Since the inception of the true church in 1st century AD, tares soon sprung along with it called the false church. Both movements have one thing in common, namely the souls of men everywhere. Throughout the Scriptures all false teachers, false doctrines, and impure practices, have been openly proscribed and condemned. The book of Jude is a great example of such where we see several exhortations to hold fast the truth of GOD revealed in the scriptures and to strenuosly contend for the essence of faith which has been delivered by the LORD and His apostles.
When we trace the origin of the false churches, we will find out that there are notably two main factors that led to the propagation of the false gospel and false churches. First, they started with men who willingly became instruments of satan to pollute and corrupt the gospel of Jesus Christ. Secondly, they were propagated by men who only knew partial truths of the gospel. As we have heard of the saying, 'little learning is dangerous', it is very true in the case of the christian faith. These men only equipped with partial truths of the bible were left ignorant of the complete essence and message of the new testament. As a result, it became more like pouring new wine into old wineskins and resulted in an absolute mess. The 21st century scenario today is no different. We have the real church, the true church which is the bride of Christ. Then we have the second form of church, the false church which the bible exposes as the whore and her daughters. These false churches create an arrogant and noisy clamor, but they are naive and ignorant of truth altogether.
The Western church is not a church anymore, just a mob. The latest fad in the western christian circles is the emerging church movement which takes immense pride in portraying it as the cute and the refined church, however lacking the truth and power of the Spirit in their services. Somehow this group have lost the spirit of original christianity. They have lost the smash of it and have lost the charge of it and have lost the overcoming of it. They spent most of the time on social programs, movie outings and restaurants. Most of the other churches that remain are dead with ritual, alive with other nonsense, or compromising as fast as they can to attract the unregenerate and worldly.
What the christian world is suffering for more than anything else is a lack of ideal of christianity. The present day western world does not know what real christianity is. Today's church leaders does not possess the life or revelation comparable with the apostles or the leaders of christianity in the first centuries. We have rather been an order of cheap evangelism, with a rather cheap evangelistic message that is not worthy, in the high sense, of being called new testament church (lake).
Friends, the modern day church in the western world is a distorted face of the real church. They have a form of godliness but denying the power thereof. Today millions of church goers bow down before the display of so much worldly pomp and temporal greatness. As a result church today has lost spiritual power and stands impotent in the presence of sin, sickness and suffering. Most churches have fallen into a state of spiritual apathy and inertness, being satisfied with the cold externals of religious forms and observances, which without the indwelling life giving power and presence of the Holy Spirit have no saving grace or spiritual virtue. On top of this facade, to hide her feebleness and inefficiency, she takes refuge under putting a show in the flesh to soothe the unregenerate. One thing is very clear, the modern church bears a different stamp and pattern compared to the church our LORD Jesus Christ had established through His apostles.
The real church, the way GOD intended church or ministry to be is clearly cited in the scriptures. As Christians, it is our duty to contend for the true faith, and beware of false teachers. If we fail in this duty, the scriptures clearly warn as we read in Jude 1:3 that we will fall from our steadfastness in faith and will eventually be destroyed after the example of backsliding Israel. In this article, we will by GOD's grace answer the below questions and view the shape of a real church as bible draws it.
What really is church and ministry?
How does the real church operate?
What does it mean to be a member of the real church?
What are the marks of a true church?
What is the purpose of the church?
