THE CHURCH

                                              THE CHURCH



INDEX:
-  THE CHURCH IMAGE
- WHAT IS THE ROCK...?
- THE BIBLE
- THE NICENE/APOSTLES CREED
- WHY THE DIFFERENCES?
- CHURCH LEADERSHIP
 The Ministry of the Apostle
 The Ministry of the Prophet
 The Evangelist
 The Pastor, and the Teacher
 The Ministry of Miracles and Healings
 Diversities (different kinds) of Tongues 
 Helps and Administrations
 Elders and Deacons
- The Services of the Church
 The Church is a Body
 What about the Unity of the Church?
- The Safety and Cautions - Embracing the Church
- CONCLUSION

 Jesus said, “’Whom do men say that I the Son of man Am?...He said unto them, ‘But Whom do you say that I Am?’ And Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.’ And Jesus answered and said unto him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood has not revealed it unto you, but My Father which is in Heaven. And I say also unto you, that you are Peter [Greek= petros - (a piece of) rock], and upon this rock [Petra = (a mass of) rock] I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.’” Matthew 16:13-18

“May they all be one, Father, may they be one in Us as You are in Me and I am in You, so that the world may believe it was You Who sent Me. I have given them the glory You gave to Me, that they may be one as We are One. With Me in them and You in Me, may they be so completely one that the world will realize that it was You Who sent Me and that I have loved them as much as You loved Me.” John 17:21-23 Jerusalem Bible

“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free, and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”1 Corinthians 12:13

“For through Him (Jesus) we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.” Ephesians 2:18


THE CHURCH IMAGE

 Since its conception on the day of Pentecost, the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ has been a target of praise, ridicule, admiration, and reproach throughout the world. As believers, we are the Church and a part of this living temple (a dwelling place for the Spirit of God in this world) with all its faults and weaknesses (the human aspect), as well as its wonders and glory (the reflections of Christ). Let us step back and look at it for a moment from the Biblical perspective and where you and I as individuals fit in. 

(Note: To this day and throughout the history of the church, there have been an untold number of wise and godly men from every denomination that have imparted the wisdom of God our Heavenly Father into the church, and this short essay is a mere drop in the bucket by comparison. I hope that it will be useful to you as the reader to help clarify some concerns and questions you may have. And as with all teaching, it must be verifiable in the Scriptures, and scrutinized by those whom God has placed in your church for your guidance and protection. In various portions of my writings, certain aspects are merely my perspective of a much larger picture. May the Lord bless you richly.)

WHAT IS THE ‘ROCK’ JESUS SAID HE WOULD BUILD HIS CHURCH ON?

  There has been some controversy regarding what or who is the rock (Petra) that Jesus was referring to. When Jesus asked His disciples Who He was, Peter (Petros) declared, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” This revelation, Jesus said, comes from the Father, and upon that revelation He would build His church. It is through that revelation alone that every individual becomes a member of His Church. In fact, this is basically the question He asks each individual of mankind, “…But Whom do you say that I am?” So the actual Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, therefore, is not man’s organization, but believers, people who have the revelation from God the Father of Who Jesus Christ truly is, regardless of the church they may or may not attend. It is through this faith and revelation that a person, regardless of age, nation, or tongue, is birthed into the Kingdom of God. Actually, the only real entrance into Jesus’ Church is by being Born Again: “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” John 3:3. Therefore, a person cannot simply join Jesus’ Church by taking up a membership, or by being born into a Christian family, all of which is fine, but what makes us Christians is if Jesus Christ is actually living in us. “…if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.” Romans 8:9

THE CHURCH IS – ALL THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN BORN INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD BY FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.

THE BIBLE  -  THE PRIMARY AND COMMON TOOL OF THE CHURCH

“Now therefore, you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Corner Stone.” Ephesians 2:19-20

“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

2 Peter 1:20-21

 From the days of the early church until today, the Scriptures are supposed to be the root and core of all the beliefs of the Church. Please note that in the book of Acts, when the question of controversy was brought up regarding the stance of the Church concerning Gentile believers, that the Apostles and elders sought the Lord for the answer and confirmed it with the Scriptures of the Old Testament (The New Testament had not yet been put together). Acts 15:15…

  Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, our Example, constantly quoted the Scriptures throughout His ministry, beginning with refuting the temptation of the devil right up until His actual death on the cross. Even after His resurrection, He went over the Scriptures with His disciples: “Then He said to them, ‘O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?’ And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself… ‘And they said one to another, ‘Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us by the way and while He opened  to us the Scriptures?’” Luke 24:25-27,32

 The entire New Testament from beginning to end is filled with quotes and references from the Old Testament as confirmation to all the claims of the New Testament, as well as showing the fulfillment of the prophecies of the Old Testament. THE CHURCH IS BUILT ON THE HOLY SCRIPTURES!

