm, the road just narrowed. REAL repentence means real change and turning away from sin.
WHOOPS! You mean God says we must STOP sinning? "Except you repent, you shall all likewise perish" -Luke 13:3
3. Baptism (full immersion) would be practiced:
Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned.
The church obeyed this comand: Acts 2:38, Acts 8:16, Acts 10:48, Acts 19:5, Acts 22:16
4. Signs would accompany believers, these are the most commonly reported to us from scripture:. What are some of the "signs" Jesus said would follow the BELIEVERS?
Mark 16:17 And these signs shall accompany them that believe: in my name shall they cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall in no wise hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Here are some fulfillments:
a. casting out of demons: Acts 5:16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one. Acts 8:7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
b. speaking with tongues as Jesus said: Acts 2:4, Acts 10:48, Acts 19:6. The church at Jerusalem, the church at Ephesus, The Church at Corinth, all the apostles, the church at Caesaria, the apostle Paul, ALL the other apostles, and even Mary the mother of Jesus are listed among the believers of scripture who all spoke in tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
c. healing: Luke 9:2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. Mark 3:15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils: Acts 8:7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. Acts 28:9 So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed: 1 Corinthians 12:9 to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
5. They were baptized with, and filled with the Holy Spirit:
John 7:39 But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believed on him were to receive: for the Spirit was not yet given; because Jesus was not yet glorified.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
The early church walked in this promise of Spirit filled power: Acts 2:1-4, Acts 2:38, Acts 8:15-16-17, Acts 10:44-48, Acts 19:2-6.
6. The Word OF GOD was preached with the power and demonstration of the Spirit:
Mark 16:19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken unto them, was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs that followed.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Acts 6:8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. Acts 4:33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
1 Cor 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: (5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
7. When the saints gathered themselves, no one office of ministry was elevated above the rest
as Jesus instructed in Mat. 20:25
But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 Not so shall it be among you: but whosoever would become great among you shall be your minister; 27 and whosoever would be first among you shall be your servant:
Eph. 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.
NO ONE IN THE CHURCH HAD A FORMAL TITLE No "Pastor Sam or Susie", No "Bishop Jones", no "Prophet Smith", no "Doctor ", no Elder Moore", no Apostle Thomas".....
The ones in the Bible were humble, unpaid servants of God that did not exalt themselves.
Those men should be our role models.
8. Holiness and death to self and selfishness.
When we realize very few modern assemblies even come close to this rudimentary model of the church Jesus desired, and that the modern, fragmented, competitive, program driven church world will NEVER recover itself from where it is fallen, it should be no wonder God is calling His people OUT of the church mess around us.
The church is not about building bigger barns, it should be a place where holiness and righteousness are taught and modeled.
Twice in Acts, it is said "and they had all things in common", -there was unselfishness and no one heaping up treasures for themselves.
Acts 4:32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
And Paul reminded the churches of the principle of sharing: 2 Corinthians 8:14 But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:
How many homes, jets, or BMW's does a preacher need? Do you know the scripture says the covetous are to be dis-fellowshipped and they will not inherit the kingdom of God?
So if because of tradition or desire for fellowship you find yourself in a building called a "church", and it is not walking in the power and authority of scripture, the truth is you ARE in a babylonish church.
The majority of Christians in the Bible assembled in homes save for the occasional synagogue where a majority heard and believed the gospel. Not only that, it is solidly evident that ALL of the early disciples came out of the establishment religion of their day, even though the majority all called themselves believers in God and the Bible.
God is restoring His Bride outside the camp of Institutional Christianity. cartoon by cody stromberg 2010
