Why Go To Church, Part 5

“I go to church to learn God’s Word.” I love this one. You’d better be learning God’s Word when you go to church, but that better not be the only time you’re learning it! It means nothing that you go “every time the doors are open” to learn God’s Word, if that is the only time you’re learning the Word! There are 168 hours in a week, and a lot can and should be accomplished during such a huge chunk of time. Modern American church services, on average, run 2 to 3 a week. Each service is roughly an hour to an hour and a half long. Sunday School is an extra hour, usually on Sunday morning. Therefore, under such logic, modern church attendees will spend at most 5 hours out of 168 a week “at church.” I will no doubt learn something in 5 hours, but not as much as if I spend 10, 15, 20,  or 25 hours studying any subject.

The question, however, is not as much one of time as it is one of content. The depths of God’s Word are unfathomable, and eternity will not plumb those deep recesses. Though this is true, it should not dissuade the believer from digging, uncovering, cataloging, and using the many truths found in the Bible. Yet, what all to often happens within a modern church service is dictatorial. One person lords over many (nicolaitanism by definition – See Revelation 2 and what God thinks about this spiritual disease). The many come into the service and sit to hear the “preacher” speak his ideas about a topic or a passage – 95% of the time it is a topic with scripture scattered about to prove his point. At no time in such preaching services is a member of the congregation allowed to ask any question. He is in other words, not allowed to think, which is modern church’s gravest error. Recently, a friend of mine so eloquently argued that a child raised in a Christian home, who goes to church those 5 hours a week, attends the Church’s Christian School, and graduates at 18 knows about some Bible, but does not know why the Bible is true. Why? Because he’s been taught “do this, don’t do that” for so long, that when he can now make his own choices, he does not know what to do. People have told him what to do for so long that when he becomes an adult, he has no idea why he should do what he was previously told to do. Any subsequent thought against what he was told to believe will now challenge all that he thought he once knew. This now adult man never learned anything. He is useless, because he cannot defend the truth, nor could he recognize error when it comes.

As a teacher (I was one for many years, and grew up in a teacher’s home as both parents were/are teachers), I learned that if I give the most eloquent lecture for 50 minutes on any topic, without allowing my students to ask questions, when it comes to test time, those same students who heard my amazing 50 minute speeches, usually fail or do average at best. Why is that? Should the student have listened better? Taken better notes? Studied harder? Granted, some of that may be true, but mostly, if my students could not ask questions, then I as the teacher would never know how much my students are learning and understanding. If I allowed questions, and even asked questions which sparked discussions, the student would then THINK. Their meditating on my subject is the highest level of learning possible. It cannot be obtained by my just talking at them, but only by my talking with them. This engagement will also keep the student alert, which most pew sitters are not. I’ve spoken in front of many groups small and great. I know when people are alert, and when people are not – any speaker knows – and most “preachers” know they have at most 30 minutes to reach the majority of any congregation. After 30 minutes of unengaged speaking sleep becomes a real problem. But after just 5-15 minutes of unengaged speaking, minds wander. That’s how the brain works. What’s my point, the modern preaching service is flawed! So, are you really learning the Bible optimally?

Immediately after such an assertion comes the common reply, but Christ preached, Paul preached, Peter preached, etc… So, by the “…foolishness of preaching…” (I Cor. 1:21) the Christian learns. My response is check your premises. Search the scriptures whether those things be so (Acts 17:11). Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (II Timothy 2:15). What does I Corinthians really say? In context the passage begins with verse 18.

18For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

19For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

20Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

21For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

22For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

23But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

24But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

26For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

27But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

28And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

29That no flesh should glory in his presence.

30But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

31That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

This discourse explains why preaching should be done – “to save them that believe” according to verse 21. But aren’t those who believe already saved? No. Many believe, but only a few repent. See John 8:30 ff. Many believed on Christ, but none of those who believed continued in His word, none of them repented. See Matthew 7, “Lord, Lord… depart from me ye workers of iniquity…”! Belief is the first part of salvation, it is essential, but preaching does not stop at belief, it continues thru repentance. This passage in context is not talking about a “preacher” standing behind a pulpit (altar) expounding on some topic. This is talking about what every True Believer is to do after repentance, that is to preach or to define it more – witness. I do not need to witness to those within my church, they’re already born again. I need to witness to those without, who must come to repentance or perish. My preaching to the lost crowd is foolishness. If you’ve spent any time witnessing, you will agree that the words spoken from the Bible are not readily accepted or adhered to. They’re mocked, made fun of, and attacked, which illustrates the foolishness aspect. It’s not foolish to me or any True Believer, but to the world. Yes, Christ, Paul, Peter, and others preached, but they preached to lost people, who needed to be saved. All Christians are to preach, not just one person behind a pulpit a few times a week. In context, this passage is not a support, but an attack against modern church protocol.

