Have you noticed that nowadays churches seem to be about everything but being churches? Let’s see …
We
have so called churches with gymnasiums, swimming pools, restaurants,
bowling alleys, day care, schools, gift shops, etc. in them.
We have churches preoccupied with teaching everything from yoga to belly dancing. Here in Wichita we had a fellow trying to start a church inside of a strip club… with other local preachers trying to justify said behavior.
I was recently having a discussion with another local preacher about the "church" meeting in a strip club while making the observation that, “This entire approach to things is absurd!” He responded by saying, “Well, I couldn’t do it. You see I have made a covenant with my eyes. But, if he can handle it… then God bless him!”
I must confess that I was stunned. This entire mindset is not some rogue mentality but more and more it is becoming mainstream. When I noted this approach to things to be a work of the devil, a deacon’s wife in a neighboring congregation took issue with me… noting that she was a tender person and to call something the work of the devil was just plain mean! Many have tried to undermine Jesus' leadership over the years calling it “just plain mean.” The leadership of Jesus demands that preachers identify the leavening influence in the churches for what it is. However, there is a problem, more and more preachers in the pulpit are very much like the unbelievers on the street. Preaching, and/or leading, but not truly believing. They tend to go whichever way the wind blows today.
Christianity appears to many people like a bunch of aimless bodies wandering around bumping into each other. Isn’t it a shame that no one seems to know what they aught to be doing as a church, so they just seem to make it up as they go along?
Some folks seem bound and determine to lift the head (Jesus’ head) right off the body. There is a problem with approaching things in this manner… Jesus is either the head, or it’s not His church. The church either focuses on its relationship to Jesus or Jesus isn’t first place in everything. My dad used to say, “if you try to stand for everything, you’ll end up standing for nothing.” There are quite few people that have forgotten this basic truth… and then those same folks wonder why things go haywire in their lives.
We have churches preoccupied with teaching everything from yoga to belly dancing. Here in Wichita we had a fellow trying to start a church inside of a strip club… with other local preachers trying to justify said behavior.
I was recently having a discussion with another local preacher about the "church" meeting in a strip club while making the observation that, “This entire approach to things is absurd!” He responded by saying, “Well, I couldn’t do it. You see I have made a covenant with my eyes. But, if he can handle it… then God bless him!”
I must confess that I was stunned. This entire mindset is not some rogue mentality but more and more it is becoming mainstream. When I noted this approach to things to be a work of the devil, a deacon’s wife in a neighboring congregation took issue with me… noting that she was a tender person and to call something the work of the devil was just plain mean! Many have tried to undermine Jesus' leadership over the years calling it “just plain mean.” The leadership of Jesus demands that preachers identify the leavening influence in the churches for what it is. However, there is a problem, more and more preachers in the pulpit are very much like the unbelievers on the street. Preaching, and/or leading, but not truly believing. They tend to go whichever way the wind blows today.
Christianity appears to many people like a bunch of aimless bodies wandering around bumping into each other. Isn’t it a shame that no one seems to know what they aught to be doing as a church, so they just seem to make it up as they go along?
Some folks seem bound and determine to lift the head (Jesus’ head) right off the body. There is a problem with approaching things in this manner… Jesus is either the head, or it’s not His church. The church either focuses on its relationship to Jesus or Jesus isn’t first place in everything. My dad used to say, “if you try to stand for everything, you’ll end up standing for nothing.” There are quite few people that have forgotten this basic truth… and then those same folks wonder why things go haywire in their lives.
One of our young ladies (Tara Roush) is an artist… this is her rendition of how many churches today appear. Pretty accurate isn’t it? Wandering around with no real sense of direction…
When Paul was explaining the eternal purpose of the church (Ephesians 3:11) to the church at Ephesus he said, “As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all {aspects} into Him who is the head, {even} Christ,” (Ephesians 4:14-15)
So, one of the reasons for the church is so that you won’t be subject to all the whims of this world tossed to and fro. Many churches themselves are wheeling to and fro with the winds of time chasing the latest illusions of wisdom. The Bible provides a “new and living way.” Today it seems old (2000 years) but it remains “new” to the folks who discover it. These other ways are more new fangled or tangled than they are living. New without Jesus… is dead. In this context… a dead end.
Your faith just doesn’t have to be so aimless, you can have direction… Clear direction! Most folks sense that something just has to be wrong with a church being more about entertainment (or raising money) than about going to heaven. They are just not sure where to turn in their Bible to articulate what their common sense tells them.
Kids raised in such an environment do in fact enjoy being entertained, but then they grow up without knowledge and sense that what they see is empty. Godly parents are shocked when their kids come of age and fall away from the church. In your Bible you will find none of that foolishness! “The church” was founded by Jesus Christ. It is based on the fact that He is the son of God.
“And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:16-18)
It is easy to read Jesus’ words too quickly here and believe that Peter was the rock rather than the fact that Jesus is the son of God. However this is not the only passage making this point.
“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (I Corinthians 3:11)
So… Who leads a church, defines a church, or determines what a church should be? For a true believer this question is not hard to answer.
“For by Him all things were created, {both} in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.” (Colossians 1:16-18)
Locally we have been trying to buy our first building. If there was ever a time that we would lose our focus… today is that time. Do we need money? Oh yeh! Have you ever tried to buy a commercial building? The temptation today is very real for all of us. Consider this…
From our pulpit has come no plea for money!
We have sponsored no fund raisers.
No Garage sales or fireworks stands.
No crazy stuff.
When folks come to visit, they will find a spiritual assembly! Our focus remains on respect for scripture and the worship of our Creator. We generally even announce before taking up a collection that we don’t expect the visitors to contribute. Our folks are people… not dollar signs!
For the last year, we have negotiated with sellers, with banks, while everyone has a different idea about what kind of place we should search for but… not once has this spilled out and invaded our worship to God. There is a reason for all of this.
In the Bible, you will find a church that has:
- Preaching; (II Timothy 4:1-5)
- Teaching, (II Timothy 4:1-5)
- Praying, (Acts 2:42)
- A collection (I Corinthians 16:1ff)
- The Lord’s supper (communion) on a weekly basis (I Corinthians 11:23ff),
- Singing to one another and to the Lord (Ephesians 5:19)
- Public reading of scripture(I Timothy 4:13).
We believe that the Bible, therefore Jesus should continue to have the right to lead His own church. No matter what reason or temptation may come our way. Here’s a surprise… We save our kids. Virtually all of them!
At Las Vegas church of Christ.... you will find a church satisfied with being a church.
Put another way… At the Pillar you will find a church satisfied with Jesus Christ!
Are you satisfied with Jesus?
Is your church satisfied with Jesus?
Put another way… At the Pillar you will find a church satisfied with Jesus Christ!
Are you satisfied with Jesus?
Is your church satisfied with Jesus?
Hi I am glad you stopped by our blog. These articles are from an emailing that we did several years ago. Today most of our work is on facebook
You can follow my personal page on Facebook by clicking on this link ...
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If you wish to worship with us....
Las Vegas church of Christ
709 Dora Celeste
Las Vegas, NM 87701
Our meeting times are
10am Sunday morning for Bible study.
11am Sunday morning for the worship service.
6pm Wednesday evening for Midweek Bible study.
If you wish to contact me...
yakipreacher@gmail.com
Be well
Jerry Blount