What really is church and ministry?
a) Church is an assembly of believers under the headship of Jesus Christ
The word 'church' is from the greek word 'ekklesia' which means an assembly; the assembly in which God lives and works; each believer being a living stone, all of whom, properly united among themselves, build up unto a holy temple in the Lord. Church or the house of GOD as defined in the new testament is not a brick and mortar building instead it is a spiritual house comprising of individuals in whom GOD dwells, who assemble together to exhort one another and worship GOD in truth and Spirit. The Church is a spiritual building, and stands on a spiritual foundation. Its members are compared to stones in a building, but they are living stones - each instinct with the spirit of a Divine life; Jesus is not only the foundation and the head-stone, but the Spirit that quickens and animates all. A Church, where the members are not alive to God, and where the minister is not filled with the meekness and gentleness of Jesus, differs as much from a genuine Church as a corpse does from an active human being. Today we see churches with a bunch of auxillaries but with no power of GOD.In the old testament we read that on certain occasions GOD's glory and presence inhabited the temple building where the believers gathered together. However, today in the new testament, GOD's glory and presence dwells inside man and not in buildings, inside everyone who believes in Jesus Christ. Today, the Holy Spirit of GOD dwells in the believer for their comfort and direction (Matt 16:18) (Eph 2:19-22; I Tim 3:15). This assembly or getting together is necessary for believers to grow spiritually, come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of GOD, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ as we see in Eph 4:13. b) Church is a place where GOD's truths are preserved and proclaimed
As we read in 1 Tim 3:15 - The house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. The Church is the pillar of the truth because by its ministry the truth is preserved and spread. The true church established by GOD supports and defends the truth against false doctrines and false teachers. They are the supporters of the truths of GOD in the midst of a crooked and fallen world. However, the false churches do just the opposite. They flow with the world and its thinkiing; they sell truth short and are therefore left weak pillars and shaky ground.In the Scriptures we find that GOD does not acknowledge the Church except where truth found in the Word is exalted and plain. Along with being the foundation for the truth, the church also holds up the truth so the world can see it. “Pillars also were of ancient use to fasten upon them any public edicts, which princes or courts would have published, and exposed to the view of all; hence the church is called, the pillar and basis, or seal, of truth, because by it the truths of God are published, supported, and defended.” (Poole)
c) Church is a launching pad for ministry
Ministry is what the church does on a daily basis. 'Ministry' simply means “service”, there is nothing high or spiritual about the word as the modern day pumpkin pie eating preachers exalt it to be. What kind of service? The service of being actively involved in reaching the lost. Some should be on the front lines spreading the gospel of new life in Christ and others in the work of training new recruits and equipping them for the work of the ministry. The main purposes of a ministry are for the purpose of reaching the lost and for the edifying/building up of the body of Christ. All this means to work hard and serve GOD with a pure heart full of faith. The greatest example of ministry can be learned from the ministry of JESUS, reaching the lost and building up the saints with a style that was simple, anointed, non burdensome, relevant, soul stirring, renewing minds, propelling one to action and one where impartation of the spirit and discipleship occurs. How does the real church operate?
a) Organism not organization
The true church is not an organization, but a real organism; not an ecclesiasticism, nor a dictatorship, nor a bureaucracy; but a group of Holy Spirit baptized souls in which the life of the Lord dwells and is manifested. However, the false organizational churches of today are so much into church business that they have forgotten their real calling which is the heavenly Father's business. The real church is a Holy Ghost united, authoritative, and God controlled and God directed and God empowered body. A collection of saints whose names are written in heaven (lake).
b) Under the sole leadership of Jesus Christ
The life of the real church proceeds from the life that is flowing from its head Jesus Christ to the whole body, built up and nourished by Him. It is GOD's evangelization and discipleship movement. The true church and ministry is not controlled by man, or the government of man, and is no organization of man's promoting. GOD is the supreme head of that movement and His counsel are the guiding steps of that movement - (Lake). However, the false churches operate just the opposite way, in a human governmental system where there is a clergy laiety hierarchy or to put it simply there is one handsome pastor/his wife and the rest are spectators or pew potatoes.
