What should a Christian church produce? There is a church experience; something to do, something that happens, something else which they do not get in other churches. That experience can grow the church and even educated the people but is it what the Christian church needs to mature the saints in Christ. I hope it is not the same as our modern university, turning out educated people that know nothing about real life. How Colleges Produce Socialists, by Kimberlee Josephson. Is this what the Christian church should produce – a social Gospel.
THE MINISTERIAL GIFTS
The ministerial gifts in the church are to produce; perfecting, edifying, unity of faith and the true knowledge of God. The Chrisitan is to grow up by the ministry of those gifts into a perfect man and the stature of the fulness of Christ. The church is not to be children tossed about by every wind of doctrine, but to grow up in all things allowing Christ to be the head of the body and the leadership in all we are and what we do (Ephesians 4:11-15). If these things are in us we can live a fruitful life and discern the good from evil.
PEOPLE GO TO A CERTAIN CHURCH WANTING SOMETHING
People go to a certain church wanting the Word and I believe we have it to give, and it is faithfully given to the people by the ministry in many wonderful churches. However, it seems as if the people want more that that, they desire a church experience – the church that can give them the best church experience, and has the most to offer the children, and the family for human enjoyment.
This leads a church toward natural things to please people, more for the youth, activities, buildings for recreation, and the church becomes a family center of activities for all ages to be entertained. Then it is said, “we have the Word, but we also have so much more…”
A CHURCH EXPERIENCE
When the church becomes so interested in those things in order to grow the church, something is wrong. The true saint will begin to starve to death, even with the Word being preached. Because the Word becomes secondary, and the church begins to give the people more than an appetite for the Word, numbers become a goal, and the enjoyment of their church experience.
It is because of this, those born in the church never really grow up in Christ, they never learn there is a price to be paid to be a Christian. They have learned to believe it is all about a church experience the extras the church has for the families, the music, the singing and the energy of the service.
There was a price paid in blood, pain and tears for the church. Every church age had a few overcomers, they overcame the spirit of their age (Revelation 2:11). It cost them their livelihood, friendships, they were hated and despised. Many gave their natural life for the cause of Christ walking alone in this evil world, loving the LORD, regardless of what life offered them.
They did not look for a greater church experience to please the outward man. They lived life behind that inner veil of holiness serving the LORD with every ounce of life they could give. They were not looking for something else to go with Christ the Word. That was the church’s love and enjoyment.
If our Christian experience is just a church experience, then there is no real Christian growing up into perfection. We just enjoy things. That kind of a Christian cannot deal with the realities of life. When they come, many do not know what is happening to them, because it has been all about their church experience; doing this and that, music they love, activities that keep them motivated, places to go to have more church experiences with friends that are doing the same.
The church experience has become a sense of freedom and liberty to do what makes me feel good, not a life of sacrifice and holiness.
THERE MUST BE CHURCHES
I am not criticizing churches; I was raised in a denominational church and recognized these things, even as a young man. I am now and old man and a pastor of a wonderful message church, I think God for the church, and the ministry God provides. But an artificial church environment will not satisfy the soul but that will lead you to the battle of Armageddon and you will be on the wrong side.
I don’t want our young men and women of this message to just have a CHURCH EXPERIENCE, but an experience with CHRIST THE WORD. A church experience gives a false hope of something good but it don’t last, I have seen too much of it. It creates an inability to live the Christian life of sacrifice and service. It is like a socialist point of view in what we believe that only produces a social Gospel.
Pastor Bill Ivy – Living Word Tabernacle, Campbell Missouri, USA