In all Bodies of Christ all members are to exhort, encourage, reprove, rebuke, instruct. In so doing, all members learn, and grow. Christ has most certainly created order, but those leaders (elders, pastors, bishops, deacons) are not to lord. See I Peter 5 for further context for how this works.

1The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

 2Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

 3Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

 4And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

 5Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

 6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

Verse 3 is illuminating. Not to be a lord, but an ensample. Example and Ensample are not the same word, nor are they synonyms. Some translations incorrectly use example in ensample’splace. A brief Latin lesson will explain. Ex – means from without or out. En – means from within or in. An ensample therefore means that the elder within the body of Christ is to oversee, teach, feed. Not looking for a job or money, but willingly. Example means from without the body of Christ. I do not want an unsaved person teaching me about Christ – nor could that unsaved person understand Christ, it’s foolishness to him, refer back to I Corinthians 1. In context I Peter 5 shows that the elder teach the younger. I Timothy 5 also mentions that this aspect. Also, Elders are not Pastors! Paul called himself an elder, but was not a pastor. I Timothy talks about women elders, but earlier in the book it is explicit that pastors are to be men (I Timothy 2 and 3). I will not belabor that point in this article. The point is clear, however, younger learn from the elder. Question and discussion aids this better than any other method.

Yes, Christians should learn God’s Word when they assemble. Today, under present culture, is that being done optimally? Just a simple look at results loudly answers no!

Why Go to Church, Part 4

5. “I go to church for fellowship”. Hebrews 10:25 after all does state, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” So, Christians need to meet with other Christians. Yes. But, in fairness, there is much more than the cut out of context Hebrews 10:25 used by most who claim one must “go to church.” Here’s the rest of the thought leading up to verse 25.

¹⁹Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

 ²⁰By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

 ²¹And having an high priest over the house of God;

 ²²Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

 ²³Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

 ²⁴And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

 ²⁵Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

First, this book was written to Hebrews. The main argument developed throughout the book is that Christ is the Hebrew Messiah, and Salvation is through Him alone. He is the Prophet, Priest, and King spoken of throughout the Old Testament. He is the One who fulfills all prophecy. He is the Savior that Israel is seeking. Keeping the overall book context helps keep the reader from confusion.

Jewish religious groups often became sectarian. Unity was a real problem amongst Jews and is still a problem today. True Christianity, however, does not allow for such division. (Denominations today would be/are condemned as Carnal see I Cor. 3 “I am of Paul, I am of Appollos… sounds like I am of Calvin, I am of Luther, I am of Bob Jones… Notice, most Pastors or “religious workers” first question is “Where did you go to school?” What a ridiculous question, which would by the way rule out all New Testament Christians, except for Paul – who was a trained Pharisee!) James warned that wars and fighting comes from ourselves, which is pride. All recognized denominations have some historic record of contention. Some go so far as to postulate that their “church” is the only place in its respective city where God meets. Though there are true believers in many places throughout the world, they can and do freely meet with fellow believers anywhere. Yes, this does reference the universal church, not the Catholic (which means universal) Church, which is full of doctrinal error. The Body of Christ is as local as each member (those who are saved, see Hebrews 10:19-21). It can meet whenever and wherever (cf. Acts 2:46 which shows that believers went from house to house daily, not only on Sunday or Wednesday, they also had a daily visitation program “daily in the Temple” more on all of this later). New Testament believers were commanded to be unified (again Acts 2:46), and if any “leaven” were found therein, that leaven was to be purged. Why? For the sake of unity. (cf. I, II, III John). Today’s “churches” are amazingly disunified. They try to cater to the needs of everyone, which in turn halts the churches purpose, spreading the gospel! In the physical realm an army illustrates this point. An army may have many “divisions” but they are all working together under one leader. If one division wanted to attack one way, and another wanted to attack a different way, those two divisions would cause confusion, and even death. If, they, however, follow their leaders direction and goals, the objective will be met. Our leader is not the sergeant or the general, it’s the King!