c) Exercise of Spiritual gifts
The living Spirit of the living GOD, and the anointing of that Holy Spirit is what makes christianity a distinct religion forever (Lake). True churches operates in that anointing and it is manifested by the exercise of the gifts of the Spirit in their gatherings. These meetings are controlled by the Spirit of GOD and in many cases uses both the old and the young to deliver messages, time set aside for fervent prayer and intercession, prophetic words going forth revealing the heart of GOD for individuals and congregation. praying with the sick and the oppressed etc. There will be mighty manifestations of the Spirit when the true church assembles, which inturn would eventuate in a profound impression of the majesty and power of GOD upon the minds of the people. Ass long as the church is dependent on the Holy Spirit and His presence in the services, it will remain as the true church with divne power and saving grace. Spiritual gifts which the Bible records are as follows as found in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 "For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues." However the false church instead of promoting a venue where spiritual giftings are exercised, they promote their members to volunteer for parking lot security, ushering and buying donuts for the Sr. pastor. These poor volunteers are deceived into thinking that doing all these peripheral services year after year is what GOD has called them to do. As a result they always remain in spiritual infancy without any true spiritual growth and never fulfil the divine calling for their lives.
So you may ask "what then is really going on today?" Did you know that you were deceived if you thought that it was in the Bible for you to be a greeter or pastor's bodyguard and so on. Dear friends, the false church of today has drifted away from the Scriptures. As we may know that for every true gift there is a counterfeit as well. Today, the true spiritual gifts found in the scriptures are replaced with a cheap imitation and counterfeit labeled 'serving' which includes being ushers and greeters in the church, working for the coffee shop in the church break area, receptionists, gardeners etc. The true gifts and its operations have become obsolete from these circles. My challenge to you is, show me a church that is breeding ground for the operation of the gifts of wisdom? Where are the gifts of knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, tongues, interpretation? As far as I know the GOD of this universe hasn't changed. The bible says HE is the same yesterday, today and forever more. Then that leaves me with the conclusion that it is the church that has drifted away from the truth of the scriptures.
d) Church administration that is focused on preserving the truths of the gospel
Unlike the modern day church administration that administers cash flow and attendance, the real church administration which is comprised of elders, pastors and deacons spends much time laboring in the Word, and then administers the defense and preservation of the truth of the New testament message. Their main duty is to defend and preserve the truth and purity of the gospel and protect the people of the church from false doctrines and false teachers. In addition to this, the leadership of the real church is placed there to equip the church to grow in Christ and become capable to make new disciples, plant churches and lead a new flock of saved souls.
What does it mean to be a member of the real church?
The New Testament is replete with expressions of the reality of one body which is the body of christ. Local churches or assemblies, all proceed from this one body. There is only one body, and only one membership thereof. Joining a local church is often mistakenly perceived with membership in the body of Christ. Bible only warrants one membership and that is with the body of Christ. And its membership is comprised of all those who have entered the kingdom of God through 'the door', who is Jesus Christ, by faith. All those around the world, who have placed their faith in Christ are members of this body. To be a member of the body of Christ is to be a person that will feel the very pulse of Christ, a soul that will be so absolutely enthused and so controlled by the mind of Jesus that your very walk and very thought and your very gifts will be a part of the heart-thought of the Christ. It is for you to say whether you will be a member of His church, bone of His bone and flesh of His flesh, actually so; a member of His body in whom the very heart-pulses of the Messiah will throb. (Lake) If you are a member of His body, you will manifest and demonstrate the very mind of Christ.
In every local assembly there are those who are the real body members of Jesus Christ and those who are not. Just because one joins a church, takes membership classes and is an active member in the ordinances, is no evidence that their name is written in heaven. But in every church there are those whose names are written in heaven and who have within themselves the witness of the Spirit to that fact as Romans 8:16 reads "GOD's Spirit beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of GOD."
Scripture never defines for us a law, a rule, or a commandment, by which we are obligated to stay in attendance at one particular church, or any denomination. Choosing a church at which to fellowship is made by listening to GOD's counsel and applying wisdom. If the church you are attending currently is adhering to biblical principles in all areas, you are safe in being planted there. However, if you notice even distortion or even the slightest compromise to the revealed biblical truths, get out of that church in haste before your soul gets entrapped in false teachings and leaven.
