Church

By Jerry Olson
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A good friend sent me an e-mail from his friend discussing the issue of thinking about and doing Godly type things even while at work.  Basically, if you call yourself a Christian, we should be a Christian 24/7, regardless where and what we are doing.  But as I was reading I was captivated by the use of the word church in this writing.  I felt compelled by what the Holy Spirit showed me, to write this letter back to my friend.

It has become commonplace to hear the word church used today in conversations and writings.  However, not in the way it was intended.  Today when this word is used most of the time, we think of a church as a building, where people go to worship and hear preaching.
 Many not even knowing that originally and in the Bible, the word of God, church is not a building, not a denomination, but God’s called, children of God, brothers and sisters of Jesus. These are members of the family of God, Christians, you and me.  Mat 18:17 Jesus speaking, “And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church.  But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.”  Act 2:47 “Praising God and having favor with all the people.  And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” Act 5:11 “So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.” Act 8:3 “As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing then to prison.”  Rom 16:23 “Gaius, my host and the host of the whole church, greets you.  Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, and quartus, a brother.”  I Cor 6:4 “If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge?”  I Cor 12:28  “And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets,, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.”  I Cor 14:12 “Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.” Eph 5:23 “For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the savior of the body”.
Eph 5:25 “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it.”  Phil 3: 6 “…concerning zeal, persecuting the church;” Col 1:18 “And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the first born from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.”  Col 1:24  “I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church…” 

One might ask, so what? Why is this important? It’s important to Jesus, or He would not have written so much about the subject.  I believe it represents just another of the many deceptions Satan has brought about, so we lose our way and forget who we are.  Satan has invaded our church and church buildings with false teachings and wrong thinking.  Church is not about the size, beauty, wealth, denomination or if there is a choir with or without robes.  Church today seems more interested in programs and fundraisers and other activities than learning about God, reading and studying the scriptures, and having a relationship directly with Jesus.  By invitation only: John 6:44 “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him and I will raise him up at the last day.”

The church is the elect of God.  Chosen of God for His purposes.  Mat 24:22 “And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened. :24 “ For false christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”

May I remind us that Jesus did almost all His preaching and teaching without a building.  He did His work apart from dazzle, sparkle, programs, and His followers, were ordinary men, not with formal educations but called of God just the same.  Holiness and righteousness is a by product of walking with Jesus, living our lives with burdens, faults, weakness at every turn in the road.  Jesus is the answer, not church.  Mat 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”  Ask Jesus into your life and He will come.  Cast your difficulties to Him, walk holding His hand and He will guide us showing and lighting our path.  Jesus is the answer, read His Word, the Word will change our life and give each of us the joy we all desire.  Life here on earth without Jesus is near impossible to live and still find happiness.  A church building and programs are not the answer, finding Jesus directly for yourselves, is the only thing that will work. He says that if we seek Him, He can be found, all we need do is repent of our sin, be baptized, and He will send us the Holy Spirit into our lives.  We can not overcome Satan and this world without the Holy Spirit from God.  Need I remind us that Satan is still god of this earth until Jesus returns?  And when Jesus returns, the time being short now; will usher in the time with Jesus apart from Satan.  Mat 25:31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and the Holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. :32 “All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. :33 “ And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. :34 “ Then the King will say to those on His right hand, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”

Jerry
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