YOU ARE NOT THE CHURCH
If we understand the meaning of the word ‘church’ we could never
presume that we alone are the church. That idea is contrary to the origin
of the word (ekklesia, meaning “assembly”). In fact, that word has
secular origins. It literally means an assembly of people who have been
called together by an authority in the city or region. Wow! That sheds a
lot of light on what the church is. The church is an assembly of people
organized under defined governmental leadership. It’s a regular
gathering of people who are deeply agreed and in pursuit of mission
advanced under God’s apostles, prophets and other governmental
leaders. Further, the pure definition of the word reveals that it isn’t used
as easily in the context of the global company of believers as it is in the
regional and local gathering of believers. The definition reveals that it’s
a well defined local group vs. a loosely defined larger group of people
(who mostly don’t know each other at all). We can’t be a part of the
church if we aren’t gathered together with other parts of the church.
Church is corporate. Additionally, the church is a group of people who
assemble, fellowship, pray and respond together to apostolic teaching.
That can’t happen in a more nebulous global context. The church has
inherent in it’s core call the expectation of assembly and a corporate
response so as to ensure the local mission is fulfilled. Again, a fulfilled
mission can’t be realized without this type of intentional and faithful
participation at a local level where communication and commonality are
clearly defined.
WHAT ABOUT HAVING CHURCH ONLINE?
I agree that there is much to enjoy and gain from this amazing
technological world. We can watch church services online (I was
watching one myself just tonight), listen to worship, meet Christians in
forums and on Facebook, pray for one another and involve ourselves in
Kingdom business in very unique ways. It’s a new wineskin. But, if
there is no true local gathering with clear leadership, some key issues
come into play:
- DEVOID OF APOSTOLIC LEADERSHIP—There is most
probably (there are exceptions) no clearly defined apostolic
leadership involved. We have to know who we’re called to serve
with. We have to all hear, together, in our local congregation, how
we are to respond in mission advance. What’s God calling our
leaders to focus on? How are we to participate? What are the
goals? What steps must we take to prepare ourselves to see this
come to pass?
- LACK OF STRATEGIC CORPORATE
INTERCESSION—While not impossible, it’s very hard to
involve ourselves in the number one purpose of the church this
way—corporate intercession. We just have to be together to pray
with unity and consistency if we are to have the sufficient strength
to see significant impact. - NO ACCOUNTABILITY—Accountability and discipline are
nearly non-existent outside of the context of the local church. Most
who flock from the church and into alternative spiritual activities
do so to avoid conflict, accountability and correction from
leadership. We have to understand that this is a critical part of the
refining process. We must be receptive and humble and ready to be
challenged—even if the leaders God established for us are
exceptionally flawed and out of touch with our needs. - PROMOTES MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE PURPOSE
OF THE CHURCH—It can quite easily reinforce a wrong
understanding of the purpose of the church. I would say this is the
most serious issue. The prevailing thought these days is that the
church is there for us. Whatever needs we have, we can get many
of them met in the church. So, we attend if we are ministered to.
Or, we may determine that we can get what we’re looking for
without regular church attendance. So, the church becomes
unnecessary to us. Friend, this concept is a defilement of the
church. I can’t say it any less striking than that. We are called to
gather together with other believers primarily to intercede for the
nations. We are there to give, to leave offerings, to serve, to
minister, to pray, to grow. The church isn’t primarily there for us,
we are to be there for the mission of the church. We may say that
we don’t need the church but have we considered that the church
needs us? I believe the scattering movement is one of the enemy’s most
urgent assaults in these end-times. He knows the power of unified
togetherness. He used that very strategy when attempting to build a
tower to Heaven. God himself said that Satan’s successful plan of
unity would actually succeed if scattering didn’t happen! Now,
when the church must be together continually as we advance
against the kingdom of darkness, Satan has every intention of
pulling people out of that mission. The scattering and loose
commitment to God’s method of prayer-driven Kingdom advance
is resulting in an weak and impotent army. In a day when less than
two services a month equates to ‘normal’ church attendance, I
believe we must see the 24/7 church advance in strength, unity,
commitment and power. Instead of two services a month, I believe
we’ll see it become normal to be in church 20+ times a month as
we pray together, receive apostolic instruction, move out in
ministry and take the fire of the Holy Spirit to the
world—together.-John B-credit