Thoughts on the Church
The story goes that a young newlywed wife cooked a roast for her new husband. In preparation, she cut off the ends of the roast and then continued to prepare it by cooking it in the oven. When her husband inquired as to why she removed the end of the roast, she replied, "That's the way my mother always prepared it." Upon a later visit with her mother, she decided to ask her mother why she cut off the ends of the roast. "I did that because the oven was small. That's the only way it would fit!"
I write that story as an introduction to my thoughts regarding the institution that we call "church" because I'm guessing that much of what we are is because of traditions that have spanned decades, centuries and even millennia. Sure, there have been adaptations, modernizations and adjustments, but fundamentally there are core patterns that are consistent across at least the churches that I have attended.
What is the church and how does it compare with what it says about the church in scripture? If the church is supposed to be the bride of Christ, how can there be so many different kinds of churches? If the church is to be one, why does it seem to be so divided and intolerant? Why is what we read about the early church in Acts so different from what we see and experience in person?
As I have grown in my faith, these and other questions have arisen and some have persisted to this day. I hope my thoughts may be helpful in your journey in discovering the church and what that means for each of us.
Called out
First, it would be good to come to an understanding of the word, "church" as it was written in scripture. The modern definition of church is now synonymous with the place that Christians go for a service, at least in my experience from protestant denominations in America. "Mass" would be similar if you are Roman Catholic. If you are like me, "church" is the building that you go to to worship Christ. You "go to church." We'll meet "at the church." Did you "go to church today?"
The word "church" is the English translation of the Greek word, "Ekklesia." Ekklesia means "called out" or the "gathering of the called out." So you can see how we got from one to the other. However, it is really important to keep the distinction clear in our minds. Or at least we should remember that church is not a building or a place, but rather the called out people who gather.
So perhaps the first question you might have once you hear that church means "called out" is what have we been called out from? That's a great question and a great place to start. One of the best ways to answer that is to look at a passage in the book of Luke.
And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district. And He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all. And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are oppressed, To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.” And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
Luke 4:14-21
Perhaps you've never thought of yourself as being captive. But that is exactly what scripture teaches us. Those who are being "called out" are being released from captivity. For particularly those who live in a "free country" what then could we be in captivity to? Let's look at a part of what Paul wrote to the called out ones in Ephesus and Rome.
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
Ephesians 2:1-3
Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
Romans 6:16-18
In John, Jesus says it directly as he's conversing with the Pharisees.
Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
John 8:34-36
Come to Me
If you truly know Christ, or should I say, if Christ truly knows you, you understand these passages. You know that you used to spend your time looking for ways to make yourself happy and fulfilled. And perhaps you found moments of joy, but later looked back and realized that those moments have always been temporary and fleeting. And often they came with a compromise that either hurt you or hurt others and your conscience reminds you of your failing. But perhaps most importantly, it lets us know that we were indeed dead and that we were captive to the "prince of the power of the air." So then how does one escape and come to know Jesus, and did he come for me?
At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Matthew 11:25-30
And here is the point of my writing. Do you see who is making the invitation? Jesus! Do you see where He is inviting you to? "Come to me..." - Himself! Do you see who's yoke you are to bear? "Take my yoke..." - His yoke! Do you see who you are to learn from? "...learn from me..." - Jesus!
So you're probably thinking, "Ok, I think I get what you're saying. But aren't we doing that by going to church / mass / service? Aren't we learning from trained instruments of God who are carrying on the traditions laid out by the Apostles and our church fathers?"
Entrance to the Holy
Let's take a look at a passage that should startle you, especially if you have read the accounts of the Tabernacle, and later, the Temple of God throughout scripture.
Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
Hebrews 10:19-25
If you are not familiar with the 'holy place' which is referred to in this passage, it was a singular, unique place that contained furniture and elements that were built according to a very specific design that the Lord directed Moses to accomplish. The Lord called one man, Bezalel, and filled him with ‘the Spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge and in all kinds of craftsmanship’ and others who were skilled craftsmen to perform the work necessary to create the Tabernacle.
And the particularly startling thing about that description is that the Holy Place was only permitted to a few very select Levitical priests. Even more stunning is the place that was behind the veil was called the Holy of Holies and only the High Priest was permitted to go behind the veil. And he was only permitted to go there once a year to seek atonement for the sins of Israel! That day is known as the Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur.
Scripture illustrates to us that by the sacrifice of Jesus, He has given us intimate access to the Lord's presence - an astonishing revelation and humbling privilege! That access didn't depart when the Lord died and rose from the dead - it continues! The "brethren" that this passage speaks of are all of the weary and heavy-laden that have come to Jesus and taken His yoke upon themselves. That means us, the called out ones, the church. The weak and heavy-laden can still come!
Well you may say, "Yes, that is amazing. I've personally experienced some wonderful moments that I can only explain as not of this world which I can only attribute to be an encounter with the supernatural, the Lord. And some of them have occurred in my church building, and in activities that I attended with my church. So, I still don't understand what this has to do with my church. Are you suggesting we don't need 'church?'"
Renewing your mind
Let me share a passage with you that prompted me to ponder my thoughts about the church. But before I share that passage, let me share one that has challenged my thinking in many ways - personal and beyond. You will likely recognize it.
Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:1-2
In recent years as I have made my annual trek through the Bible, I will come across a passage that causes me to pause and consider it more deeply. I sense and believe that the Holy Spirit is prompting me in these moments. I say that because when I read, I'll sometimes come across a passage that directly addresses a question that I've wondered about for some time. You've probably experienced these moments where it seems that a passage stands out from the rest of the text. For me, it's still a wonder when these times occur. What I have recognized over time is that I'm conformed to the world in places that don't appear obvious at first. To become conformed is so easy because to resist is contrary to what is happening around you. After all, we live in a time where we are ruled by the "prince of the power of the air" as is revealed in the Ephesians passage. These moments of discovery in His word then serve to initiate the "renewing of your mind" that Paul speaks of. It is an ongoing transformation. These moments often challenge a misconceived understanding that I've held for years. That's what I believe happened with this passage.
Rejecting the King
This passage is a bit long and might need a little context. It was written many years after Joshua had led the Israelites into the promised land. Following the Israelites final conquest of the promised land, the Lord gave them rest and they followed the Lord during the remainder of Joshua's life. However, following the death of Joshua and that generation, the Israelites turned away from the Lord. For a number of years the Lord used judges throughout the land to encourage the people to follow Him. Samuel served as a prophetic priest during the end of this period. In his old age, Samuel appoints his sons as judges. But his sons were corrupt. This is the conversation that ensued between Samuel and the elders of Israel.
Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah; and they said to him, “Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations.” But the thing was displeasing in the sight of Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord. The Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them. Like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day—in that they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also. Now then, listen to their voice; however, you shall solemnly warn them and tell them of the procedure of the king who will reign over them.” So Samuel spoke all the words of the Lord to the people who had asked of him a king. He said, “This will be the procedure of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and place them for himself in his chariots and among his horsemen and they will run before his chariots. He will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and of fifties, and some to do his plowing and to reap his harvest and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. He will also take your daughters for perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and your vineyards and your olive groves and give them to his servants. He will take a tenth of your seed and of your vineyards and give to his officers and to his servants. He will also take your male servants and your female servants and your best young men and your donkeys and use them for his work. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his servants. Then you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.” Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, “No, but there shall be a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations, that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.” Now after Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the Lord’s hearing. The Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to their voice and appoint them a king.” So Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Go every man to his city.”
1 Samuel 8:4-22
As I encountered this passage, I initially read right through it. It was early in the morning in the middle of the week. At that time, I was busy trying to finish a very challenging portion of my work project. As I finished this passage, I had a sense that I just read something important - something the Lord was trying to say to me. Over the years I've come to know that prompting. It's almost as though the Holy Spirit is saying, "Did you hear what I said in that passage?"
The passage's topic sounded familiar, but how is it applicable? I live in a democratic nation where we elect leaders. "10% taxes," I thought. That sure would be nice as I considered the percentage of taxes that our government collects.
And then it came to me - 10% means a tithe. Over my believing life I have been around a lot of churches that are quick to remind you about giving, offering and, in particular, tithing. This passage is a parallel between Israel and the church! But how, I wondered? So I read back through the passage and considered it verse by verse. Indeed, there may be a parallel here but some might consider it a reach. Actually, heresy would be more like it! Why would the Lord say something derogatory about the church? The church is the bride of Christ after all! Why even go to a place that is likely to offend and bring accusations of division.
Needing His assurance before continuing, I was immediately reminded of the passage in 1st Corinthians 10 of what happened to the Israelites - they were written "as an example" and "written for our instruction." So my first thought was to go back and consider the many parallels that He had already shown me in the early part of the Israelites journey and to see if this continues the narrative.
Foreshadow
First let's look at the Israelites: Moses comes to Egypt and directly confronts the enemy showing signs and wonders. He instructs the Israelites to cover their doorposts with the blood of a sacrificed lamb to escape from the angel of death. Those who believe and obey escape. Moses then leads them from captivity where they are pursued by their former captor. They are "baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea." Their captor, Pharaoh, is thrown into the sea and no longer rules over them. The Israelites initially are joyous but many begin to desire to go back when they face the trials and tribulations of the wilderness and fall away. While traveling through the wilderness, they are sustained by bread which comes from heaven and from water from a rock. Following the Israelites wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, Moses dies and leaves the people in the hands of his servant Joshua and the leaders of the twelve tribes of Israel. They carry the Ark of the Covenant - the very place of the Presence of God - across the Jordan River into their new kingdom. The river miraculously parts so that the Israelites can enter the "land flowing with milk and honey."
Now let's look at the parallels: Jesus comes to earth and directly confronts an enemy showing signs and wonders. He reveals that He is the Lamb of God that is to be sacrificed for them. He is crucified and His shed blood provides a covering to all who believe and follow Him to an escape from eternal death. He instructs the followers that they must eat His body and drink His blood and tells His followers that He is the bread of life and that drinking water from His well will never run dry. Many followers find His teaching too hard and fall away. Jesus dies and rises from the dead. His victory over sin and death vanquishes Satan's rule over His believers. Jesus leaves His followers in the hands of Peter and the apostles, twelve in all. The Holy Spirit miraculously falls upon and fills the apostles and followers and empowers them. They are baptized with fire - being filled with the Holy Spirit. The believers now carry the very Presence of God. They've entered into a new Kingdom and an abundant life.
Many of you probably are familiar with these amazing parallels or foreshadowing. If not, I encourage you to consider them more deeply as I'm sure my list is only a fraction of many. Once you realize that they are there, it allows the stories and writings in the Old Testament to illuminate and bring depth and meaning to those in the New Testament, and vice versa.
Once we consider that the Israelites' story of their time under kings is relevant to the church, it begs the much larger question: does the parallel continue beyond Jesus to the church? Can we reflect on the successes and failures of the Israelites to help us to understand what happened when the final books of the New Testament were written and beyond? If true it would mean that the entire Old Testament record is also a prophetic foreshadowing of the new covenant of God! Wow!
But it also means that we as the called out ones may find ourselves unwittingly a part of something that was never in God's true plan. We may be subjecting ourselves to something that isn't true, something that tries to rob us of the very thing for which Christ died! Can that be possible and would God have allowed it to happen? The Old Testament says and shows it indeed can happen despite God's desires; He never desired for the Israelites to be ruled by kings.
Israel and the promised land
So what happened to Israel? Following their entry to the promised land, the Israelites follow through on their instructions to go throughout the land in which Abraham walked and to destroy the kings and rulers and to "free" the land according to the promise. This fulfilled the promise that the Lord made to Abraham about his descendants in a promised land. To my knowledge, this is one period of time in the recorded history of the Israelites that they were remarkably obedient to God as they followed the Lord and their leader Joshua. They acted in one accord and completed much of what they were called to do. At the conclusion of their conquest, scripture says:
So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord had spoken to Moses, and Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. Thus the land had rest from war.
Joshua 11:23
There is one incident of note that occurs when the Israelites are conquering Jericho. They are explicitly instructed that ‘all the silver and gold and articles of bronze and iron are holy to the Lord’ - Joshua 6:19. However, Achan took some things under the ban and the anger of the Lord ‘burned against the sons of Israel.’ It affected Israel’s next battle and when discovered, Joshua confronted Achan. Upon confession and discovery of the stolen items, he and his family were stoned.
The church and the Holy Spirit
What about the church? On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit moved upon the peoples hearts. Acts records that, “there were added that day about three thousand souls.” This fulfilled the promise that Jesus gave about the coming of the Holy Spirit and the kingdom of God. The Apostles and believers became the church - the called out ones. The initial believers were said to be “pierced to the heart” and hearing what to do, they embraced the instruction to repent and be washed for the forgiveness of sins. The promise for their obedience? Peter said, “and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” As the Presence of God entered the believers, it brought freedom from captivity to sin and strength to overcome any strongholds. Now they understood that the kingdom that Jesus came for wasn’t an earthly land and kingdom, but rather of souls and the hearts of men. Scripture reports that the Lord was adding to their number day by day and the gospel spread through the time of the Apostles and their generation. And the Apostles went from there to go and "make disciples of all nations."
The book of Hebrews describes the believer in this way:
‘For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said, “As I swore in My wrath, They shall not enter My rest,” although His works were finished from the foundation of the world.’
Hebrews 4:3
It is interesting that scripture described the Israelites entering into a period of ‘rest’ when they concluded their conquest of the promised land.
Like the story of Achan, there is one incident that also occurs in the early church. Without prompting, the church begins to willfully contribute to the needs of others. Some sell property to help one another. Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, decide to do likewise but keep back some of the proceeds. Rather than being forthright about what they are doing, Ananias deceitfully acts as though he is giving the full amount of the proceeds. Peter, made aware of his deceit by the Holy Spirit, confronts Ananias and he ‘fell down and breathed his last.’ His wife meets the same fate shortly afterwards.
Initial parallels confirmed
So we can see there are initially some remarkable parallels between the Israelites and the church. For both there's an initial entrance of the very presence of God. For the Israelites their carrying the Ark of the Covenant literally parts the waters of the Jordan so they can enter. For the church, the very presence of God falls upon the believers in the form of the Holy Spirit. Both are endued with power; the Israelites to overcome the kingdoms and inhabitants of the land; the church to overcome the ruler of their hearts, minds, souls, and strengths. Both initially walk faithfully and their kingdoms advance mightily. Both encounter an early subversion that is met with a swift, deadly consequence.
So getting back to the passage in 1 Samuel, is it possible that the church has followed the pattern of the Israelites and rejected God, the King?