 The accepted canonized version of the New Testament was apparently completed in 397 AD. To be put simply, for each writing or book to be recognized as canonized Scripture (The actual Word of God), the content had to be in complete harmony with all the Scriptures of the Old Testament and in complete harmony with the original recognized writings of the New Testament.

 The Scriptures (which Jesus said, “cannot be broken” John 10:35) of the Bible are where the Church derives its doctrines and teachings (or is supposed to), the knowledge and will of God as well as the life and especially the passion of the Lord Jesus Christ. From the Bible we learn about what God calls sin, salvation, Heaven, hell, the return of Jesus Christ, the resurrection of the dead, eternal judgment, and all that we need to know to live before God as His Church collectively, and as individuals in this world until He returns.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and can profitably be used for teaching, for refuting error, for guiding people’s lives and teaching them to be holy. This is how the man who is dedicated to God becomes fully equipped and ready for any good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17  

The Jerusalem Bible.

THE NICENE/APOSTLES CREED

 The early Church was disjointed and scattered after the death of the Apostles and early church elders. There was growing confusion as to what Christians believed and knew about Jesus Christ and the New Covenant. Under Constantine, at the Council of Nicaea, the leaders of the known church came together to rectify the situation. Out of this historic event and through much difficulty and controversy came the Nicene Creed. The doctrines of the Nicene Creed are recognized by most of the denominations of the church today, even amid the many flavours and diversity of the Church.

WHY THE DIFFERENCES?

 This is a complex issue, and there are many variables, but what is important to God is our faith in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and living a holy life of faith and love in Him. Jesus (not man) said that He would build His church, so all we need to do is trust Him and follow Him whichever way He leads us.
 After the deaths of the Apostles and the early church leaders, the church found itself disjointed and vague in its beliefs and understanding. The Scriptures of the Old Testament were already established, but the teachings of the New Testament were scattered. Finally, they were gathered together, and the verifiable canonized Scriptures were compiled into the New Testament, and the combination containing the Old and New Testaments became the Bible. However, the Bible was not openly available, and the church plunged into what is known as the Dark Ages. Many practices and traditions were adopted by the church at that time which were not derived from the instruction of the Scriptures of the Bible. In the early part of the first millennium, monks and priests began to make known the teachings of the Bible, which brought about what is called the Reformation. As the church began to break free from the bondages of Biblical ignorance, various individuals were able to lay hold on the revelations in the Scriptures regarding the actual identity and character of the church (or the followers of the Lord Jesus Christ). Group after group sprang forth, adapting themselves to their new understanding, thus beginning a diverse-membered body of Christ- "...the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him that fills all in all." Ephesians 1:22-23 Though many differences, there is still only ONE CHURCH - those who have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

CHURCH LEADERSHIP

 Again, because of the diversities within the Christian world, there are varying types of leadership and methods of leadership within the different groups and denominations, but through it all, within the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, the original functioning aspects were always there in some form or another, yet not often recognized as such. During the dark ages, much of the original church’s structure was lost. Since the days of the Reformation, the Lord has been restoring to today’s church many of the truths that the early church practiced. Remember, the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is a living entity that lives and moves by the power of His Holy Spirit according to the living Word of God and the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors, and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building of the body of Christ; 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...” Ephesians 4:11-13

“And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, governments/administrations, diversities of tongues…” 1 Corinthians 12:28

"WELL, WHERE ARE THEY?" One might ask.

 THE MINISTRY OF THE APOSTLE - They have always been around, but because of the traditions of men and ignorance of the workings of God in our world, we may not recognize them. Apostles are church planters, and not organization planters. (Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.” 2 Corinthians 12: 12) There have been those called of God who have spread His Gospel where Jesus had not yet been named and raised up assemblies of believers, and lay the foundation on the Word of God by faith in Jesus Christ, yet had never had the title of Apostle, which certainly doesn’t matter as long as people are brought to Jesus Christ. Apostles are also authorities within the Church who direct/govern the Church into the ways of Christ and the Kingdom of God and have general oversight of the Body of Christ.

 THE MINISTRY OF THE PROPHET - Prophets like Agabus Acts 11:28, 21:10-11, Barnabas, Simeon, Lucius, and Manaen Acts 13:1-3, Judas and Silas Acts 15:32, are still active in the church around the world today, and have been all along. They deliver direct words from God to the Church today. Some of them were burned at the stake in times past. I was reading some of Martin Luther's works, and in them he was actually prophesying in places. Often, if they belong to a certain group, they are not recognized by other groups or denominations. Rarely do church groups recognize, let alone follow the ministries of other church groups, which is quite a shame, really. Because of it, we miss out on so much of what God is doing throughout the earth. Furthermore, for this very reason, believers have found themselves attacking a move of God because it did not originate from them or happen the way we thought it should happen. Could it be that more of us are guilty of this than we may realize?