If the church were to maintain unity, how could that be done with unbelievers attending? Simple, Biblically speaking, no one “Goes” to church; they become part of it at Salvation. Acts 2:47 illustrates this point, “…Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” The Lord adds members, only He has that authority, and it’s only extended to the SAVED. A saved person cannot be unified with an unsaved person spiritually speaking. Amos states “Can two walk together except they be agreed?” I John mentions that “Light hath no fellowship with darkness.” Yea, I John was written to distinguish between Light and Darkness, so God must expect His true followers to adhere to the “be unified” command. It cannot be done with unsaved sitting next to the saved. Being part of the true church is an exclusive membership only granted by Christ.

With all of this in mind, with whom are Christians to fellowship in church? Other Christians. A common response to this assertion is “how then do the lost get saved?” As with previous posts, so with this… what a lazy statement! Go out and bring them in… Saved, not lost.

What type of fellowship is to be done? Hebrews 10:24 tells the believer to “consider one another…” A believer is to concern himself with other believers (not gossiping or backbiting), to lift them up, to encourage, to exhort, to pray for, to assist, to teach and so on. Basically,  to concern myself with other believers is to humble myself in order to help bare other’s burdens. In so doing, when others hurt me, it will not affect me as much or hopefully at all, because I’ve laid down my life for friends who are part of the same Body.

“…to provoke unto love…” A far cry from what takes place in most churches. But can it be done? Yes, certainly it can be done. Though, it is impossible once churches become too large. There is the modern movement today that churches should be large and “grow” constantly. What is meant by grow is that numbers must get larger, not that members should grow spiritually, or that the body of Christ should grow – which does include numbers, but not necessarily a local church’s numbers. Many Pastors boast, example Jack Schaap or Jack Hyles, that they’ve got large numbers for their churches. (The way such churches accomplish this is rather nefarious, and sends many to Hell - by preaching a repentanceless false-gospel). Programs are done, shops are opened, and the Law is forsaken in these mega-churches. If, per chance, the Law were mentioned as it should be, sin would be condemned, and the unsaved would flee in droves. (Mark 4:16-17 – Stony ground hearers who are offended at the gospel). This is not love, and it does not provoke. Love would warn the lost of a certain Hell and punishment for eternity. Love would tell the lost the way to be saved. Love would tell the lost that Christ died for their sins, and Repent! Not pray this pray so you can get to Heaven, and never deal with sin. My meeting with any true believe, my further fellowship should and does provoke me to witness “…so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

“…good works:” Again, if a “church” does not provoke unto this, it’s a waste of time. If all the church wants is attendance and money, it’s no better than a social club of which you’re paying to be a part. Fellowship with the believers must have a vital impact on everyone. The New Testament Churches vitally needed this, because they were suffering mortal persecution. Without such refreshing fellowship in Christ, which Christ promised, enduring would have been severely difficult.

“…exhorting one another…” We are commanded to judge. “He that is spiritual judgeth all things.” (I Cor. 2:15). This is not a haughty, super-pious, holier-than-thou attitude. This is done in humility “each esteeming others better than themselves” (Philippians 2:3). In so doing, fellow-believers should take humble exhortation to heart. They must do as the Bereans did in Acts 17:11 and search the scriptures whether those things were so. Exhortation is vitally important, and can only be done through proper fellowship. This level of fellowship takes spending a lot of time together. It is not the fellowship done in churches today. It is not the “Hi brother so and so, how are you? How ‘bout them Cubs? Ok, talk to you later” small talk that pervades time before and after services. Fellowship of this magnitude requires knowing the person. It requires much more than the token aquaintanceship that is falsely so-called fellowship. In truth, this level of Biblical fellowship is impossible in all present day Catholic-based church models. (Yes, this includes your church most likely. The set up was established centuries ago under Constantine, who took that set up from Pagan Temples, and made it “Christian.”) The New Testament Church was conducive for all members to be involved, not just a select few as the rest sit in a pew. This type of a church was immensely involved in every aspect of the service. They all encouraged, they all exhorted, they all taught. This is how fellowship was done. If this is what one means by saying he goes to church for fellowship, are these things being accomplished? If so, then  Praise God! If not, then find a place where this can be and is being done.