Let’s continue to follow the narrative and see what comes to light. But it’s important to mention that, in order to do so, we will have to use external resources since the New Testament only covers a portion of church history. This is perhaps a hidden value of having the Old Testament if it is truly a foreshadow. It can provide insights that we might otherwise not immediately see or understand. But we of course must also be careful not to twist or manipulate history just to try to further an idea. That would be unconscionable so please test what I am writing.
"Why look back at the past?" you might ask. "What has happened has happened and we can't change anything." True, but examining this might help us to understand the church, and more importantly, what it means for each one of us as members of His church.
Fulfilled Covenants
First, let’s again examine the Israelites following the fulfilled promise of God's covenant with Abraham. The people follow the Lord until Joshua’s death and the deaths of the generation that entered with Joshua. We do see some lapses in regard to them driving out all of the inhabitants and we find that the failure to do so later causes them to stumble and fall. The Israelites began to pursue other gods so "the hand of the Lord was against them for evil." Judges 2:15. The Lord then appoints judges for the Israelites for around 3-400 years. Following that period, we come to the 1 Samuel passage above that ushers them into the time of the kings.
Based upon what we read in Acts, the epistles and the letters, we know that the church exploded and continued to grow across the known world following the fulfillment of the New Covenant. Based upon the growth and the history recorded in Acts, we know that they, like the Israelites, had a good start. We also know there were some early problems in completely fleeing unrighteousness. We can also find admonishments and warnings about staying true and not falling away in the epistles and letters.
Perhaps the most revelatory insight comes from the Lord's words to the churches in the book of Revelation. Here we have a heavenly view as to what is truly taking place in the churches and of the Lord's thoughts as to what He is seeing. To the church in Pergamum we see similar language as to what the Lord spoke to the Israelites in 1 Samuel about being "against them for evil." John records Jesus as saying, "Repent, therefore; or else l am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth." The message to the church in Thyatira was more dire for a certain "Jezebel" as it says, "I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality. Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds."
Similarities continue
There are indeed similarities between the Israelites and the church. Both have a righteous and glorious beginning, both are empowered to achieve what was promised and initially act in obedience, both suffer a decline and begin to fall away. Interestingly, both periods of time are about the same length in years before a major change occurs. Historical records show that the period of the early church, which included many times of persecution under Roman rule, also lasted 3-400 years.
So what about the Israelites' request for a king? God's anger rests in their rejection of Him and their desire for a worldly replacement. So let's continue to see what history records about the church.
A significant turning point occurred shortly after A.D. 300. Right before it occurred, the Roman emperor Diocletian ordered his army purged of Christians and then commanded the destruction of church buildings, the burning of scripture, and the prohibition of church services. Christians were rounded up, imprisoned, tortured and killed. Thousands upon thousands were said to have either recanted or were martyred. Persecution of Christians wasn't unusual and had happened under previous Roman emperors, but this period of persecution is recorded as the harshest.
Diocletian also divided up the empire into a four quadrant tetrarchy in an attempt to bring order. Constantius I, Constantine's father, governed one of the quadrants in what is now England.
The following emperor, Galerious, continued Diocletian's edict up until right before his death in 311. Following his death there was a battle between the four Roman tetrarch rulers to become the sole emperor. The battle of Milvian bridge outside of Rome as to who would become the next emperor was the deciding battle between rivals Maxentius and Constantine. According to Constantine's biographer, Eusebius, Constantine and his forces saw a symbol of Christ in the sky along with a message in Greek saying, "In this sign conquer." It is also reported that Constantine had a dream in which Christ affirmed the message. Reports also indicate that Constantine's soldiers began flying the emblem, "Chi Rho" - the symbol that Constantine purportedly saw in his dream, and the soldiers donned the emblem on their shields and on their armor.
Following the victory over Maxentius, it is reported that Constantine became a Christian and subsequently made Christianity the state religion of the empire. Many suggest that this all was a political maneuver because he retained the title of the state religious pagan cult as 'Pontifex Maximus' - high priest, and he didn't request to be baptized until right before his death. He is also recorded to have continued to conspire and murder according to historians. Nevertheless, he exempted Christian ministers from taxes, abolished crucifixions, and made Sunday a public holiday.
Reversal of fortune?
The point here is the significance of this event. It changed the church and ultimately the world. The church went from being targeted for extinction to a position of power in a matter of a few years. In a short period thereafter it was elevated even further to the point where it held ultimate power over the nations and their rulers.
Now what we can't determine is whether or not this change was desired by the church in the same way as the Israelites had a desire for a king. We can imagine that they must have been overjoyed at the sudden and dramatic change as their lives were no longer threatened. So how would they handle this sudden prosperity? Would they walk in the humility of the Savior and follow His instruction that 'the greatest among you shall be your servant'? Or would they follow in the steps of the empire in their quest for power and control amidst indulgence, excess and abuse?
An unexpected gathering of the church leadership set the table for their future. At this point, the church had spread throughout the Roman Empire despite persecution and the multiple efforts to eliminate them. Constantine invited close to 1800 leaders for an all expenses paid meeting in Nicaea, including transportation. The Roman Empire must have known who to invite as these same individuals had previously been targeted with persecution and execution just years prior. In addition, the leaders were told they could bring others with them to help them on the journey. Records indicate that around 300 men came to the meeting. Some historians believe that Constantine held the council in order to help unite the empire.
First Council of Nicaea
One outcome of this First Council of Nicaea was to make a determination regarding a church leader named Arius and others who taught that Jesus was a created being rather than God. All but three of the bishops that gathered called his views blasphemous and it became an impetus to establish church doctrine, something Constantine desired in order to unify the empire under a common belief. In fact, they were told that they were to remain until they came up with a common doctrine. Their efforts resulted in the Nicene Creed, "which to this day is the standard of orthodoxy in the Roman, Eastern, Anglican, and some other churches."
Perhaps what the church leadership wasn't aware of until that moment was that the empire would use its might and authority to act based upon their decisions. They ruled over the empire after all and had been doing so for centuries. Their determination? They exiled and excommunicated Arius and the other leaders who refused to sign the Nicene Creed. The church now had the power and backing of the empire!
As time went on, the church's power grew to where they demanded compliance of the citizens and elicited "sacred" wars against religious enemies. When challenged, the church threatened and executed exile, banishment, and excommunication. They defined so-called "sacraments," declared power over them, and then offered or withheld them at their discretion. They claimed their power even over salvation - at least in their estimation. They used their power to exploit people and to justify their immorality and indulgences. The church went from being persecuted for their belief in Jesus to persecuting those who didn't believe or didn't act according to their demands. And they did this for around a millennium.
Roots in the Empire
While this all may be interesting historically, what does it have to do with now, and the church today? Well, everything really. Before delving into this study, I thought the problems that I was sensing with the churches that I've been around were because they were heavily influenced by American business with a top down power and compensation structure.
But now knowing the history, perhaps the present condition of the church is because the root of the church as we know it goes back further - to the Roman Empire - and in particular to the period when they held ultimate power over all of the known world.
This is particularly troubling if we continue our parallel to consider what happened under the kings of Judah and Israel. Many of the kings led the people into false worship, idolatry, and child sacrifice. Could the church possibly do the same?
Sins of Jeroboam
In the case of Israel, Jeroboam, son of Nebat, is given a kingdom of ten of the tribes of Israel. Listen to what the prophet tells Jeroboam and the promise that lays before him during the dividing of the nation into two kingdoms:
It came about at that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him on the road. Now Ahijah had clothed himself with a new cloak; and both of them were alone in the field. Then Ahijah took hold of the new cloak which was on him and tore it into twelve pieces. He said to Jeroboam, “Take for yourself ten pieces; for thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon and give you ten tribes (but he will have one tribe, for the sake of My servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen from all the tribes of Israel), because they have forsaken Me, and have worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of Moab, and Milcom the god of the sons of Ammon; and they have not walked in My ways, doing what is right in My sight and observing My statutes and My ordinances, as his father David did. Nevertheless I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand, but I will make him ruler all the days of his life, for the sake of My servant David whom I chose, who observed My commandments and My statutes; but I will take the kingdom from his son’s hand and give it to you, even ten tribes. But to his son I will give one tribe, that My servant David may have a lamp always before Me in Jerusalem, the city where I have chosen for Myself to put My name. I will take you, and you shall reign over whatever you desire, and you shall be king over Israel. Then it will be, that if you listen to all that I command you and walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight by observing My statutes and My commandments, as My servant David did, then I will be with you and build you an enduring house as I built for David, and I will give Israel to you. Thus I will afflict the descendants of David for this, but not always.’ ” Solomon sought therefore to put Jeroboam to death; but Jeroboam arose and fled to Egypt to Shishak king of Egypt, and he was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.
1 Kings 11:29-40
So what did Jeroboam do once he received the kingdom that Ahijah prophesied that included the promise that he would receive 'an enduring house as I built for David?'
Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and lived there. And he went out from there and built Penuel. Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom will return to the house of David. If this people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will return to their Lord, even to Rehoboam king of Judah; and they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.” So the king consulted, and made two golden calves, and he said to them, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem; behold your gods, O Israel, that brought you up from the land of Egypt.” He set one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan. Now this thing became a sin, for the people went to worship before the one as far as Dan. And he made houses on high places, and made priests from among all the people who were not of the sons of Levi. Jeroboam instituted a feast in the eighth month on the fifteenth day of the month, like the feast which is in Judah, and he went up to the altar; thus he did in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves which he had made. And he stationed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made. Then he went up to the altar which he had made in Bethel on the fifteenth day in the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised in his own heart; and he instituted a feast for the sons of Israel and went up to the altar to burn incense.
1 Kings 12:25-33
Wasn't Jeroboam an exception? Didn't a righteous king follow him? In Israel, no. Every king of Israel that followed was evil in God's sight. Every king! Further, it's recorded that almost every king of Israel continued Jeroboam's sin, "he did evil in the sight of the Lord as his fathers had done, he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel sin." This persisted through the time that their nation, Israel, was taken into captivity by the Assyrians around 200 years later.
Even in Judah, where they likely dwelt in the shadow of the Temple, only a few of the kings turned their hearts to the Lord. But most did evil.
The Lord, the God of their fathers, sent word to them again and again by His messengers, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place; but they continually mocked the messengers of God, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, until there was no remedy.
2 Chronicles 36:15-16
So are you suggesting that our church leaders are like evil kings and that they are leading us to sin? Rather I'm wondering if we are in our present condition because the church, as most people know it, continued to follow what was established by the Roman Empire.
Really!? Could something that the Roman Empire started almost two thousand years ago persist until today? It surprised me but multiple things that were established during Constantine's reign continue through today: Why do we have Sunday as a day off? That was started by Constantine and the Roman Empire. Why do we celebrate Easter Sunday on the day that we do? Constantine requested the date be separated from the Jewish declaration of Passover at the Council of Nicaea. Who wrote the words to the creeds that are recited in many services today? The Council of Nicaea under Constantine. Who built the first elaborate structures for the church to meet? Constantine. And several of the structures persist until today!
Wouldn't God raise someone to change the course of His people? The truth is that many believers were martyred by the church because of their pursuit of the truth or for their opposition to the atrocities committed by the church leaders. The same thing occurred in Israel at the time of the kings when the Lord sent his prophets.
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it! Behold, your house is left to you desolate; and I say to you, you will not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”
Luke 13:34-35
Heart of the people
In the passage in 1 Kings, we get a look into Jeroboam's reasoning for making golden calves and building places of worship within Israel. He reasoned in his heart his concern that the heart of the people "will return to the Lord even to Rehoboam king of Judah." So he follows his heart and his council and establishes an abomination that remained for centuries.
We can't see into the heart of Constantine but historical records allow us to know what actions he took. One prominent action was to plan and build public meeting structures for the church. He chose a design that resembled the meeting and justice halls of the Roman Empire and spared no expense. The basilica and cruciform architectural designs are still studied by architects and historians, and many buildings and churches that are still in use today have designs based upon their architecture.
Perhaps Constantine did this in an effort to show the empire's dramatic reversal of their stance towards Christians. Following the Council at Nicaea, he commissioned several churches in Constantinople, St Peter's Basilica in Rome, the church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem and the church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. The church went from secretly meeting in homes under the threat of persecution and death to being publicly visible, praised, adored and funded.
View from the outside
For the non-believer, the problems of the church are apparent. In Texas, all you have to do is drive along our roads to see multiple churches near one another. There are signs and marquees that better resemble fast food restaurants or competing businesses than a place where the called out ones assemble. In some instances, people that attend one church don't associate with the people who attend another.
Within our churches, there are covert and overt activities of greed, excess, deception and religious thievery all done in the name of the Lord. Parishioners are either directly or indirectly coerced to give. Passages are manipulated to guilt, threaten or falsely promise earthly rewards.
Then there are the sexual and serial predators that bear titles of religious leaders, teachers and volunteers. Victims of sexual abuse emerge and at times reveal a willingness by the church to cover up facts and to protect the perpetrators. Many stories are hidden and changes are made behind closed doors without an effort to see if others were affected. The image of the church can't be tarnished, people reason.
Because the churches, organizations and people involved in these problems are representative of the Lord, the larger church is not really sure what to do. Many will look the other way and hope that the stories are untrue. Others justify what occurred or label it a conspiracy. Some walk away from the church altogether.
Of greater concern
There is one concern that has persisted from the early times until now and surpasses the others in my opinion. It is the teaching, either intentional or inferred, that requires you to have a mediator to gain access to the Lord. More simply stated, it is the message that, "you need us to get to God." "Us" being the leaders and the institution - pastors, priests, bishops, teachers, faiths, denominations, churches.
Every church that I have attended has either directly said or inferred that message. And I have attended quite a few: Catholic, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, United Methodist, Southern Baptist, AME, United Church of Christ, Assembly of God, Nazarene, Calvary Chapel, Anglican, Lutheran, Church of Christ, Pentecostal, Evangelical Free, Bible, independent, interdenominational, non-denominational, community and home churches.
How can this be the most concerning? Because it is against what Christ did for us. We gained access to the Lord by His death, burial and resurrection. In Jesus' own words:
But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. But the greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.
Matthew 23:8-12
We can see how the move to become mediator between man and God gained traction when the church came to power in the Roman Empire. The bottom up structure of humility, service and love was replaced by a top down structure of power and control. A structure that is unfortunately ripe for exploitation.
Are all churches frauds?
So what does it mean for what we now call church? Are you suggesting the leaders are frauds engaged in something that isn't of God? I couldn't say. Only God knows the heart of the people involved in the various ministries around the world.