What are the marks of a true church and christian ministry?
a) Signs
The mark of a true church is that it manifests GOD and all His characteristics, His attributes, all His fullness of power. We read in Mark 16:20- And they went forth, and preached every where, the LORD working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Signs and wonders are still GOD's endorsement of the preaching of the true gospel. The preaching that lacks the signs which Jesus promised lacks the divine attestation, by which GOD confirms the preaching of His own true gospel.
If you want to look into the genuineness of a ministry or church, look unto the signs of the ministry. When John the baptist was troubled with doubt as to whether Jesus was the Christ, he sent two of Hiis disciples to Jesus to enquire. Jesus' answer was to appeal to the signs of His ministry. As we see in Matt 11:4-6 - the blind receive the sight, the lame walk, and the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. (Lake)
b) Absolute dependence on GOD
We see in Luke 9:3 where Jesus said "And He said unto them, take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money, neither have two coats apiece." As in all Holy Spirit's work throughout the earth, they trust GOD and GOD alone for their support. (Lake)
c) Stewardship
Real churches model Biblical stewardship, spending resources primarily on actual ministry and missions. That is not much like our modern preachers huh! Today ministry means the finest house in town, the highest salary, the smartest carriage and horses.
d) Priesthood of all believers
Real churches cultivate and give full expression to the priesthood of all believers under the sovereign headship of Christ. In other words, true churches do not wait for the arrival of some self proclaimed "ordained" individual as being essential for a full worship experience to take place. They promote and encourage every believer in the fellowship to be fully engaged in the work of the ministry.
What is the purpose/mission of a church or ministry?
a) To grow in perfection
While, it is true the church is made up of imperfect people who are although perfect in the Spirit through regeneration, still imperfect in the flesh, it is no excuse for the church to remain in that imperfect state. One of the chief missions of GOD's institution of church is to mould a perfect people, to form believers who will grow into the full stature of Christ. In other words, imperfect people coming together, growing in the knowledge of the Son of GOD, and being developed into a perfect people in righteousness and holiness, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ (Eph 4:13). That is the mission of the Lord Jesus Christ. To transform the soul of man into the likeness and character of Himself, and then present him to the Father, "holy, unblameable and unreproveable in His sight."
b) To exhort one another
Apostle warns in Hebrews to not forsake church or assembling together because exhorting one another is crucial in running the heavenly race to which we are called to. As we fellowship around the Word, we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ by which we are able to escape the corruption that is in the world through lusts. Are you entering His house with the zeal of those who heard John the Baptist and Jesus? They pressed into the kingdom of God with violent force (Matt 11:12-13; Luke 16:16)! Is His house so important you would rather be a doorkeeper there than live anywhere else (Ps 84:10)?
c) To equip the saints
One of the prime missions of a christian ministry is to prepare the fellow Christian to grow in the ability to teach and defend the truth of the gospel. We see in Hebrews 5 a similar theme where the Apostle rebukes the Hebrew saints for their lack of progress toward teaching. And Peter exhorted his readers to be ready to give reasonable answers, not feelings, for their hope in Jesus Christ (I Pet 3:15).
d) To be the face of GOD in a dying world
As a church, the goal of a ministry should be to reflect all of HIS characteristics, HIS attributes and HIS fullness of power. Just like Apostle Paul, we too ought to be consumed by GOD's world wide work through the gospel reaching out to the world with the love of GOD in Christ Jesus as we see in Col 1:3-8. God's truth has to be shared in love, friendship and relationship, illustrated daily in the life of one sharing the gospel.
Conclusion
What about your church? Is your church devising world's wisdom in order to increase attendance and cash flow? Is every word from the pulpit and every activity of the church defendable by Scripture alone? If it is not, then you are deliberately choosing the way of spiritual adultery and compromise that is an abomination to the LORD. Evil communications corrupt good manners there as well as anywhere (I Cor 15:33). Measured by the standards of the world and its definition of success, your church may pass as wise. But measured by the Word of God, it well may not pass GOD's standards!