Why Go To Church, Part 3

4. “I go to church so that others will see me go to church”: Recently, I heard a story about someone I know. She missed church one Sunday, because she was ill. Her next door neighbor, shocked, promptly visited. The neighbor told her that “I’ve been watching you for 32 years, and have never seen you miss church!” What an amazing story. It holds an equally profound truth about today’s Christianity, that it is proudly lazy.

Proud, because going to church to be seen of others should recall the Pharisees doing religion to be seen of men. Christ pronounced woes (curses) for this most notably in Matthew 23. Do not mistake my words, being a Christian is an overt issue. We are not to hide our light under a bushel. Yet, the “…so others will see me” argument is just that, hiding a light under a bushel. Though it is amazing that this lady’s neighbor witnessed her going to church for 32 years, why did the lady not witness to the neighbor once during three decades?!? Her going to church was not helping the lost. Beyond that, the neighbor, who is lost, does not (cannot) distinguish between spiritual truth and error. The neighbor knew that she was “going to church” but what church? Catholic, Mormon, Muslim? Going is no help to the lost, who don’t discern between good and evil.

“Going is a testimony.” Yes, I do agree with this. Going shows that we’re consistent, but the above story is an exception to the rule. Today’s irreligious world does not pay close attention to what the “religious” world does, unless it’s an atrocity published by the media. Christ never once told his followers to go to church to be seen of men. This was not how he wanted the Gospel to be spread abroad. He told his followers, all true believers, to “go into all the world…”, to “go into the highways and byways…”. Christ servants, therefore, went out at His command, which brings into focus the present church’s laziness.

The, at best passive, witnessing act of “going to church”, reflects how lazy churches are. Personally, I have been the director of a few larger ministries visitation outreaches. One church boasted more than 3,000 members, but only 2 members came for church-wide visitation. The Pastor announced visitation faithfully, advertisements were posted, and people were personally asked to come, but visitation numbers never increased. 300 people would have been a major victory, but 300 people is still only 10% of the church. What about the other 90% (if 300 came). 2 people, plus myself, made three, that is a paltry 1% who consistently and actively sought lost people. Though I cannot personally account for all 3,000 members of that church, I do know that visitation was not a priority. The same 3,000 would attend church functions faithfully, but why not even 2 hours of witnessing? Witnessing is an actively planned occurrence. If it is not actively planned, it’s not likely to be done. Some argue that they witness at work. The occasional one or two at work should not blindly halt witnessing to hundreds or thousands. I know one small church (10 members), who collectively get out 80,000 tracts a year. They plan to go a few times a week, and 10 times out of 10, someone from that church will be out witnessing. Exponentially, multiply 10 to 3,000 and 80,000 tracts would become 24,000,000. All of New York City and most of its surrounding suburbs would be reached each year, every year, if 3,000 true-believers would actively witness. The Bible illustrates a small group of believers who were accused of “turning the world upside down” (Acts 17:6). Active, not passive, witnessing does this.

One final thought. The New Testament Church never went to church to be seen of others. For one, churches met daily, throughout the day, and in homes. No Roman would have ever known about a church gathering, unless told. Christians during this time would have, and did keep their meetings very guarded. They had to be intelligent because the Roman government was actively seeking to kill Christians. There were no First Baptist Churches of Pergamos, Corinth, etc. with steeples and large auditoriums. None of those big temples came until Constantine put crosses on Temples of Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury and the other pagan gods. Even then, true believers saw error and would not attend these new “Christian” palaces. Constantine did continue persecuting the true Christians who would not conform to his false-Christianity. America does not suffer from fatal persecution. We can openly gather, but such an opportunity should make us, neither proud, nor lazy. 

Why Go To Church, Part 2

Building on the previous post – Why Do You Go To Church? – I offer more reasons given to me. (Bear with me I emphasize negatives to illustrate positives in future posts).