I believe that there are many godly people involved in ministries, some who are good friends of mine, and others who have spoken into my life. I'm not suggesting that all of the people involved are purposefully misleading us, but rather that we have perpetuated something that wasn't of His design or desire. And this alternative is robbing us of something that is much greater.
What we do know is that God knows what is happening within. "Zeal for your house consumes me" his disciples remembered as Jesus took a scourge and drove out the money changers and their animals, poured out their coins, and overturned their tables. That is the type of zeal that He has for the true church - the Ekklesia! Explore Revelations chapters 2 and 3 and you'll see what I mean. We can trust the Lord for justice! But it also means His justice also applies to us. We are the church - He knows our deeds.
If we have or are being wronged we should take on the heart of Paul who rejoiced that the word of the gospel was going forth even though it was being done to cause him harm.
Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,
Philippians 1:15-18
The one, true church
People remind me that I'm never going to find the perfect church. And if I do, it won't be perfect any longer because I'll be there.
Well, the truth is, I found the perfect church. It is Jesus, the Messiah. The King of kings and the Lord of lords! The Lord birthed me within it. It was He who encouraged me to repent of my sins and who bathed me with an overwhelming sense of His forgiveness and peace. It was His Holy Spirit flooding me with so much joy that I had to ask Him to stop because I felt like I couldn't handle any more joy and peace!
It was His grace rescuing me from sin and death and from darkness and the power of the ruler of the world.
I'm writing this because the Lord birthed me into the one, true church. I want to affirm that it really is real and true. What was written in scripture hasn't ceased or passed away. It really is much greater than you can believe, and far exceeds all that is of this earth. For the many that have been brought in, they too can affirm what I'm saying is true.
What then is the true church? Well, we now know the definition - the church is the "called out ones," the Ekklesia. So we know that it is the people that the Lord has called out of darkness into light. It's not an organization, building, or institution. Right off, you can see the beauty in it because it crosses demographic, economic, ethnic, racial - really all - boundaries.
The true church, then, are people. The called out ones are true believers everywhere. Many have been martyred and many have fallen asleep. More are added each day as the end draws near. I'm sure some of those who assembled at the Council of Nicaea are part of the true church. Writers recorded that some attendants bore the scars from the Romans who had persecuted them. People generally don't stick around and become persecuted if they don't really believe.
The scriptural pattern
If you've read through the New Testament you are likely aware that the manner in which our churches operate and our services are conducted cannot be found in scripture. Here too we have likely followed a pattern that began a long time ago, perhaps even reaching back to Constantine's time.
But that doesn't mean that there isn't instruction for the church. Let's look at what happened after Pentecost.
They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Acts 2:42-47
What is recorded may sound quite foreign compared to our experience, but this is one of the scriptural patterns of church. This is what it could or should resemble.
For me personally, this is nearly identical to what my first church experience was like. We devoted ourselves to the apostles' teaching by reading and studying the Bible. Many of us didn't own a Bible but quickly acquired one. There was a continual sense of awe that is difficult to describe. There were signs and wonders. We all gathered together as often as we could. We shared what we had and served each other unselfishly. We gathered daily when we could and we met where we could, going from house to house. We ate and shared meals together. We had lengthy times of prayer and praise to the Lord with many times lasting through the night into the morning. We became friends with many whom we never associated with before. And the Lord was adding to our numbers seemingly daily those who were being saved.
Interestingly, neither my sister nor I remember anyone instructing us to follow this pattern. It just happened! We often met in the trailer home of the couple who had volunteered to help out with the high school Sunday school. They were both new believers and unfamiliar with the Bible. I don't believe anyone there was familiar with this passage, so to think we followed that pattern without instruction is quite remarkable! I look back now and consider that time to be a true gift! It has left a desire to share in it again.
Notice the early church, and even my experience as a modern example, was void of two things that are common in today's churches - a dedicated physical structure and an institutional staff of leaders. Can the church really exist without them? Where will God dwell and meet with us if we don't have a church building? And who will lead, train and teach us about God?
A dwelling made by God
Was it a special building that created that sense of awe and transformed the apostles and the people? We know that there were three periods when the Lord caused His presence to dwell in structures made by human hands. The first was following the exodus when He instructed Moses and gifted Bezalel and Oholiab and other skilled workers to construct all of the articles of the Tabernacle. The second was when the Temple in Jerusalem was completed under Kings Solomon and the articles were moved into the Temple. The third time was many years after the second Temple was constructed by Ezra and refurbished by Herod when Jesus was presented at the Temple. When Jesus was 12 and remained in the Temple unbeknownst to his parents, he even referred to the Temple as his "Father's house."
We know Jerusalem was and is a very special location, a Holy place! But it was particularly special on the day of Pentecost that is recorded in Acts 2 because the Lord told the disciples not to leave the city. As far as a specific building within Jerusalem, scripture only records where they gathered to be "one place." However, instead of the place holding the significance of the moment, it was the people that were to be transformed by the coming of the Holy Spirit. The new temple was not a place constructed by human hands. It was those gathered there that were filled by the Holy Spirit. And it continues to grow as you, and me, and all of the called out ones are added.
And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For this is contained in Scripture: “Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, And he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.”
1 Peter 2:4-6
Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be! Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For He says, “The two shall become one flesh.” But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him. Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
1 Corinthians 6:15-20
For the Jews this was a major change from what they'd always known. The Lord dwelt among them in the Tabernacle and then in the Temple. Their identity, culture and faith revolved around the Temple and the God in whom it represented. Two passages in Acts emphasized the change following Pentecost.
The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation,
Acts 17:24-26
In fact, Steven says this in regard to the temple in Jerusalem.
David found favor in God’s sight, and asked that he might find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. But it was Solomon who built a house for Him. However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet says: ‘Heaven is My throne, And earth is the footstool of My feet; What kind of house will you build for Me?’ says the Lord, ‘Or what place is there for My repose? Was it not My hand which made all these things?’
Acts 7:46-50
But now the promised Comforter, the Holy Spirit, came to dwell within His followers. It is the very presence of God in the form of the indwelling Holy Spirit that transforms people and causes that sense of awe. Why is that amazing? For many reasons, but for one because God came to dwell in a place not made by human hands. God is the creator of man and He sent His Spirit to dwell within!
For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them.
Psalms 139:13-16
I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.
John 14:16-17
But before He could come, the dwelling had to be cleansed since it was enslaved to sin. This dwelling required a perfect sacrifice for cleansing that could only happen through Jesus’ death. His blood provides the cleansing so the Holy Spirit can dwell within us.
So this helps our understanding of church in that it means it is not a place or a building. A church building is not "God's house" or the "house of God." The believers have become the dwelling place of God. God has chosen to dwell within the believers - within Ekklesia.
The Roman way
The Romans were experts at creating a sense of awe through their massive architectural structures. They did the same for the church as it appears that they were acutely aware that they needed to sway and retain the hearts of the believers, or at least give the appearance of doing so. Their declaration of Christianity as the state religion brought in the rich and the merchants whether they believed or not as the church now became a place of commerce, or "networking'' as we now say.
By building elaborate structures, they could claim they held and properly memorialized the place of Christ's birth, crucifixion and tomb, as well as Peter's grave. And they sought to further this by obtaining artifacts from all twelve Apostles who had been martyred or died in their prisons for the Church of the Apostles in Constantinople, the Empire's new capitol.
But Constantine's efforts to venerate these locations instead appears to have repeated the religious leaders actions in Jesus' day, to which Jesus said,
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, and say, ‘If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ So you testify against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of the guilt of your fathers. You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell?
Matthew 23:29-33
Venture into places where Christianity has gone and you can see this pattern from the Roman Empire repeated again and again. Massive cathedrals, churches and sanctuaries, both old and new, create a sense of awe as we enter. But it isn't a sense of awe that the early church experienced of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. It is rather an awe of man's efforts and accomplishments.
Consider this list:
Cathedrals, expensive garments, idols, stained glass, sculptured gardens, vaulted ceilings, elaborate musical instruments, columns, entertainers, stage lighting, statues, video presentations, sanctuaries, extravagant programs, sprawling campuses, mezzanines, sound systems, murals, coffee shops, drama productions, fountains, balconies, bookstores, animatronics, educational institutions, amphitheaters, golf courses, altars, stadiums, amusement parks, theater seating, stages, expansive spaces, atriums
Would you characterize these items as having their roots from the church in Acts or the Roman Empire? Do they create a sense of awe in their creation or in the Creator? The remnants of the true church aren't found in infrastructure, elements, or artifacts that appeal to the flesh, but rather in repentant, changed hearts and transformed lives. The true church obtained something that neither money or ingenuity could or can create - the awe of the Holy Spirit within.
Partial paralysis
Let me inject a personal story that drove the condition of the church home to me. My 90 year old dad was living by himself. One evening, he finished making his dinner and was walking into the kitchen when he fell. The fall caused him to injure his spinal cord near the base of his neck. An MRI revealed a bony growth from his spinal column was pressing into his spinal cord. It immediately cut off function in both arms and his right leg and reduced capability in his left leg.
He ended up needing assistance in doing everything - eating, drinking, dressing, you get the picture. With assistance, he was able to stand and turn so he could transition from his wheelchair to a chair, or toilet, or bed. But he had little to no feeling on the bottom of his feet and had difficulty commanding his feet to move where he wanted. His hands could somewhat function but he had little strength, very little feeling, and no temperature sensation in one hand. Those of you who have dealt with paralysis before understand just how baffling it is to have or see body parts that appear normal but are unable to perform their function.
One evening while I was helping my dad to get into bed, I felt the Holy Spirit impress upon me that my dad's paralysis was representative of the church as we know it. I began to consider what that meant. My dad had an aging, but functional head commanding a partially paralyzed body with very reduced and limited functionality.
Paul uses the body and its members as an example of what the church body is supposed to be like when he describes the gifts and functions of the church in Romans 12, 1st Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4. The body should be fully functional with the Lord as head and each member contributing their gift for the edification of the whole.
Instead we have placed men at the head and have perpetuated a man commanded, non functional body as the norm for the church. We have discredited spiritual gifts or claim that they have ended. We create non scriptural gifts and functions that keep members from exercising their true gifts and purpose. We collect money and use it to build our kingdoms and provide for our comforts. Again, we can look to the period of time under the Roman Empire for the beginning of when this pattern started. The Roman Empire dictated power from the top downwards and transferred that model to their new state religion, Christianity.
Who will lead and teach us?
Who will lead and teach us in the true church? Well, we already know the answer to this question because we read it earlier. It's Jesus, the Lord! Let's look at the passages again.
At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Matthew 11:25-30
Jesus invites us to come, rest, take His yoke and "learn from Me." He also tells His disciples to not be called "Rabbi," because He is the one teacher and we are all brothers. The One is our teacher!
But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. But the greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.
Matthew 23:8-12
This all sounds good but can Jesus really lead and teach us since He's not here physically? Yes! This is part of the mystery of our faith. In order to come to faith, we first have to die to this world. Once reborn we are no longer of this world but are part of His kingdom. Now of His kingdom, we can learn from Him! Hear the words of the Lord as He prays for His disciples.
I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. “O righteous Father, although the world has not known You, yet I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me; and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”
John 17:14-26
So Jesus reveals that He Is not of this world. And because the disciples obeyed His call to believe and follow Him, neither are they. Did you see how this prayer also included us?
“I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word." We also; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me."
We too are not of this world but have become one with the Lord.
Gifts to the church
If Jesus will lead and teach us, what about the other believers? Are you saying we don't really need anyone else? Actually quite the contrary, but in a greater capacity and a different manner than perhaps you've known or considered. He has made each of us a part of His temple in which we play an integral part.
In fact we should first acknowledge the scriptural evidence of how God uniquely uses an individual in an extraordinary manner. We can read about the amazing transformation of Paul and the amazing work that the Lord did through him. And we can glean the Lord's purpose in using people in Paul's letter to the Ephesians where he writes:
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
Ephesians 4:11-13 ESV
Let's prayerfully examine this passage as it pertains to the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. The first thing you see is "He gave." Now this can be read in different ways and it appears the various translations have either left it for the reader to decide or have chosen one of two ways to interpret it. Is the Lord giving gifts to individuals to be apostles, prophets, etc, or is He giving apostles, prophets, etc as gifts to the church?
I believe it is both, actually. But the latter is what I'd like to focus on here. As God so chooses, He gifts the church with these individuals at certain times. This isn't to say that God isn't gifting the individuals with the spiritual ability to act in these capacities, but that He also gifts the church with these individuals. They aren't there to enrich themselves, or to build personal fame, or to establish themselves in any one place. But rather they come to build the body during particular moments of time as the Lord so chooses.
Let's look at Paul as an example. His appointment was incredibly remarkable. His training was equally remarkable as he learned directly from Jesus, and not from man. He came and led many people to salvation, particularly gentiles. But he never lorded over them as ruler, didn't establish himself in one locale, and refused personal wages. Rather he continued to point people to Christ and to help guide the churches that he established. He remained involved in trying to build lives that he touched to bring them to maturity.
We would say the same for John the Baptist as a prophet. He was filled with the Holy Spirit when he was still in his mother's womb. He grew in knowledge and stature until his allotted time. When it was time, he prepared the way as was his purpose by calling people to repentance and speaking of the One who was to follow.
Judas and Silas are named prophets, as is Agabus. Timothy and Phillip, who was one of the seven men chosen to facilitate helping widows, are the only two named evangelists that I am aware of in scripture. Phillip had four daughters who were prophetesses. Paul, Barnabas, Apollos, Andronicus, Junias are named apostles along with the eleven disciples and Mathias. The point being that these individuals were named with their gifts.
Many denominations and congregations ordain an individual to be a pastor and teacher based upon approval from existing clergy and training or education from a school of theology. Others declare people as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers based upon a predetermined approval process. Some individuals declare themselves as such.
I believe this passage is speaking about appointments made by God and not man. They are gifts as the Spirit leads and provides to the church. Consider what Paul writes to affirm this.
But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, ...
Galatians 1:15-16
We should mention that a large portion of the institutional church teaches that there are no longer apostles or prophets. They argue that the 'Apostolic age' - the time of the twelve Apostles - has ended. They are quick to dismiss anything that seems overly 'spiritual' as fabricated. Here is one passage that I've heard used to support this position:
Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.
1 Corinthians 13:8-10
"When the perfect comes" implies a point in the future. I'm not aware of anything perfect that came following Paul's writing of this passage. I believe this speaks of a time still in the future - when Christ comes for His church. Then we will no longer need the gifts of the Spirit for edification. The church will be perfect because of Christ!