The danger is clear! The fork in the road is right before you! To the left is the wide-open gate that leads to hell. Everyone else is entering that gate with laughter and a great community spirit - and they call for you to travel with them. To the right is a very restrictive and confining gate that leads to life. Hardly anyone at all is entering that gate, and they seem unusually sober and grave about it. What road are you in? The harlot church of today-has taken treasures by wickedness; but the Lord Jesus Christ is coming to grind her to powder (Rev 17:1-6; 18:1-24)! (letgodbetrue.com)
When you separate from false religion to follow Him only, He has promised to receive you as dearly beloved sons and daughters (II Cor 6:14-18). He makes things last, repairs holes in financial bags, restores years lost to folly, and protects in danger. Choose to be in the company of believers that is after GOD's own heart and has a different face and different dynamic from what we see in the false church world. Don't worry about what people think, if men do not praise or commend you here, Jesus will remember every good work in the great Day of Judgment as we read in Matt 25:31-46.
Friends, true christianity is pure, simple and powerful. There is no additional baggage on top of it like the million dollar buildings, debt and then a committee to figure out how they are going to pay the bills next month. The christianity Jesus Christ has inaugurated is simple, anointed, and non burdensome. The best example on how a ministry needs to be run is seen in the scriptures as we follow the styles of our Lord Jesus Christ and His apostles. They were never after fame and accolades neither did they ever devise worldly schemes like buidings and band wagon to attract crowd. They preached the pure undiluted truth of the gospel which contained repentance, righteousness and eternal life as its core topics. They were never set after building a worldly kingdom, for as Lord Jesus said in John 18:36 "My kingdom is not of this world", for His kingdom was of another realm namely heaven. For them it was not about having a nice church building, harmonious surroundings and a sweet do-nothing time (Lake). Instead they were always ready to pray, ready to preach and ready to die. That is the spirit of true christianity. So live as pilgrims showing the world what we really value, the life to come, the life eternal that GOD has prepared for all those who love HIM and His truths. Let us hold fast to the pattern of church and ministry as laid out in the scriptures, not trusting the carnal church and its devises even for a minute. The Gospel of our Lord Jesus, and the writings of his apostles, should be our foundation; founding all our expectations on these, and seeking grace and glory from the Lord Jesus Christ and Him alone, who is our sum and substance. Glory be to GOD!
Lets pray that GOD may deliver us from mediocre, lifeless Christianity—and may quicken us with His Holy Spirit and ignite us with spiritual fire!! May the wonderful fire of revival come to the church, and to all of our hearts individually.
Wishing you GOD's grace and peace!
junu.
References:
John G Lake - Complete collection
Adam Clarke Commentary of the whole Bible
David Guzik commentary
LetGodBeTrue.com
Will the real church please rise up?
---discerning the wheat from the tares
As warned in the scriptures in 2 Timothy 4:3, an effeminate and compromising brand of christianity has emerged in these last days deceiving millions of ignorant christians everywhere. This is not about the catholics, jehovah's witnesses or mormons who are in blatant error. But here we will discern the most subtlest deception that has crept into the protestant christian churches who claim to know the truth. The chief mark of these carnal churches and its followers is that they prefer fables, entertainment and watered down preaching than hearing uncompromised biblical truths and sound doctrine. They settle for a one hour program on Sunday mornings and spent more time socializing around small talk, sports and world news rather than getting together daily to exhort one another and learn the Word of GOD. The modern cute church wants to hear smooth words that soothe their ears, just like the truth rejecters before them (Is 30:8-11). They are begging the devil for a place in the world, apologizing for the faith in GOD, trying to conform christianity to the mind of the world. Read below some of the distinguishing features of the real church and the false church.
Pilgrims' Map