3. For Worship. A lot of baggage has been added to the word Worship. Many definitions, therefore, abound. Understandably, even a lot of scripture is used to support Worship positions. For the New Testament Believer, Christ narrowed Worship down. He stated, “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a spirit; and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (John4:23-24). Expand these verses to see full context. Christ is talking to the Samaritan woman at the well. She is being witnessed to by Christ. The woman, convicted, does what all convicted unsaved people (and many saved too) do – raise a tangential spiritual question. She was asking, in a manner of speaking, is the church I go to wrong? (Don’t take the bait, stay on topic). Christ did not take the bait, he did not give a diatribe on why Jerusalem was better than Mount Gerazim or vice versa. He instead quoted the already stated verses. What did he mean?

First. That to worship God, God must be with you. One cannot truly worship Christ without having Christ.

Second. Christ says, “…the hour cometh, and now is…” He is not defending past Jewish, religious practices. He is instead, abolishing them. A Christian no longer must follow the Festival cycle, which required all Jews to pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Christians do not need to attend the Temple for sacrifice, repentance, redemption, or worship. Christ broke down the middle wall, the partition and rent the veil in twain. He made our bodies His temple according to I Corinthians 6:19. Therefore, Old Testament Scripture cannot be used to support New Testament “church” as defined by the Temple/Tabernacle. (A little history shows that the Temple, was destroyed by Emperor Vespasian’s son, and future Emperor Titus in AD 70). Christ prophesied that the Temple would be destroyed, but that His Body would prevail. True believers are that Body of Christ, the Church – not the place. I Corinthians 6:20 further tells the true believer to glorify God in our bodies and our spirits which are God’s.

Third. With all of point 2 in mind, how does God command to worship in spirit and in truth? One word suffices - obedience. Obedience to what? Christ’s commands. Christ commanded His followers to go into all the world and preach the Gospel. He, knowing how ignorant man is, stated this command often and in many ways. He used parables as well as direct statements. True worship will be evidenced by our actively doing His will, which is not some nebulous concept we spend our lives seeking. God’s will is that none should perish, but that all should come to repentance (II Peter 3:9). He is glorified by sinful men coming to repentance, and the Christian is the chosen vessel to spread this truth. Worship is not a time of inaction. This life has no time for inaction. Christ said work while it is yet day, for the night cometh when no man can work (John 9:4). He is the light of the world, and that light is in the true believer according to I John 2. We must therefore work. This work is true worship, this side of eternity. Notice that when the disciples wanted to religiously worship Christ, He would have none of it. On the Mount of Transfiguration, Christ appeared with Moses and Elijah. Peter, James, and John, in dumfounded awe, wanted to build three “booths” (tabernacles based on the Old Testament Feast of the Tabernacles). Christ would not allow this, nor did He want any mention of the occurrence to spread until after His ascension. He knew such devotion to a place or occurrence would keep men from doing what he commanded, that is spread the word! In the spiritual sense, “Be fruitful and multiply.” (The Tower of Babel is an amazing picture of how not to “do church.” God wanted mankind to spread out and occupy the earth. God still wants the church to do the same – cf. Acts 1:8. Those who don’t are guilty of the same sin at Babel).

Fourth. Worship is not a sensationalistic, emotional feeling. Feelings are fleeting, and can distort truth. Christ wants worship to be done in truth, which is always Bible based. Any addition or subtraction therefrom is not worship. Thy Word Is Truth! (John 17:17). Many seek worship as an exalted state, a high. Certainly this cannot be glorifying God, as such worship is for self. “I don’t like that church, it makes me feel bad.” “Come to our church, we will make you ‘feel good.’” “I just don’t get that feeling there…” No scripture can be found to support feeling oriented “seeker-sensitive” methodology. Truth, contrary to feelings, can and in many cases will hurt. Again, God is honored by lost men coming to the Truth, Christ. Pitifully, most “witnessers” will cut out the most crucial portion of the message. They jump straight into the good part, but don’t illustrate the truth of sin. Try telling a rich, lost man that he is unhappy, and needs to “add God” to his life. He has no need, in his mind, of God. All is well. But if the truth of his sin be revealed, then there will be a great need. Don’t cut that truth just to make someone feel good, or to “try God.” Such false-witnessing sends many to hell. Therefore, that lack of truth is false-worship, even if it’s done in Jesus’ name (cf. Matt. 7:21-23).