In my view, this passage and the Ephesians passage affirm the necessity of the gifts that the Lord gives to the church. They will be given "until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ."
The pastor and teacher
In continuing this understanding, a pastor / teacher is likewise a gift from God just like an apostle, prophet and evangelist. A pastor / teacher exercises their gifts as they are directed by the Holy Spirit. Their purpose is for "equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ." These individuals are strategically gifted to the church.
It's interesting that of the four individuals that Paul describes, we likely feel we understand the appointment and duties of the pastor and teacher the most because many churches that we've been around are led by people that bear that title. And yet only one person in scripture is denoted specifically as a pastor and teacher - Jesus!
In fact, we should note that scripture never names or even mentions a pastor / teacher in any of the churches. When Paul writes to the churches, he addresses all of the members of the church. "To all who are beloved of God in Rome", "to the church of God which is in Corinth", "to the churches of Galatia", "to the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus", "to the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi", "to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ whom are at Colossae", "to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Lord Jesus", "to Philemon our beloved brother and fellow worker, and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house."
Likewise, when Jesus provides the words to John for the letters to the seven churches in Asia in Revelation, the letters are to the angel of each church, which is a revelation in itself, but the text is again written to the church body.
“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this: ‘I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false;
Revelation 2:1-2
Why does every modern church have a pastor, or priest, or minister, or reverend if this is true? If I were to fathom to guess I would say it is yet another remnant of the Roman Empire. Based upon their history, we know the Roman Empire was not going to promote Christianity and give up the power and control that they had taken so long to establish. By creating a structure and selecting the leadership, the empire believed they could affirm faith, build a constituency, and yet acquire a powerful new method of control. We see nations who establish churches both past and present use the same tactic. They control the message and monitor the patrons. Denominations and churches, often with good and sincere intentions, have tried the same approach.
This isn't to say that there are not those who pastor or teach. There are and scripture has examples of people who do. There is also a gift of teaching that is spoken of in several verses. But Jesus is the only one scripturally called both pastor and teacher. The closest other scriptural example of pastor and teacher that I'm aware of are elders. But they bear the title of "elder" instead. We'll examine elders in a bit.
The good Shepherd
Was it an oversight that no one is named pastor and teacher besides Jesus? We know all scripture has been inspired by God so there was no oversight. This is actually part of the good news. The church has never been left without someone to pastor them. Nor will it ever be. The true church has one Pastor Who will never mislead or disappoint - Jesus! He directly says that he is the good shepherd - "shepherd" being the same word in Greek as "pastor."
"I am the good shepherd"
John 10:11
In fact, there is a good reason that He alone is named pastor. Would we want anyone else other than Jesus?
His shepherding is actually the fulfillment of prophecy. First, let's look back and see what happened with the Israelites to understand the failings of the pastors (shepherds) of that time. This passage may also explain why no one else is named as such.
Then the word of the Lord came to me saying, “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to those shepherds, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Woe, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock? You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat sheep without feeding the flock. Those who are sickly you have not strengthened, the diseased you have not healed, the broken you have not bound up, the scattered you have not brought back, nor have you sought for the lost; but with force and with severity you have dominated them. They were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and they became food for every beast of the field and were scattered. My flock wandered through all the mountains and on every high hill; My flock was scattered over all the surface of the earth, and there was no one to search or seek for them.' Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: “As I live,” declares the Lord God, “surely because My flock has become a prey, My flock has even become food for all the beasts of the field for lack of a shepherd, and My shepherds did not search for My flock, but rather the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock; therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will demand My sheep from them and make them cease from feeding sheep. So the shepherds will not feed themselves anymore, but I will deliver My flock from their mouth, so that they will not be food for them.” ’
Ezekiel 34:1-10
Does this sound familiar even though it was written many years prior to the church? Have you or your loved ones become prey or were never strengthened, healed, bound up, brought back or sought after while the shepherds continually fed themselves?
There is good news that follows however.
“Then I will set over them one shepherd, My servant David, and he will feed them; he will feed them himself and be their shepherd. And I, the Lord, will be their God, and My servant David will be prince among them; I the Lord have spoken."
Ezekiel 34:23-24
Note that David is a prophetic name of the Messiah as this was written long after David had died. Jesus, however, was in the lineage of David. And we can understand why David is considered as a prophetic type of Jesus. He was a humble shepherd who went after and killed a lion and a bear in order to rescue lambs that were taken from the flock. He faithfully tended the flock and the Lord saw his heart and raised him up as a type of Christ for Israel.
Here's a prophecy of our Shepherd in Isaiah.
Get yourself up on a high mountain, O Zion, bearer of good news, Lift up your voice mightily, O Jerusalem, bearer of good news; Lift it up, do not fear. Say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!” Behold, the Lord God will come with might, With His arm ruling for Him. Behold, His reward is with Him And His recompense before Him. Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs And carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes.
Isaiah 40:9-11
And in Micah.
But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.” Therefore He will give them up until the time When she who is in labor has borne a child. Then the remainder of His brethren Will return to the sons of Israel. And He will arise and shepherd His flock In the strength of the Lord, In the majesty of the name of the Lord His God. And they will remain, Because at that time He will be great To the ends of the earth.
Micah 5:2-4
But aren't these prophecies just for Israel? How does that apply to us? We're not Israel, no. But Jesus has grafted us, a wild olive branch, into the cultivated olive tree that is Israel.
And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles. As He says also in Hosea, “I will call those who were not My people, ‘My people,’ And her who was not beloved, ‘beloved.’ And it shall be that in the place where it was said to them, ‘you are not My people,’ There they shall be called sons of the living God.”
Romans 9:23-26
Jesus is our one shepherd.
“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”
John 10:11-18
So, whether Jew or gentile, we are becoming "one flock with one shepherd!" And He is equipping us "in every good thing to do His will."
Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Hebrews 13:20-21
What a privilege it is to have Jesus as our Pastor!
Teacher
In addition to being our pastor, Jesus is also our teacher.
You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am.
John 13:13
But can Jesus really teach us since He has been resurrected and now sits at the right hand of the Father? He can! Read this amazing passage that says just that!
Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Hebrews 13:20-21
In fact it is through Jesus, the "great Shepherd of the sheep," that God will "equip you in every good thing to do His will!"
Paul's conversion affirms this as he had an incredible encounter with the resurrected Jesus on the road to Emmaus. Likely lost in the story of his conversion is what occurred afterwards; of how he came to have the knowledge to bring the gospel to so many people in distant lands. We have to turn to Galatians to find out how that happened.
For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
Galatians 1:11-12
To us, the most obvious place for Paul to go for an education about his new faith and what it meant would be to go to the apostles, or at least to Jerusalem. But the Lord directs him to Arabia and Damascus for three years. There, Jesus reveals all that he needs to fulfill his ministry.
But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus. Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him fifteen days. But I did not see any other of the apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. (Now in what I am writing to you, I assure you before God that I am not lying.) Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea which were in Christ; but only, they kept hearing, “He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy.” And they were glorifying God because of me.
Galatians 1:15-24
So how is it possible for us to be taught by Jesus? Jesus tells us that if we are His sheep we will hear his voice and that He will tend over us.
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
John 10:27-30
And we have been blessed with access to His word being recorded in scripture. He revealed the mystery of the gospel to the apostles and prophets who recorded the truths in scripture. We have these scriptures to test and measure all that we encounter.
So does the idea of Jesus being our teacher measure up to the test? Let's read what the Apostles have to say regarding Jesus being our teacher.
John reaffirms the importance of abiding in Jesus. This passage is likely a reference to what is beautifully recorded in John 15. Here he tells us that as we abide in Him, that "His anointing teaches you about all things" and that we have no need for anyone else to teach us. Incredible!
These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you. As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him. Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him.
1 John 2:26-29
James tells us that we can ask God in areas where we lack wisdom and He "gives to all generously and without reproach" as we ask in faith. I often do this very thing. I will encounter situations in life or passages that I don't understand. I can confirm that He is very faithful in answering me. I joke that I have a bookshelf with all of the outstanding questions that I have. As time goes by, He faithfully answers. Sometimes, it happens immediately, and others, over a long period of time, sometimes years. I trust He knows when I need or can handle the answers.
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
James 1:5-8
Peter tells us that He has granted to us "everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence." The list of what we receive as new creatures in His kingdom is incredible. He takes our faith and grants us moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love! Here Peter encourages us to apply diligence in practicing them. Have you ever discovered an inherent gift and been amazed at how quickly you advance when you practice? Meanwhile, you can practice and practice something that you want to be good at but is not an inherent gift and very little comes from it? These have been granted to us and when you practice them, you will be useful and fruitful in Him!
Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.
2 Peter 1:2-11
The prophets of old saw this day coming and prophesied concerning it. Here's what the prophet Jeremiah foresees.
“Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord. “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the Lord, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Isn't that an amazing prophesy? He has put His law within us and on our hearts and grants us knowledge to know Him and to be His people!
What a blessing to have Jesus as our teacher!
Chaos!
What?! No earthly leader? No structure? No creed? Aren't you prescribing a recipe for total chaos! Yes, if people aren't filled with the Holy Spirit and aren't following Jesus with their whole heart.
Scripture illustrates that the church is like the body with each member as a part of the body. When you consider the body, no member lords over another member. Rather they all answer to the head and serve one another. What keeps the members working in unity? The head, Jesus!
Consider the heart and the hand. The heart doesn't control the hand nor the hand the heart. Both are controlled by the head. The heart serves the hand by pumping blood to the hand. Likewise, the hand serves the head by bringing food to the body that nurtures the heart. There is only trouble when either fails to do its function and then the other suffers as well.
A repentant and submitted person comes to the throne of God and is liberated and transformed by the blood of Jesus and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit so that they are unified with Jesus, the head. Each true member is incorporated into the body to fulfill its function. It has found the true church.
Of course, what is described here is the ideal church. I believe it is important that we know what it is so we can contend for it. But since we live where the ruler of the world comes to steal, kill and destroy, we know that the enemy will make his presence known. But that's no reason to embrace the model from the Roman Empire.
That said, the institutional church has been a picture of chaos with different parts claiming authenticity, exercising authority, refusing to work together, or even talk with one another. At various times it has established fabricated rules and doctrine, engorged a few while starving the many, engaged in immorality, wars and atrocities, all while broadcasting their disunity and hypocrisy to the lost. Have they been answering to Jesus, the head? It doesn't appear that they have or we would be one.
Lessons from Ephesus
Acts 19-20 is particularly helpful in understanding the church. It covers the beginning and ending of Paul's ministry to the church in Ephesus. When studied together with Ephesians, the two letters to Timothy, and the letter to Ephesus in Revelation, we likely have the most comprehensive view of a church in the Bible. Let's see what we can learn from the church in Ephesus.
It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples. He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said to him, “No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”
Acts 19:1-2
We can see that when Paul arrived at Ephesus, the news of Jesus had already reached this coastal city in modern day Turkey. The first thing that this passage relates is that Paul finds disciples in Ephesus. "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" Paul inquires of them. As believers, most of our discussion focuses on God and Jesus, but little on the Holy Spirit. Yet it's Paul's first concern.
And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” And they said, “Into John’s baptism.” Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying. There were in all about twelve men.
Acts 19:3-7
It is important that we pause here and ask ourselves this question that Paul posed to these disciples. Did we receive the Holy Spirit when we believed? Many would be bothered that I would even ask that question as they understand that they received the Holy Spirit upon belief. Others understand it occurred when they were baptized in water. Here are twelve men who both believed and were water baptized but weren't baptized in the name of Jesus, and didn't receive the Holy Spirit until Paul came to them. And when they received the Holy Spirit there was no doubt!
We should ask ourselves this question because Paul asks this question of people who believed and had been water baptized. We now know that it can be true and that it is scriptural. And it's shown scripturally in two other places. The disciples themselves left everything, believed, were water baptized, performed miracles, spent time with the risen Christ and yet they were instructed to wait so that they could receive the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. We can perhaps dismiss this as an example because the Holy Spirit first fell at Pentecost. But there is a similar account with Peter and John in Acts 8 for those who "received the word of God" but had "simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus" after Pentecost.
Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit.
Acts 8:14-17
“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” If not, begin praying to receive Him. We'll talk more about the Holy Spirit later. For now, let's continue examining the church of Ephesus.
Despite Paul's calling as the apostle to the gentiles, we find him speaking in a synagogue. Paul had the credibility and knowledge to do so, "circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless." Philippians 3:5-6
And he entered the synagogue and continued speaking out boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the people, he withdrew from them and took away the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. This took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.
Acts 19:8-10
Paul's entering and speaking in synagogues likely shows the Lord's heart for the Jews - His people of promise. Perhaps he started there because it provided a public forum in which he could speak, or perhaps some of the disciples were Jews. We can really only speculate the reasons. In many ways, it makes sense for him to go to a place where people are seeking God and answers.
However, once he withdrew his disciples from the synagogue, we get to see the commitment and passion that Paul had for people as he begins "reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus" for two years. And whether Paul had to rent the school or not, we know that he volunteered his time and ministered at his own expense.
But are you seeing this? Paul did this daily at his own expense for two years! What a contrast there is between this and the way of the Roman Empire that ruled, built and governed at the expense of their subjects. And we see the amazing work of the Lord through Paul during this time.
God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out.
Acts 19:11-12
Elders
Now let's jump to the conclusion of Paul's ministry to Ephesus for more insight into the church. His ministry ends with him calling the elders to meet with him.
From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church. And when they had come to him, he said to them, “You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 20:17-21
Who are these elders and what are their responsibilities, you may be wondering. Why were they needed at all based upon what we learned earlier?
As the gospel went forth and the church continued to grow, the enemy infiltrated the church with false prophets, teachers and teachings. In response, the apostles and their fellow workers would contend for the truth and they would instruct the new disciples to do so also. From among the church's disciples, they appointed elders who they would charge to act in their stead once they left these new churches as the Holy Spirit would lead then to other places.
After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
Acts 14:21-23
Here Paul gives instructions to his worker, Timothy.
As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith.
1 Timothy 1:3-4
Jude instructs the "beloved" to contend for the faith as ungodly people had infiltrated their church. He then reminds them how both angels and men in past times turned away from the truth and suffered terrible consequences.
Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe.
Jude 1:3-5
The concern was grave as we learn through Paul's letter to Timothy. Members of the body will fall away from the faith!
But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron,
1 Timothy 4:1-2
And we learn of the fate of the believer who desires to live Godly in Christ Jesus.
Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
2 Timothy 3:12-13
In Paul's letters to Titus we find instructions to appoint elders in every city.
For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you.
Titus 1:5
We'll see this again as we look further at Ephesus. The elders' were to continue what Paul, Timothy and Titus had been doing. He was leaving them on their own after serving them.
Peter provides a concise guideline as to what it means to serve as an elder. Note that Peter considers himself as a fellow elder.
Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as Lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.
1 Peter 5:1-3
An elder is to serve "voluntarily," "with eagerness," "proving to be examples to the flock." An elder was not to serve "under compulsion," "for sordid gain," "nor yet as Lording it over those allotted to your charge."
So now we have a basic scriptural understanding of elders and their purpose in the church. Let's return to Ephesus to learn even more.
More from Ephesus
And with the understanding by the Holy Spirit that his time of serving the church at Ephesus was ending, Paul speaks about his uncertain future, his heart towards his calling, and provides an insight to the weight of responsibility that he understood while serving in Ephesus.
And now, behold, bound by the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me. But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God. “And now, behold, I know that all of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will no longer see my face. Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.
Acts 20:22-27
Wow! His declaration of being "innocent of the blood of all men" speaks to Paul's understanding that the eternity of the Ephesian people was dependent upon him fulfilling his responsibility. In other words, by him not doing what he did at Ephesus, their life in eternity would be his responsibility.
At some point in Paul's ministry to Ephesus, he asks Timothy to temporarily oversee the church. This is particularly helpful in understanding what he and Timothy did and to understand what they expected the elders to do after their departure. During that period, we see him provide Timothy with guidelines regarding the qualifications of an elder, who is referred to as "overseer" in several passages.
The remaining portion of our passage in Acts makes it clear that an elder and overseer are one and the same, with perhaps the distinction that the Holy Spirit might identify certain elders as overseers.
Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothes. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to the men who were with me. In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
Acts 20:28-35
Here we read in dramatic prophesy what Ephesus is to face and what he is charging the elders to confront. "Savage wolves", "not sparing the flock," "from your own selves men will arise," "to draw disciples after them."
Note that although he doesn't call the elders "pastor," their responsibilities were to "shepherd the church of God which He purchased with his blood." And he uses himself as an example to them.
- He served them night and day
- He never ceased to admonish each one with tears
- He didn't covet their silver or gold or riches
- He served them voluntarily, using his own resources to cover the expenses of himself and his disciples
- He worked hard
- He remembered the weak
- He remembered the words of the Lord Jesus that it was better for him to give rather than receive
By appointing elders, was Paul inferring that the elders were to take the place of Jesus as their pastor and teacher? Not at all. Rather he reiterates God's ability to complete the work. "And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified."
With Paul's charge to the elders at Ephesus, we have a more complete understanding of their purpose and an example to follow. It is probably unlike anything that we've known in our institutionalized churches. But the scriptures allow us to see what an important and critical role they perform to the church. It makes us appreciate those who fill this role.
The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
1 Timothy 5:17
Three years
When examining Ephesus, Paul tells us that he ministered there for three years. That period of time brought interest to me because it is an amount of time repeated several times in passages regarding discipleship.
In the case of Ephesus, Paul comes, preaches the gospel, ministers and has his workers disciple those who have come to Christ. And he does so for a period of three years. In the end, he charges the elders to continue the work. From his letters to Timothy, we can see that the elders were the disciples that had matured and proven themselves to be faithful. He departs never to return.
Most people believe that the period of Jesus ministry was three and a half years. This of course means his disciples were taught and became ready for their ministry over that period of time.
Then there is this mysterious prophetic word in the book of Daniel that also speaks of a period of three and a half years. Could this be speaking of that same period - the time between the start of Jesus ministry to his crucifixion and then to Pentecost, the start of the church?
From the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. How blessed is he who keeps waiting and attains to the 1,335 days!
Daniel 12:11-12
From the time Paul had his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus until he travels to Jerusalem to begin his ministry is also around three years. So he too undergoes discipleship for about the same period of time as the other apostles.
And lastly we have the parable of Jesus and the fig tree.
And He began telling this parable: “A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any. And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’ And he answered and said to him, ‘Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.’ ”
Luke 13:6-9
Why bring this up in context of the church? Because I'm afraid our thinking is that the church is simply a place where we gather to learn. We can grow content and see that place as a safe harbor where we come, socialize, sit and listen. We give and perform a task here and there. We go there to be married, buried and to help raise our children. The gospel then stagnates.
Perhaps this affirms having Jesus as the principle pastor / teacher of the church. Each believer should grow to look to, learn from, and be completely dependent upon Jesus and not man. When that happens, God can use his gifts to serve the body. The Lord never intended for a believer to spend their lives constantly learning but never coming to maturity in Christ and not being able to exercise their gifts to serve the body.
Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
Hebrews 5:11-14
Instead, we should understand that God called us into His body for a purpose. That purpose was to fulfill our function to the body and to bear fruit. Yes, there is a period of time to be nurtured and to feed on the pure milk of His word. But that period is limited. He has provided everything we need to come to maturity, to be a functional part of the body, to be Ekklesia!
The institutional church
For many of us, the institutional church is all that we've known. It has persisted in some shape or form since the time of Constantine so why would we ever stop to consider if it's correct or not? It has to be - it's all we know. And it seems to work pretty well, right?
No, actually it doesn't. Take a quick measurement of yourself. How many people have you shared the gospel with recently, or ever? Well, that's not my gift. Ok, then what is your gift and how are you using your gift to serve the church? I'm still learning what it is and getting ready. So then you know about God's gifts? Yes, we took a test in Sunday school and I'm a sheep dog, I think. A sheep dog? No wait. I'm an INTJ. A what? You, know. An introverted something. We believe in Myer somebody. Oh, never mind. But I'm something! And besides, that's what we pay our pastors to do. Aren't they busy teaching people? Yeah, they're doing that too. And we're building a new student building to bring in new families. And don't forget about our new digital sign on the highway. I gave money, you know. So you're seeing lots of people coming to faith? I'm not sure but folks that used to go to that other church have started coming. They accidentally sat in our seats on Sunday. Your seats? My family has been sitting here for over 30 years!
And herein lies one of the fundamental problems of the way churches have evolved in America. Fundamentally, they are businesses that require a constant source of income to pay salaries and fund building projects. Their income stream? Selling Jesus.
Having a believer brought to maturity within a short period means that they would likely leave to do other things - like grow the body. The loss of a committed member affects the bottom line so from a business perspective, it's better to have members who stay, become dependent and give for a lifetime. So even a leader with the purest of motives faces this tension between the business and the desire to build what truly matters.
The answer is straightforward and clear: you cannot serve both God and money.
Give us a king
What if I prefer to have an earthly pastor and teacher? Isn't this the exact reasoning that the Israelites used when they called for an earthly king? And wouldn't we be more at fault since we have been given so much more? Jesus' blood has given us access into the throne room of God!
If we're being brutally honest, we don't have a lot of faith in someone who we can't physically touch or see. And truth be known, we don't really want to spend the time to know the Lord. Moreover, we don't really want anyone to control our lives anyway. So a human who teaches us about basic spiritual things works out fine. Especially when they hold no real control over us and we can choose to do whatever we like at the end of the day.
This returns us back to the passage that was the catalyst to this writing from 1 Samuel when the Israelites wanted a king. They were rejecting Samuel and his sons, but it was the Lord that they were actually rejecting. So when it comes to Jesus as our teacher, father and leader, are we doing the same?
And while we're being honest, many of us retain, have run back to, or secretly embrace and harbor sin that we refuse to eliminate and destroy. Instead, we seek out and surround ourselves with teachers and fabricated theology that point to grace as our ticket to eternity while ignoring the very Helper that God has given to set us free. And a disconnected shepherd in a building where we can slip in, make nice for a couple of hours, and then slip out while publicly showing how we're involved in the kingdom serves us well. I mean, who's to know? In the meantime we ignore His hatred and wrath of the very things that separate and disqualify us from the rewards He promises.
So the first thing we have to face is our own faith. Do we really believe and do we really trust in the Lord? I've been around a lot of Christians over my life and most of us will emphatically say "yes" to this question. "Yes, I really believe," and "Yes, I truly trust the Lord!" But when you watch our lives as we encounter daily challenges, we generally will look to our own wisdom or earthly experts to lead, guide and solve our concerns. Only when we are truly desperate do we look to God.
But there is good news. If you have a yearning for something better for yourself, your family, and your community; and if you're ready to embrace the One as teacher, as father, and as leader; and if you're ready to rid yourself of the secret sins that have held you in bondage for so long; and if you're ready to fully trust Him and embrace His will for you; you don't have to look far. The Perfect abides nearby! The often misused verse for calling someone to salvation isn't about salvation at all. It is for those of the Ekklesia who are "wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked."
Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.
Revelation 3:20
And this leads us back to the Holy Spirit.
The young man on the bridge
The youth pastor at a church I attended planned a retreat for high school students. Two of my sons wanted to attend but I was a bit concerned about the behavior of one of them so I offered to attend the retreat as a helper which the youth pastor graciously accepted.
The retreat was held at a nearby Christian retreat center that our family was very familiar with as we had stayed and camped there over the years. The particular dorm that we slept in was next to a metal walking bridge that crossed over a deep ravine. The bridge connected the dorm with the main area of the retreat center including the cafeteria where we ate our meals.
One evening as we ate in the cafeteria there was a young man who was interacting with several of our young ladies as they came to fill their drinks. Some of the kids made us aware of his actions. The young man quickly became aware that we were watching so he carefully sought to engage our girls when we weren't looking. Word came back that his comments were crude and inappropriate so our youth pastor asked him not to bother our retreatants. After he spoke to him he left the cafeteria.
Following dinner everyone was instructed to stay around the dorm area since we had a lesson planned for later that evening. As our students headed back to the dorm some of them ran back into the cafeteria to tell us that the young man had positioned himself midway on the bridge in this little pavilion that stood halfway across the bridge. We told them to ignore him and to not react to his antics. I decided to go ahead and cross the bridge with several of the young ladies who felt intimidated. As I started on the bridge I could see him verbally trying to antagonize our students as they passed by. As I neared, he acted as though he was enjoying the scenery. I kindly asked him not to engage with our students to which he responded back with a sarcastic reply. I hurried our retreatants that were on the bridge back to the dorm and went to help ready the area for the evening teaching.
Our youth pastor returned as the remaining students continued to return from the cafeteria. A few moments later, some frantic students came into the dorm. The youth pastor had gone to his room and I was the only adult present. "Mr. Murata, Mr. Murata, come quickly!" they frantically started. "That boy wasn't letting some of us pass by and I think some of our boys are about to get into a fight with him!" Oh boy, I thought as I looked around to see if the youth pastor was around. I didn't really want to get into a confrontation with this kid. Not seeing him anywhere, I made my way back to the bridge and could see him yelling back and forth with some of our kids.
I started to pray, Lord help me and give me the words to say. As I reached the mob of kids, I tried to raise my voice above the melee. I then told our students to return to the dorm. As I made my way through the kids, the young man saw me and started to defend himself while hurling accusatory comments towards our students. With my heart pulsing, I again prayed asking the Lord for His help. Instantly, I knew something about this young man and his past. I kindly asked him to back away as I tried to usher our students back to the dorm as he angrily continued his rant while questioning my authority.
I turned and looked at him and said, "I know why you're so angry." I then began to tell him what I knew. It was deep, dark and very specific and I calmly spoke it directly to him. I'm not sure if anyone else heard it except perhaps those that were right next to me. But wow! It was as though I punched him right in the gut. He took a couple of steps back looking quite stunned and bewildered as he considered what I said. Suddenly he was engulfed in rage. "You don't know that! You don't know that! Nobody knows that!" he screamed in an explosion of emotions as he pointed his finger at my face. "How do you know that?! Nobody knows that!" he continued. "I'm going to tell my father and I'm going to go to the authorities and you're not going to get away with this!" he yelled through tears as he turned and hurried down the bridge and headed back towards the main part of the retreat center.
A young lady, who was the daughter of a friend, looked at me inquisitively and asked, "Mr. Murata, What did you say to him?" I told her that I told him something that I knew about him. "Do you know him? How did you know that?" she asked as I haphazardly continued to try to shepherd the kids back towards the dorm. Up to that moment, she was completely unengaged in the retreat and appeared to be counting the moments until she could go home. I could feel the adrenaline pulsing throughout my body as I tried to hide my shaking. "Have you ever heard of the spiritual gifts in the Bible?" I asked to which she shook her head signaling she hadn't. "I believe that was what's called a 'word of knowledge,'" I said. "I believe it's where you know something that you shouldn't know. Somehow, I knew that about him but can't really tell you how other than to say that God let me know," as I continued talking but sounding pretty unsure myself. "That is the craziest thing I think I've ever seen," she replied as she shook her head almost in disbelief. "Yeah, me too!" I agreed while still trying to hide my shaking as my mind raced and reflected on what happened.
As we returned to the dorm building and entered the meeting room the youth pastor walked in after a few minutes so I requested a few minutes to talk. I thought I better let him know as I anticipated we might have a visit from the young man's family. The youth pastor replied, "Really? Wow!" as he appeared to be trying to make sense of what I told him. He then thanked me for letting him know and proceeded to gather the students to begin the session. Some moments into the session I heard someone knocking on the big wooden doors to the dorm building. I was hoping no one would notice but one of the older boys ran to answer. He too was present on the bridge and I'm sure was anticipating more conflict along with the others who were there. My spirit sank as I hoped whoever was knocking was here for another reason. "Mr. Murata, Mr. Murata," he whispered excitedly as he tried to not attract attention from the session. "That kid and some men would like to speak to you." Oh gosh, I thought in dread as I sheepishly headed to the door with the boy and several others now in tow as I started towards the door. "I can handle this," I said as I directed them back to the session while actually thinking it might actually be nice if several of them came to protect me.
As I opened the door, the young man, a middle aged gentleman and a worker from the retreat center were standing outside waiting for me. I immediately glanced at the young man as he was now calm, quiet with his eyes glancing at me and then gazing downwards. The retreat center employee started to talk as I glanced at the other man thinking that this must be his father. "Excuse me sir," the retreat worker started in a very reserved fashion. "I'm so sorry to bother you but can I ask you a couple of quick questions?"