Fifth. One last point for worship. Christ says that the hour now is. That means, presently it is time to worship. Christ made worship immediate, not future, or every now and then. Going to church for worship, means that one can only worship for three hours Sunday Morning, an hour and a half Sunday Night, two hours Wednesday Night, and two hours on Thursday Visitation, by such logic. Since the true believer is now the Temple, and the Spirit, which guides into all truth, is within us, then we are to be constantly worshiping.  Paul further stated to Timothy that the man of God (not just pastors, but all saved) is to be instant in season and out of season. We may have our set aside times to witness, or meet around God’s Word, which is good, but this does not limit our worship. Now is the only time to work. Night will soon come, and no man will work. God’s just judgment will come, men will be cast into hell, and the true believer will then spend eternity worshiping in awe. Please, do not be unprepared by serving yourself now, in exchange for torment later. Vanity now is not worth sacrificing eternity.

Church - Separation of Church and State

 Separation of Church and State

In 1802, the Danbury Baptist Association expressed their concern in a letter to the newly elected president, Thomas Jefferson, that there were no protections in their state constitution for religious liberty. They feared that the government could exercise their power to establish a state religion. Jefferson’s response affirmed that he too believed in and supported that “religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions…” He further stated that the “legislature would ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,’ thus building a wall of separation of Church and State.” It is out of his response letter that the oft used phrase “separation of church and state” was conceived.

Although this has become the rally cry for many institutional churches, the fact is that there exists now a different type of separation of church and state. A wall has been built that has caused more damage to Christianity than any government will ever be able to do. There is something far more serious than the government exercising any authority over the institutional church. There is something far more destructive than the government dictating the laws and practices of an institutional church. The decisions made by the Roman emperor Constantine did more damage to the Church than any of his predecessors. He was the emperor who, unlike his predecessors, promoted Christianity throughout the Roman Empire. Instead of suffering great persecution, the church was granted great freedom and afforded many privileges under Constantine. It became, for political reasons, the recognized church of the state. It was during his reign that the first modern church buildings were constructed. It was during this time that the church would begin to build the wall of separation between the church and state.

“State” by definition is the condition of a person or thing. It is the particular place, status, rank, or position in one’s life. This word is used by Paul to describe how he learned to be content in whatever state he was in, whether it was being abased or abounding, being full or being hungry. He was talking about his condition. The Proverb tells us to be diligent to know the state of thy flocks. At this time, the reality of the church is that it builds a wall of separation between the church and the actual state (condition) of man. Instead of being the Church as God intended, people now “go to church.”

I am not against assembling together with other believers. I am also not against those who continue to assemble together in some institution every Sunday and Wednesday. What I am against is how man has separated the very way he is at an institution once or twice a week from the way he truly is away from the institution. The way people talk, act, smile, prioritize, feel, etc. is all different than how they act in common, everyday life. If going to church had as much positive influence on a person as people say it does, then we would naturally see people more sensitive to sin and more eager to tell others about Christ while outside of the church walls. Instead, the church puts up a wall of separation and even goes further to provide an excuse for sin while keeping the truth of the gospel within. A “faithful Christian” is considered one who is a regular attendee at an institution. It matters little how he lives outside of the walls, as long as he remains faithful. Some who may be reading this post will automatically think or say “The church is what you make of it.” Sadly, this is even more accurate of a confession than they even understand. The church has become exactly that – what man has made of it. The church is guilty of the same sin of the Israelites regarding the Lord’s Passover. What began as the Lord’s, eventually became the Jew’s (see John 6:4 and Leviticus 23:5). Today, what began as the Lord’s, the Church, has fully become man’s church.

Christ’s Church is glorious, without spot, wrinkle, or any such thing. It is holy and without blemish. The Church is Christ’s body, his flesh, and his bones. How many times have I heard the statement, “There is no perfect church.” Their confession, although unintended, reveals that they are taking part in something that is absolutely unbiblical. Christ’s body is perfect! His Church is without spot, holy, without blemish!  Although I understand that they are talking about people, and people will sin, regarding the Church, the Body of Christ, it is Perfect! Yes, man will stumble and sin even after he joins the Church, but it still does not take away from the fact that the Church is perfect! It is just like everything else that comes from the hand of God. Furthermore, if we are commanded to be perfect, and attend an institution that claims to be imperfect, then why do we continue to reason that we go to church to help grow in our Christian life?