"Umm, sure," as my mind swirled, dreading where this was going. "Did you speak to this young man earlier this evening on the bridge?" "Umm, yes," I answered. "Can I ask you to tell us what happened?" he questioned. "Okay," I started as I then proceeded to tell them of the events from the cafeteria and then on the bridge, but leaving out what transpired near the end. "So when this all happened, did you say anything back to this young man?" he asked as I was trying to decide how I would answer that very question. "I told him that I knew why he was angry and then told him what I knew." "Can I ask you how you knew that about him?" he inquired. I then gave him the same answer that I had given to the young lady earlier.
About the time I was finishing, the other man began to speak. "Sir," he started. "I am this young man's stepfather. His mother and I have been praying and trying to understand for a long time how to help our son. We knew there must have been something but no one knew what it was and he wasn't letting us know. We've gone to our pastors, medical professionals, and counselors and spoke to many people and things have just gotten progressively worse. He has been getting angrier and angrier and we were at our wits end. We thought we'd get away for a few days as a family here hoping that it might help to be away from home but he hated every minute and was even more belligerent and rebellious. After your encounter, he came crying and told us what you said and we all just wept and wept. It is all true. I asked the retreat center if they could help us locate you because we wanted to thank you! Now that we know what happened and it is out in the open, he is already doing so much better and we can find him more help if he needs it. Already he is a completely different person. Words cannot express our gratitude. His mother and I thank you so much," he concluded as he shook my hand in sincere thanks. I stood there trying to keep my jaw from dropping in shock. As he looked at his stepson, he asked if he wanted to say anything. The young man looked up at me with a sincere gaze and quietly said "thank you." "Sir, again we're so sorry to interrupt your evening," the retreat center employee chimed in. "Thank you again for your time and hope you have a good evening."
I stepped back into the building in shock. Did all of that really just happen? I pondered as I stood in awe of the amazing God that we serve. The kids that witnessed the event looked back at me with eager curiosity as I tried my best to quietly slip back into the meeting. They too were in awe as I later was able to share what transpired. The previously disengaged young lady joined my group later that evening. She had an amazing moment of openness and transparency before the Lord in a time of worship with our group.
Hurting the Holy Spirit's fame
I share that story as we return to the Holy Spirit and the church for a reason. In my lifetime there have been ongoing efforts by teachers and biblical experts as to where, why, and how the gifts of the Holy Spirit are no longer present in the church. There are books, lesson series, commentaries and even notations in Bibles telling us why the spiritual gifts listed in 1st Corinthians 12, in particular, are no longer given to the church.
I have found little to no scriptural evidence to support this argument and have listened to and read several sources to test what I've believed and experienced. Instead of scripture, I've heard stories of fraud, misdeeds, exploitation, false hopes, fake cures and shattered lives that are instead used to make the point. And in so doing, they have caused others to consider any experience to be considered false, fringe, extreme and even demonic. Those who have experienced spiritual gifts or were born into the church because of a movement of the Holy Spirit are intimidated of being ostracized or labeled abnormal. If they are like me, they may then attend churches that shy away from what may be considered overly spiritual. There the Holy Spirit is rarely the focus and only mentioned in rote prayers if at all.
I'm not going to debate nor try to persuade anyone to a different perspective with clever arguments. Rather I'd like to draw us to a place that most believers agree upon and then ask a simple question. Most would agree that a true believer has the Holy Spirit within them and that the Holy Spirit is God. If a believer has God within them - the God Who created the universe and everything within it - why is it so difficult to believe that He can work through a believer in extraordinary ways? Particularly when these "gifts" are specifically given for instruction to the church and are recorded as being present and active in the church in scripture.
Jesus said that there was only one sin that could not be forgiven.
“Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.
Matthew 12:31-32
What does blasphemy mean? I am not a biblical scholar but I regularly look up the meaning of words used in the Bible to gain a better understanding of a passage. Blasphemy comes from "blasphemos" which is derived from two words: "blaptos" which means to hurt, harm or injure, and "pheme" which means "fame" or "report." So blasphemy against the Spirit is the hurting and harming of the fame and report of the Holy Spirit. The Strong's concordance says it means, "slander, detraction, speech injurious, to another's good name."
I certainly don't know whether the individuals who have built positions regarding how the Holy Spirit no longer operates constitutes blasphemy or not. But I do believe the fame and report of the Holy Spirit has been hurt, harmed and injured because of their efforts, as well as the misdeeds and exploitation. After all, it is true that there is no shortage of misdeeds and exploitation of so-called spiritual gifts for fame and financial gain. But isn't this true regarding anything of great value? If there is no value, would anyone desire to defraud or exploit them?
Which leads me back to the young man on the bridge. I certainly had no prior thought of God doing something extraordinary when I went to help diffuse the conflict that was unfolding. I just knew I needed help and wisdom from God so I prayed while I was on my way.
For me, this has been my experience when these "spiritual moments" occur. They aren't something that I conjure up, they just happen. And isn't this exactly what 1st Corinthians 12 says in the passages that bookend these "spiritual gifts."
But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
1 Corinthians 12:7
But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.
1 Corinthians 12:11
I love the way these passages are written because it places the glory and the power with God and not the vessel that it flows through. The Holy Spirit manifested Himself with a word of knowledge about this young man. He distributed it as He willed. I simply had to speak what I knew. He did all of the rest.
And we witnessed the effect of this one small action by the Spirit. We were all in awe! We were in awe not of man or by man's cleverness of things we say, make or do. We were not in awe of man's ability to overpower another by great strength, superior wealth, or polished intellect. We were in awe of the Lord and His almighty strength and power. And that power not only set the enemy back from the life of this young man, but also his family, in the life of the young girl who was witness, in the lives of the other youth who shared in the moment, and in my life.
I'm so grateful that the story didn't end with the young man running away in anger even though that in itself was remarkable given the circumstances. But he and his step father returned to confirm the word that I received was true, that the hopes and prayers of his parents were answered, that the young man was restored to his family, and that he was set free from the bondage that held him. The fame of the Holy Spirit was magnified!
The church and the Holy Spirit
In my experience, the Holy Spirit is the least understood, least discussed and most controversial part of God. But rather than speculating the reasons why, let's try to understand Who the Holy Spirit is and His purpose in the church. Hopefully we will refute false narratives as we do.
Let's first remember what Jesus spoke to the disciples in John. There He lets them know what was to come.
I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.
John 14:16-17
If it wasn't remarkable enough that Jesus was there amongst the disciples, He tells them something even more remarkable - the Father is giving them the Holy Spirit Who "abides with you and will be in you." And then He tells them that the Holy Spirit will "teach you all things."
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.
John 14:26
Before the Holy Spirit fell at Pentecost, Jesus told the disciples a change that would happen to them with the Holy Spirit's coming - "you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you."
So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
Acts 1:6-8
Jesus also tells them what they will do once they are empowered by the Holy Spirit - "you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” They are to build the church through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Almost immediately, Jesus' prophecy began to be fulfilled when the Holy Spirit fell on the disciples and all who had gathered - about 120 people. Through the Spirit, Peter helps us understand that the falling of the Holy Spirit was also the beginning of the fulfillment of a prophecy written by Joel.
For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day; but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel: ‘And it shall be in the last days,’ God says, ‘That I will pour forth of My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, And your young men shall see visions, And your old men shall dream dreams; Even on My bondslaves, both men and women, I will in those days pour forth of My Spirit And they shall prophesy. And I will grant wonders in the sky above And signs on the earth below, Blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. The sun will be turned into darkness And the moon into blood, Before the great and glorious day of the Lord shall come. And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
Acts 2:15-21
Even though it's difficult to grasp how transformational this change was, this prophecy in Joel helps us to understand how far reaching the gift of the Holy Spirit extended. Prior to this moment, God had chosen the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as his people. Only certain of their descendants could enter the Temple, only men could be priests, and only one of them could go into the Holy of Holies once a year. Now we see that through the blood of Jesus, a way was provided not just for the Jews or particular Levites or the High Priest, but for "all mankind" to come near to God. Even Peter, who proclaimed the prophecy, and the other apostles didn't grasp that this prophecy included the gentiles.
The others who came because of the noise looked around the room and saw those gathered speaking in languages of all of the surrounding regions - their languages - and they were amazed. Amongst those speaking in tongues were men and women of all types - fishermen, tax collectors, prostitutes, zealots, fathers, mothers, sons and daughters.
So the first manifestation of this power was the 120 gathered speaking in tongues, or languages. Scripture notes that they were doing so "as the Spirit was giving them utterance." The use of "utterance'' infers that what they were saying was of a "dignified and elevated discourse" and the languages spoken were languages of the people present. Those who came heard about God in their native language!
And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.
Acts 2:8-11
This tells us a lot about God and the church. God uses normal people, empowered with the Spirit, to reveal and witness to others about Himself. He doesn't force or coerce people to believe, but instead appeals for them to consider whether what they're seeing and hearing is true - whether God is real. And He does it in a very personal and direct way. Can you imagine perhaps never or rarely hearing your native tongue and then arriving at this moment to hear someone speaking in your language and telling you about the great deeds of God? And others are reporting that they are hearing their native tongue too? At Pentecost, many believed but others determined that the people must be intoxicated rather than experiencing an encounter with God.
Now think back to my encounter with the young man on the bridge. I believe that the Spirit Who "abides with you and will be in you" let me know something about this complete stranger. Speaking what I knew confounded the young man and it forced him to make a decision as to how something he thought was hidden could be known. His encounter with the Spirit was personal and direct. He believed.
Testing our experiences
But as mentioned earlier, there are many today who believe and teach that the gifts of the Spirit ended with the Apostles. Was my encounter with the young man on the bridge of God? Let's test it against scripture.
Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”
Acts 2:38-39
Peter first affirms that the gift of the Holy Spirit was for those present - "for you and your children." But he also says it is for "all who are far off" which includes us. We're one of the "as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”
Ok, so then can the Holy Spirit allow us to know something? And even so, were these "gifts" only given to the Apostles? Scripture indeed tells us that many signs and wonders were occurring through the Apostles so we should absolutely acknowledge what the Holy Spirit was uniquely doing through them. But let's also acknowledge that those gathered, the 120, were all filled with the Holy Spirit and were all speaking in tongues.
So let's look at 1 Corinthians 12 and at the "gifts" that many say are no longer part of the church. Notice that this passage mentions more than just gifts but also includes "ministries" and "effects." Right before enumerating them, Paul refers to the list as "manifestations of the Spirit." So perhaps it would be more accurate to refer to the items in this list as "manifestations" instead of "gifts."
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.
1 Corinthians 12:4-11
So here we see in the list a manifestation referred to as "the word of knowledge" listed as one of the manifestations of the Spirit. I've understood this to mean knowing something that only could be revealed by God. This happens many times in the gospel where Jesus, for example, knew the history of the woman at the well and knew that Nathanael was without deceit.
But does this really mean that the common believer should share in these manifestations? The last verse in the passage answers that question as it is the Spirit Who "works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills." And the next passages tell us why.
For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.
1 Corinthians 12:12-14
So this brings us back to the church as the "one body" and makes it clear that this wasn't only for the Apostles. None of the twelve were Greek or slaves. But it also tells of the importance that each of us bear as a member of the body. We are each to perform a unique function within the body. This is why the church mirrored after the structure of the Roman Empire can never accomplish the breadth of work as the church led by Christ and empowered by His Spirit.
So these passages affirm my encounter with the young man on the bridge as supported scripturally. It also gives us a small taste of how the Lord uses a manifestation of His Spirit to draw a person to Him and to encourage the faith of the witnesses.
Before we look further at the Spirit and the church, let's pause here to speak about what we just did. We looked at an occurrence that happened in my life and used what is recorded in scripture to test and to gain a better understanding of both. Despite how incredible a story may sound, it's important that we measure it against the word of God. Remember that many false teachers and prophets have risen up within the church. It's critical that we test all things.
Beware of the vultures
In my lifetime, there have been reports of various "miracles of the Holy Spirit." People have reported being slain in the Spirit, laughing in the Spirit, mass healings and other things. Icons of Jesus or Mary have started to bleed and cry. There are those who travel long distances in hopes of being a part of these experiences or catching a glimpse of a miracle. Others report about after death visions and experiences that they had before being revived. Are these stories true?
Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe him. For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. Behold, I have told you in advance. So if they say to you, ‘Behold, He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out, or, ‘Behold, He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe them. For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.
Matthew 24:23-28
This passage helps us to understand that a dead Jesus is a place where vultures come to feed. That includes using icons, emblems and symbols of Jesus and even those of His mother and His disciples. Constantine erected structures over Jesus' purported birth location and death location, as well as the purported burial location of Peter. He knew that the Empire would hold something of great value amongst the followers to be able to claim them whether they are real or not. Many people continue to flock to those locations today.
People have profited from Bibles, books, music, t-shirts, prayer beads, bumper stickers, hats, concerts, performances, movies, television, social media views, web visits, advertisements, admission tickets, conferences, offerings, tithes, you name it. And it is not only money that people seek, but also attention and fame. Jesus tells us not to believe them.
Seek Him and His truth. Abandon the things that don't measure up scripturally even if you've experienced them. If there's not a clear scriptural description of what you hear about, it is likely not of God. In our day, we are blessed to have such great access to the Bible. We also have the ability to study and to search for meanings in Hebrew and Greek. And far better, we can call on God to gain wisdom. He is faithful to answer us.
Walk in the same manner
So what is the purpose of God giving us the Holy Spirit? And if the true believers are the church, who are they? Am I one? Consider this passage in 1 John:
By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.
1 John 2:3-6
That is saying a lot! What commandments is John talking about? Let's remember what Jesus said.
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 22:36-40
We won't get into this deeply but when you consider what this is saying, it is so amazingly simple. If we love the Lord with everything, we won't do what He disapproves or despises because of our love. Likewise, we will do and pursue the thing that He loves - the world that He loved and gave His son. Doing this will cause us to abide in Him.
Are we walking in the same manner as He walked?
What manner did He walk? When you read Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, you see Jesus walking righteously. But even more you see the great love He had for "one another." The blind see, the deaf hear, the lame walk, the dead rise! Multitudes flock to hear Him and to respond to his messages. Thousands are miraculously fed. They repent from their sinful ways and turn towards righteousness.
Well, yes, but that was Jesus, right?
When we turn to the book of Acts, we see the followers of Jesus turning from their sins and walking in righteousness. They then have a real effect in people's lives too! We see the lame beggar and the sick and the afflicted healed. We see Tabitha and Eutychus raised from death. Thousands were fed. And thousands of people's lives were transformed in a short period as they repented of their past lives and began lives anew in righteousness.
Well, wasn't that because they were His twelve Apostles? Except that Paul was not one of the twelve. Neither was Steven, Philip, Timothy, Titus, Philemum, Prisca, Junia or Apollos. Nor were the thousands who believed.
Remember while Jesus was with them, He gave the disciples a new commandment which I believe is directly in regard to the church. He tells the disciples to "love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another."
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:34-35
The members of the church are to love in a manner beyond what we are capable of without the Holy Spirit. This love witnesses to others about His great love.
These gifts and manifestations of the Spirit weren't because of a desire for illicit gain or profit or fame by the Apostles and the early church. They were a product of the great love being poured out by the Spirit within. The Apostles and early church were loving one another because of the great love of God.
The multitudes that were believing in Christ were the early church. They are living stones that are part of the new Temple. This is why we saw Peter, John and Paul specifically make sure that the new believers received the Holy Spirit so that they could overcome the world and also edify the church. They too were empowered to love one another.
The manner in which Jesus walked was love. He has called the church to walk in the same manner.
We need the Holy Spirit
Like the disciples and these early believers, we need the Holy Spirit to empower us. The Holy Spirit will teach us all things and will guide our lives. He will teach us and give us the ability to love.
How do we receive the Spirit? Jesus tells us to ask, seek and knock.
“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened. Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”
Luke 11:9-13
Peter told the early seekers to repent and to be baptized.
Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:38
Belief, repentance and surrender are three words that describe the posture of my heart when I received the Spirit. It was also the posture of the hearts of those whose testimony I've heard describing their experiences. You can perhaps summarize those three words to just belief because true belief in God encompasses both repentance and surrender. It's not a simple belief as James tells us.
You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?
James 2:19-20
Evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit
Some denominations and believers say that speaking in tongues is the evidence that you have received the Holy Spirit. It's true that at Pentecost and other times in Acts that the believers spoke in tongues when they were filled with the Holy Spirit. But there are also records of people being filled with the Spirit where there is no mention of speaking in tongues.
I believe the Spirit does exactly as the passage in 1 Corinthians 12 states - "But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills."
In a similar fashion, we can look at how Jesus healed the sick and the blind in different ways. At times He touched them. Other times He spoke. Other times He made mud with spittle. Other times He healed people from a distance. The healed didn't need to compare the manner in which they were healed as though one way was the "right way" or better than another way. The important thing was that they were healed and that the healing came from Him.
I believe the same is true when people are being filled with the Spirit. He distributes as He wills. This is why I believe that He may provide a specific manifestation of His Holy Spirit for certain moments. At Pentecost, for example, He chose for His followers to speak in the tongues of the people who came to see what was happening. They miraculously heard about God in their own languages. He did so again when the gentiles first received the Spirit. Perhaps the Spirit repeated the same manifestation as when they received the Spirit to convince them that He also came for the gentiles and that they were not different.
I did not speak in tongues when I was filled with His Spirit. I experienced an overwhelming moment of peace and joy that is really too remarkable to explain. As crazy as it sounds, the joy and peace was so great and overwhelming I asked Him to stop because I didn't think I could handle any more. Even then, I couldn't stop smiling all evening. I remember my cheeks being sore from smiling for so long. I felt His immense love for me.
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful."
John 14:27
“These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full."
John 15:11
The Holy Spirit fills us with His love. It is unlike anything we know.
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:12-13
Love for one another is the evidence that you are filled with the Spirit. Jesus didn't heal people just for healing's sake. He did so because of His great love and compassion for us.
No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.
1 John 4:12-13
You will know you've been filled by His Holy Spirit by His love. Encompassed in any manifestation of His Spirit is His great love for you. He will flood you with His love.
That they may be one
While the filling of the Holy Spirit benefits each of us individually, it is not just for our benefit that He resides within us. He does this so that we are able to serve in a manner that benefits the whole body. This brings us back to the church.
We learned earlier that the Roman Empire model has a few who lord over the many. The true church has each member performing a function to serve the rest of the body under the control of the head, Jesus.
Consider this example from Corrie ten Boom's story. When she and her sister were held by the Nazis in the Ravensbruck concentration camp during World War II, they would share about Jesus with each other in their bed in the barracks at night. Other women soon heard the source of their hope and began joining them. The fleas in their quarters were so bad that the Nazi guards wouldn't enter. There, they would gather in His name - the church!
Perhaps Jesus was alluding to the church when he said this.
"Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”
Matthew 18:18-20
This also tells us that the number that gathers doesn't matter as much as the reason - we are to gather in His name.
What does the true church look like? We can learn much by examining the church at the end of Acts 2 and Acts 4.
And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Acts 2:44-47
And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them. And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales and lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need.
Acts 4:32-35
In these two passages, we can observe the transformational effect of the Holy Spirit in the churches actions with and towards one another. I believe we would all agree that the true church is very different from the institutionalized church that arose from the Roman Empire.
What occurred when the church assembled was quite different too. Paul left us the best description of an assembly when he gave some corrective instructions to the church in Corinth.
What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must interpret; but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment. But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted; and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets; for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
1 Corinthians 14:26-33
Again, what is written here is very foreign to us. But do you see how Paul is encouraging the members to come prepared as the Spirit leads. The purpose? "Let all things be done for edification." The word, edification, literally implies building. Again this points to the purpose that the Lord has which is to build His Temple.
"I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”
Matthew 16:18-19
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
Ephesians 2:19-22
By loving and edifying one another, we are "being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit."
I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.
John 17:14-23
What do we do?
First, this is a lot to digest! As mentioned earlier, you should test all that I've written. If you are abiding in the Lord, He will faithfully guide you.
For the record, I have no agenda. I'm not trying to sell a book or paper. In fact, I ask that nothing that I've written ever be sold or used for profit. I'm a fellow sojourner walking with the Lord asking him questions over the decades that I've known Him. These are the answers that I received while asking about the church. It's been quite the journey! I had no predetermined direction that I started out to support or conclusion that I wanted to prove. I had no idea what I was going to find along the way. I had only a cursory understanding in regard to Constantine and the Roman Empire and almost no understanding as to how either played a role in the church. Finally, the Biblical passages that I have included have shaped my thoughts rather than me trying to find passages to support an idea. Take time to read them in context to test what I'm saying is true.
I conclude with some questions and answers that may be helpful if the Spirit within you is affirming what I have written. Like the writing above, these are my thoughts and should be measured with His truth.
Where do I start? Repent and believe and be filled with the Holy Spirit. When you are filled with the Holy Spirit, you don't even have to ask what things in your life are not pleasing to Him. You will know! Turn away from them and cast them from your life. Don't compromise and leave any part of them. Remove them completely.
I'm not sure if I've received the Holy Spirit. How do I know? You'll know because of His great love. It is recorded as a baptism because you are immersed in His Spirit. If you're not sure, ask Him to receive and keep asking. Don't become discouraged. He has a time, a reason and a purpose. Corrie ten Boon reports receiving His baptism in the later years of her life. She grew up as a believer in a strong Christian family that exemplifies a true faith. Baptism did not come to her until after her experiences surviving the German invasion, imprisonment, and concentration camp. So don't be discouraged if it hasn't happened. Keep asking like He instructs us in Luke 11:9-13.
Where do I go to receive the Holy Spirit? Go directly to Him and ask. You don't have to go to a special place or a special person unless He directs you to do so. If you know of a brother or sister in Christ who walks deeply with God, ask them to join you in prayer in receiving Him. But go to God first.
Where do I go to find a real church? If you are born again of God, you are already part of the real church. Get together with others who have a heart like yours. You can meet in your home or in a park or really anywhere. Try sharing a simple meal together. But when you gather, do so in His name. Be intentional by asking the Lord what you can offer to the others. Maybe it's a story from your walk, your testimony. Perhaps a passage that's really speaking to you. But the greatest thing that you can bring is His love. Pray for one another and share in each other's burdens. Love each other by teaching, serving, giving, leading, encouraging, prophesying and showing mercy as each are gifted.
Should I still attend my old church? As with anything, seek the Lord and be prayerful as to all that you do. In the best scenario, many who attend are members of the real church. It is, after all, where most go when they become a believer. But it's also important to understand what it is. It is likely perpetuating many of the things that aren't true but have been practiced since the Roman Empire. The Lord may have you there to speak to others who are seeking truth and have become dismayed. Paul continued to visit and speak in synagogues throughout his life to lead people to the Lord. He didn't go there to find the Lord. He carried the Lord into those places and brought light.
Should I stop taking my kids to Sunday School or youth group? Again, I would be prayerful and mindful. This is a tough one for me as I served in youth ministry for well over a decade and have many fond memories and lifetime friends from those times. As a parent, we should never give the responsibility to others to bring the gospel into our children's lives. Even though I had been involved in youth ministry, I thought it would be wise to pass that torch to others and to remain at a distance to give my kids some separation from me. Some now bear scars from some pretty terrible experiences. What I have seen over three decades is there are many well meaning people who volunteer, but I've found many who don't know the Lord or know little about Him. Parents are so trusting in this manner as they will seriously measure everything about a babysitter, school or friends but they will hand their children off without hesitation to complete strangers in a church setting. There are unfortunately people who masquerade as childcare volunteers and prey on children because of this trust. Be mindful and prayerful.
I've been filled with the Spirit but I'm tired of being burned by the church. Can I just stay at home? I hope the Lord will kindle the love of the Father in you again. Read Psalms or Paul's anguish over being betrayed. Read the account of Jesus. This world is fallen and is under the rule of Satan. The church needs you and the gifts that you have been given. Meet with those whom you trust and love those that come across your path. He will give you moments to advance His kingdom.
Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful.
Titus 3:14
I continue to do things that some might consider ungodly but I balance that with regularly serving in a church. I'm covered by His grace, right?
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.
Titus 2:11-15
I don't know if I have any gifts but I offer my home for meals and for people to stay and am open to having people over to talk about the Lord.
I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints; and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ’s sake. For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
Philemon 1:4-7
A church is born
I conclude my thoughts on the church with my own experience being called out from darkness and wickedness, being ransomed from the world, and born into the true church. Jesus called us as witnesses and here's what I experienced in the summer when the Holy Spirit fell on the youth on an Air Force Base in Colorado Springs. We experienced a close resemblance of what we read in the Bible. We experienced what church could and, perhaps, should be. And it was marvelous!
In the summer of 1973, the youth on Peterson Field Air Force Base experienced an amazing outpouring of God's Holy Spirit. For years, my parents had been sending my sister and I to Sunday School on Sunday morning. They didn't attend service or Sunday school but had decided that it would be good for us to attend. I had never gone to service and don't even recall having ever gone my whole life. I wasn't planning on starting either. My sister, Liz, was about to attend her senior year of high school. I was a rising sophomore and would join her at the same high school in Colorado Springs. We didn't really talk with one another.
My sister's Sunday school elected her to be the president of the Protestant Youth of the Chapel. PYOC was an organization that a lot of military bases had for the children of the military. They also had one for Catholic families called CYOC. My sister was not a Christian. The base chaplain asked Liz to attend a chapel volunteer meeting to petition the board for a volunteer leader.
Meanwhile Dennis, a young Air Force sergeant, and his wife Jackie were receiving marriage counseling from the chaplain. They were both new Christians. The chaplain decided that it would be beneficial for the couple to serve the high school youth at the church as part of their counseling. He asked Dennis to attend the volunteer meeting as well. Prior to the meeting, Dennis had a dream in which he saw my sister in his dream. He wondered if he was beginning to have nightmares of his time serving during the Vietnam War as he thought this girl in his dream was Vietnamese. You can imagine Dennis' surprise when my sister got up to speak to petition for youth leaders. He decided that the dream was from God and him seeing Liz convinced he and Jackie to serve as the high school youth leaders.
The chaplain also asked his daughter, Sharon, to help lead the high school group. Sharon had returned to live with her parents following a failed marriage to a young man who was bent on ungodly living and infidelity. In the dark days of her marriage, Sharon was filled with the Holy Spirit and the scripture suddenly came alive to her. She shared these truths and excitement with Jackie and she too experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit while seeking solace in the midst of her marital struggles. Both Sharon and Jackie were mothers to young daughters.
At that point in time, there were very few churches in Colorado Springs. I remember there being more interest in the occult than faith in Christ. But the wind of the Holy Spirit was blowing. Pat Lichty, a newly single mother of two teen girls, had moved to Colorado Springs following a divorce. She had been filled with the Holy Spirit and felt led to open her home on Friday nights to teenagers for a time of prayer, praise and Bible study. The Lord continued to encourage her. On a return drive from a university for her eldest daughter, she said that she was enveloped by the Holy Spirit as she drove and “flew the rest of the way home.” Following her return, her home continued to grow as a gathering place for many young people. What started as a few teens in her basement grew to well over one hundred teens on a given Friday.
I was oblivious to all of what was happening. I had been captivated by a couple of older high schoolers and was soon drawn into an idea to make some 'easy' money. That led to an attempted break in of a soda machine, an apprehension by the military police, and punishment and restriction at home. My parents were beside themselves. I had always been their compliant child and they couldn't understand why I would ever commit a crime.
My sister visited a nearby Nazarene church for an evening service, committed her life to God and was filled with the Holy Spirit. She now too knew that the Lord was real and began sharing the Lord with the others in the youth group. One day my sister asked my parents and I to sit down so she could share something with us. She began to tell us that she had given her life to the Lord and that Jesus was now Lord of her life and that we should do likewise. My parents didn't know what to think! After we all declined her offer, my parents continued to talk and wonder what was going on. They decided it was the latest teenage fad and, given time, would pass.
But as the days and weeks went by, I was astonished at the immediate and dramatic change in my sister. Before she accepted the Lord she was constantly fighting with my mother. It didn't seem to matter what they were discussing but they were always at odds with each other. I kept my door closed to help drown out the fighting. Now that my sister wasn't instigating a fight, it seemed like my mother would try to goad her into an argument but she wasn't biting. That amazed me knowing how my sister had interacted with her for years.
My mother's resistance and rejection of her new faith left my sister to believe that this oppression between them would never be resolved. But Sharon provided counsel that she could provide the greatest witness to my parents by being obedient and not fighting back. Her counsel proved to be true.
One distinct memory I have during that time was walking into the bathroom and seeing my sister place little bits of cotton balls around the edge of the bathtub where it touched the tile wall. That area seemed to always have mold or mildew growing and my mother would have us scrub it again and again to no avail. My sister was placing cotton balls and then dribbling bleach on them to soak and kill the mildew. I asked, 'Wow, did mom put you up to do that?', thinking that I already knew the answer. 'No' she replied. 'I'm not doing this for mom. I do everything for the Lord now.' I didn't even know how to respond to that! The bathtub never looked better.