God’s standard for mankind was and is to be perfect. I have heard many preachers water down that standard by claiming the word perfect means “complete.” Unfortunately, they forget the fact that we are already complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10). No word of God’s is without effect or reason. There would be no effect or reason if God were commanding us to be “complete” if we already are complete in Him! The standard is perfection and holiness and we should strive for the same.

A wall of separation exists between the church and man. For 2-3 hours per week, man “acts” perfect. He smiles, gives, listens, sings, and is faithful. Some people are told that the church exists so that we can make it through the week. Like a tetanus shot, we need to go and get our spiritual shot. In case we step on any rusty nails, we can relax because we had our weekly shot. Just to be sure, we are told to come back on Wednesday for our booster shot. Instead of promoting a lifestyle that keeps one away from the rusty nails of sin, the church and its leaders encourage dependence upon an institution for when they will step on the rusty nail. Encouragement to keep holy, without spot or blemish has been replaced with the false remedy of church attendance. Believers are told that they will sin and have no choice in the matter. Defeat, disillusionment, and discouragement continue to drive people into the walls of an institution, rather than experiencing great victory in their life through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Others are told that they have to come to church to be fed. My question to those who go for this reason is, “Are you leaving hungry.” Consider this reason into the physical realm. If we were to only eat food on Sundays, and then a snack on Wednesdays, we may be able to live, but we would be extremely weak and feeble. We would fall prey to any germ and sickness and would suffer great harm to our bodies. A person that is daily nourishing his body, will have the strength to withstand the germs and sicknesses of this life (spiritual and physical). Sure the church verbally promotes daily Bible reading and prayer, but the very way the institutional church is set up festers the separation of the church from the state of man. The Spirit of God, they are told, will not go against the direction of the local church and its pastor. The church has drawn the focus away from a person living in and with the Holy Spirit to the necessity of going to church and relying on what the Spirit says to the pastor.

Not long ago I was teaching through a Sunday school lesson on the church. The pastor of the church and I met together each month to discuss upcoming events, to plan, and to strategize how to teach the upcoming lessons (a majority of which were copied from another’s church’s program). In the lesson on the church, the hypothetical situation was given about an unsaved husband who forbade his saved wife to attend church. The lesson said it is the wife’s duty to obey her husband in all things, including in this situation. The pastor of my church said that we needed to remove this part from what I taught as he believed the wife should disobey her husband in this instance. This same pastor officiated my wedding and had my wife repeat the words “to obey until death do us part.”

I had another disagreement with this pastor not long before regarding my family. I made the statement, “My relationship with my family is more important than my relationship with the church.” He told me to “be careful making statements like that because even Abraham was told by God to offer his son Isaac.” My response was, “Abraham was told to offer his son to prove his relationship with the Lord.” There was no church building anywhere near Abraham! The conversation ended there. What this pastor did and still does today is equate the institutional church building with God and promote the idea that one’s relationship with God is dependent upon its meetings. Any and all relationships with God begin here and continue here. Proof of this teaching can be found when someone quits the church. Many will say of those people, including some of those who quit themselves, that they quit on God. I can testify to the fact that when I left the institutional church setting, aided by my excommunication from a local church, my relationship with God began to flourish and take on greater meaning.

Two times in the book of Acts, we are told that the Lord dwelleth not in temples made with hands. While Christ was alive, He spoke of how He would destroy the temple (building), and in three days raise up a new temple (the body of Christ). Why then do people continue to believe that the church building is necessary for one to have a relationship with God?

I am not against going to church or those who do. A Christian loves other brothers and sisters in Christ and desires to be with them. A Christian desires to be provoked and to provoke others unto love and good works. A church building can provide for an atmosphere to allow for this exchange, but it is has been my experience that it happens rarely. It has become an experience very much like a movie theater where all the activity occurs on the stage and those in attendance are mere spectators. The answer is not to withdraw and lock yourself up in your home every day, but to realign your thoughts and ideas regarding the church to how God’s word explains the church. Find other likeminded believers who realize that they are the Church, and that can never be separated from their state.