The other change that occurred was my sister started to seem to care for me. Before we lived independent lives, aware of each other but uninterested. Now she began talking to me and seemed genuinely interested in my life. She started to tell me about what she was experiencing and how amazing her new life was in walking with the Lord. She invited me to some church events but I declined. But with her changed life and behavior, my interest in this 'Lord' began to grow.
One Sunday evening, the high school group planned to attend the Nazarene church and invited me to attend. I decided to go and my life was changed forever. Before I attended I remember saying a bit of a prayer, "If all of this is about a bunch of dos and don'ts, I don't want to have any part of this. But if this is about having a real relationship with You, God, I'm all in." I honestly don't recall anything that the pastor said or taught that evening. I just remember the end. The teacher made an invitation for those that wanted to know the Lord to come down to the front.
Everything within me wanted to respond but I stayed there standing as I weighed out going forward. I was standing next to my sister and she leaned over and asked if I thought I should go. That was all of the encouragement that I needed. I went forward without any idea of what to expect.
As I walked, I remember feeling very ashamed because of all of the wrongs that I had done over the course of my life. The memories of my past sins came like a flood. Wrongs that I tried to forget and repress all came back and I had no excuses - I was guilty of them all. I was carrying the heavy weight of all of my sins and I knew and wanted to be rid of them.
When I arrived at the front of the room, I knelt down and that heavy weight was lifted, removed and taken away completely. It was so amazing and freeing! Unbelievable! I felt so much gratitude and desire to never sin again. The church choir was singing a hymn, "I surrender all." Those words are exactly how I sincerely felt at that moment. "I surrender all, I surrender all, all to thee my blessed Savior, I surrender all." I felt incredibly loved and accepted and amazed that God was real!
I continued to kneel as l wanted to stay there feeling this amazing new love and freedom. No one was rushing or hurrying us along but graciously allowed the Lord to do His amazing work in me and in others who came forward. As I continued to kneel, some people came forward and placed their hands on me and started to pray for me. I looked up not knowing what they were doing until I heard them beginning to pray for me. I couldn't believe complete strangers would care about me and pray for me.
As they prayed, it was as though the ceiling of the building split open and the Lord began to pour Himself into me. I felt such peace and joy as I've never experienced before and never since. It continued until I felt I couldn't be more loved as I was feeling so peaceful and overjoyed. I quietly asked for it to stop and it did. I was full to the brim! My body was quivering which seemed much more obvious to me than perhaps to those around me. After some time I walked back to a warm reception from my sister and those that had come that evening. I had joined the growing number of people saved. I was Ekklesia.
After the service, we went to a pizza restaurant named Shakey's Pizza. I found it appropriately named since I was still shaking from when the Holy Spirit poured into me. Now full of this new joy and peace, I wanted to tell others about Jesus. I talked to the waitress and anyone else nearby who would listen. After finishing our pizza and saying goodbyes to the others, my sister, her friend and I headed back to the Air Force Base.
My sister's friend was driving and my sister was in the front passenger seat. I was sitting alone in the back seat. We continued excitedly talking about the amazing things that had unfolded in all of our lives. It was now dark and there was very little traffic on the multi lane thoroughfare through the city. I was looking ahead as we crested a hill at a fairly high rate of speed. Directly ahead were headlights of an oncoming vehicle with no time to change course. I closed my eyes and braced myself in anticipation of the imminent collision as my sister's friend slammed on the brakes.
A few seconds went by and there was no collision! I opened my eyes and looked forward. No car, no lights, just an empty road stretching before us. I spun around to look through the back window and then the side windows expecting to see a vehicle. There were no other vehicles nearby! What happened, I wondered as we rapidly discussed what we saw while I kept looking around expecting to see some evidence of the other vehicle. We saw the headlights and it appeared impossible that there was no collision. Yet nothing happened! How could that be? We continued home praising the Lord with incredible gratitude.
Having not been raised in the church, I didn't really know what to expect now that I was a believer. Our youth leaders were all very young in faith. They opened their small mobile home to the youth in the evenings and shared minimal counsel and some worship songs that they knew. Most evenings they would simply turn the lights off to remove distractions and then left the time for prayer and songs of praise. My sister and a couple of girls who had first believed had used these opportunities to pray that others would be saved. I was an answer to their prayers. Now new in faith, I started to attend as well.
The times of prayer were incredible. There was an eager anticipation of what was going to be spoken or prayed about next. There were prayers for family members and friends and the challenges that faced those gathered. But mostly, there were calls of praise and adoration and gratefulness. Even though we were unchurched, the words that left our mouths were like the words found in Psalms. Most of us weren't even aware that words like that were written in scripture. But deep within, we knew and spoke what was true. We would erupt in agreement as our hearts were knitted together. We were being one as our Father is one, just as He asked. There was a sense that we were truly living in the last days and that Christ's return was imminent. There was a calling for His kingdom to come and His will to be done! I didn't know what this fully meant, and still only know dimly, but deep within we knew that He was there in our midst.
It was not uncommon for the times of prayer to last for many hours. Most wanted to stay indefinitely but would leave because of curfews, jobs and activities. The prayer times increased and the intensity of the prayers and praise seemed to rise as well. During the whole time, the other high school kids witnessed the change and excitement in their friends’ lives and many others started to attend. There in the midst of us they would pray and give their lives to the Lord. Others would gather around and ask the Lord to baptize the new believers with His Spirit and He faithfully answered again and again. The mobile home, which had ample room at first, would fill on some evenings so that most attendees would sit on the floors with their backs against the walls, lining the living area into the kitchen and dining spaces and back again.
It was shocking to look around the room at the faces of those present. They were formerly associated with different high school cliques - kids that formerly ignored or hated one another. Jocks, hippies, preppies, druggies, white, black, you name it, were present and yet somehow all of one heart and mind. There was no planned or formal teaching but different ones would share Bible passages that they had read or understandings that they had received as they were being led by the Spirit. One would begin singing a worship song and others would join in with immense passion. Another would speak a prayer in praise to God or for others to be saved. And many prayers were being answered.
One evening, shortly before we were to leave to go to the trailer, I received an understanding that we would experience a miracle in the sky that evening. This was the first time that I had this type of understanding. It's difficult to explain other than to say it's something you know even though you shouldn't. That was definitely true in this case since it was a miracle and it was something that would occur in the future.
Being youthful and immature in faith, desiring to see a miracle was a common prayer that was made during our prayer times but this was different. The feeling I had was so strong that I didn't know what I was supposed to do. I decided to write it down on a piece of paper. I had a pull down desk surface that had compartments so I placed the note in one of the compartments and closed the desk. The understanding continued to be so strong that I decided to tell my sister of what I understood was going to happen while we drove to the youth leaders' trailer home. Intrigued, she pondered what it could mean. I had no idea so we parked the car and joined the others.
At this point it seemed as though nearly every high school student on the Air Force Base had come to faith. Many had! The mobile home this evening was packed as kids arrived from across the base. I ended up in the kitchen so that I was facing towards the main living room area with my back against the kitchen cabinets. Above me was a large kitchen window which faced west towards Cheyenne mountain. The sky was clear and calm and the moon was bright, illuminating the sky as it hovered over the mountains. With the tradition of turning off the lights during our time of gathering in His name, the moon seemed particularly bright as it shone through the window and into the rooms.
People began praying and singing as had become our pattern. I was quickly engulfed in listening, singing and praying and had my eyes closed. I was still in great awe that God was real, that He saved me, and all that He was doing with the many lives now around the room. It was unbelievable. My mind was far from thinking about the miracle that I had understood was to happen that evening.
During a quiet moment, one of the girls who was sitting in the kitchen startled us as she suddenly screamed, "The moon!" I looked to see her rising to her feet and pointing through the kitchen window, repeating, "The moon, the moon!" Those around quickly got up to peer through the window. We watched in awe as the moon made an abnormally rapid descent through the sky until it descended behind Cheyenne mountain casting a glow from behind the mountain. Some from the living room crowded around to see while others poured out of the trailer door trying to catch a glimpse of the phenomena. Soon we were all excitedly telling each other what each of us saw to where there was one joyous eruption of people jumping up and down amidst shouts of praise both inside and outside of the trailer. Several joined those outside now staring and excitedly repeating what we witnessed as we could now only see the glow of the moon creating a silhouette of the mountains.
My sister remembered what I had told her on the drive over to the trailer and told Sharon what I had said. They walked over to me and Sharon told me that I must be a prophet. I had no idea what that meant so she gave me a brief explanation. When my sister and I arrived back home I retrieved the note from my desk and showed it to her. We both marveled at the evening and the amazing things that the Lord was doing.
As more people were being saved, an almost universal occurrence amongst the new believers was an appreciation for nature - an awakening of sorts. The sky appeared bluer, the plants greener, the birds, the mountains and all of nature more beautiful. Everything was now a phenomenon and it was as though we were seeing details for the first time. As we spent time together it was not uncommon for two or more of us to stop whatever we were doing to stare at a cloud formation, a sunset or a mountain stream traversing its way through rocks and boulders and just marvel. Groups of us would gather and visit places where we could take in His marvelous works. Prior to coming to the Lord, we were typical teenagers - oblivious to just about everything!
My parents had continued to grow concerned with our new faith despite our being obedient to everything they asked. It was difficult for them to punish us as we were completing our chores with a greater effort and better attitude than we had ever done in the past. We were now even joyfully talking and getting along together - something that they hadn’t seen since we were young children.
At one point my sister and mom got into a discussion regarding the amount of time we were spending with the group and that it was going to have to end when school started. My sister replied that her relationship with God was far more important than an education. That further convinced my mother that this must be a type of cult so she spoke to my dad about the need to put an end to this group. My dad spoke to his boss who was a 3 star general and the Vice Commander of an Air Force Command. He gave my dad authorization to take care of "the problem." Soon thereafter, the chaplain was sitting in the dining room with my parents. My mom let him know her feelings in the strongest way believing we were being brainwashed and that it needed to come to an end. My dad next confronted Dennis, the sergeant who had volunteered to serve the youth.
My parents were not the only ones concerned with what was happening to the youth. The Base Commander's son became deeply involved with the group and was baptized by the Holy Spirit and so the Base Commander began to make efforts to stop the youth meetings too. Meanwhile, the chaplain's wife was becoming concerned and conflicted about the emphasis on the Holy Spirit and confronted Sharon. Sharon told her that she was unable to stop the Spirit from moving in the lives of the young people.
One of the generals on base was having an extramarital affair. His wife, being distraught, heard about a movement of the Holy Spirit from her son who lived remotely. Not knowing anything about the Holy Spirit, she decided to walk over and ask the chaplain's wife. She arrived minutes after the confrontation with Sharon. Next thing you know, the chaplain's wife brought her to Sharon to learn about the Holy Spirit.
The general's wife attended some of the youth gatherings and was touched by the love and concern of the youth. Her husband later went to the Base Commander and requested that he not make efforts to shut down the meetings. Shortly thereafter, she committed suicide believing that it would somehow help her husband. Her death shook the youth and the base leadership and drew the attention away from the youth meetings.
My grandfather, my mother's dad, had a heart attack and was hospitalized so my mom flew to Hawaii to be with him and her siblings. Shortly thereafter, my grandfather passed away and my father flew to Hawaii to join her and the family and to attend the funeral. That left Liz and I to take care of the house and our pets. With my dad serving in the military, we always lived remotely and were not very close to either of our grandparents.
Liz and I took the opportunity to invite the group over to our house. Our parents hadn't instructed us to not have people over but we both knew they wouldn't approve, especially with their feelings about the ‘cult’ and them being gone. It was likely the most disobedient thing that we had done since we both came to faith but we loved the times where we would assemble and pray together.
A number of people attended and we once again shared in some deep moments of prayer. During several moments, a number of the older young men stood up in the middle of the living room and started to pray out loud. I remember one in particular pacing as he prayed with his arms and hands uplifted. There was much joy and agreement as the rest of us echoed affirmation as he prayed.
We prayed deep into the early morning until most had to depart to go home. We continued in prayer and discussion of our new faith until only a few remained. After my sister went to bed, we decided to watch the stars so the few that remained climbed on the roof of our house and we spent the remainder of the time gazing and marveling at the stars. As night broke to morning we were treated to a colorful transformation of the sky as only the Lord can do. We were truly seeing with new eyes.
My mom was very particular in the cleanliness of our house so having a large gathering of teenagers, in particular, should have been a recipe for disaster. But all who came were so respectful, washing and cleaning dishes and reordering the house to be even better than it was before they arrived. I recall one friend leaving to go to work after staying awake the whole evening. We were concerned with him driving but he claimed he was recharged and ready for the day from the evening's events.
Once school started, life returned to be much like it was before, but different. We had received the most incredible gift and we all now shared a common heritage. What would we do with it? We were now friends with many more people from different walks of life. Many took the hope of the gospel to their schools, jobs and activities. And many made dramatic changes to their lives and relationships to follow the righteousness that was now embedded within.
And as quickly as it began, the following spring and summer saw the scattering of our church as families were transferred to other military assignments around the US and world. My dad was transferred to San Antonio, Texas. But even my sister and I were separated as she left to attend college in Fort Worth later that fall.
Come, Lord Jesus
As mentioned, I share this story about my experiences about this incredible period because when I read the New Testament, it is the most similar to what I'm reading. Now that almost 50 years have gone by and I have been involved in several congregations and denominations, I recognize what a gift God had given me by allowing me to experience something that was so different from the institutionalized churches of today.
It wasn't like we shunned organized religion. We attended the base services and participated in the manner in which they requested that we participate. Several joined the choir and we would show up in mass at the Sunday and Wednesday evening services. But we weren't really welcome by either the leadership or the congregation. We were those fanatical kids who were loud and inappropriately dressed. And the services didn't provide an outlet for questions that we had or for sharing what was happening in our lives. Most quit attending.
Dennis, Jackie and Sharon took us on 'field trips' to services and churches around the area. But no place offered us an opportunity to share what God had done in our lives, what He was showing us, what was going on in our lives, what prayers and concerns that we had. So we cherished the few moments we had together when our voices would rise up together to praise and worship the God who had transformed our lives.
I can safely say that I have never experienced a deeper time with God in a corporate sense. I've never experienced a deeper time of prayer or of praise or of intimacy with others than during that time. I've never experienced a universal hunger, transparency, honesty and desire for intimacy with God than during that period.
He let me experience church.
佳信
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