 EVANGELISTS  are well known and recognized throughout the church. It is a very familiar ministry, and here in the West, well known even among unbelievers. They are itinerant preachers, spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ wherever they go. Philip, in the Book of Acts, was one of the first. Perhaps the most famous one of our generation that was recognized across every denomination worldwide was Billy Graham.

 THE PASTOR, AND THE TEACHER - The ministries of the Pastor and Teacher are the most common ministries and recognized by all. They, especially the Pastor, tend to the flock of God the closest and usually live among the people they are shepherding. Priests are also called Pastors. I have seen people given the title of pastor, but were very poor shepherds, yet were good preachers, teachers, or administrators. I have seen some volunteers and Sunday School teachers who were actually superb pastors anointed of God, but were never recognized by their organization as such. Wherever the Holy Spirit is working, so are His servants, whether they are recognized by others or not.

 THE MINISTRY OF MIRACLES AND HEALING – The Kingdom of God is not in word only, but in power, and the ‘supernatural’ should be expected                 1 Corinthians 4:20. According to the Scriptures, the miracles of Jesus and the Apostles are still available to the Church through the Power of the Holy Spirit by faith in Jesus’ name. These ministries we all would like to see more of, and we should be believing and seeking God to use whom He wills, even if it is we ourselves.

DIVERSITIES (different kinds) OF TONGUES – Many of us are familiar with the gift of tongues, especially as laid out in 1 Corinthians 14, but I, for one, have never seen it functioning as a ministry. In 1 Corinthians 12:10, Paul addresses diverse kinds of tongues categorized as one of the ministry gifts, so I am "assuming" (meaning I might be wrong) that God has dispensed as a form of ministry, using the giftings of diverse tongues. I have heard of God using the gift of tongues to give the Gospel message to people of another language by a believer who does not know that language, which may be it. Acts 2 shows this. I would call this event an initiating example, so I know it is possible and likely, though I  personally am not familiar with it. Hopefully, perhaps you are. Such a gifting would be indispensable for sharing and ministering in a pinch to people of foreign languages, or them ministering to us. God knows. Years ago, I was listening to a brother speaking in tongues, and I recognized that he was speaking in Latin, being familiar with it from my Roman Catholic background. When I mentioned it to him, he said he knew, because during a service he gave a message in tongues and his pastor interpreted it. An older Catholic woman, who spoke Latin, said that it was perfect Latin and a perfect translation. 

 HELPS AND ADMINISTRATIONS - are completely indispensable for any and every church fellowship. Regardless of the type of work, and no matter  how natural it seems, the workers should be filled with the Holy Spirit because it is all still the work of the Spirit of Jesus Christ and His Kingdom we are working for Acts 6:2-3.  Whatever kind of ministry, if it  is called of God, will bear the appropriate fruit within the workings of the Church since it is gifted by the Holy Spirit and being used by the Lord Jesus Christ to fulfill His will and establish His Kingdom in men. These ministries help in the more natural functions of the church and are of critical importance and should be recognized as such. Although the work is natural, it is still a spiritual service.

ELDERS AND DEACONS

The Ministry of Elders as described in the New Testament provided oversight for the flock with the apostles and other ministries. There is no defining line for this work of church oversight other than the qualifications for eldership. The apostles functioned also as elders, but were not the only elders. In the verses of 1Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:5-9, the Lord lays out the qualifications for elders and deacons. In the Bible, the Elders tended more to the spiritual aspects of the congregation, and the deacons focused on overseeing the natural concerns of the church Acts 6:6. In various church organizations, the elder is are also called a bishop or pastor, and the deacons are the church board, trustees, or whatever. The identifying factor is the responsibility they are entrusted with before God. Following the qualifications for these ministries as set out in the Scriptures is a huge safeguard to adhere to when selecting elders and deacons, or whatever they are titled. I sat in on a couple of church boards that tended to the financial and logistical aspects of the church. I saw more than once brothers who were not spiritually up to the task stumble over some of the issues that crossed over from the pastoral aspect of the work. Even though they were very competent in the administrative work, they were not able to absorb some of the issues they were confronted with. All church work is spiritual, and a person must do it by faith with the hand and grace of God working through them.

  Now, after reading all this, and if you have been following my work, you might ask me, "What ministry do I claim to be?" Well, this may surprise you, but I can almost proudly say that my ministry in the church is, and has always been, the ministry of helps. I am writing now (though I have been studying for decades) because the Lord has currently given me an open door in to share His Word in this manner, but this has never been my primary service.
 The work that I have done from the beginning is to support, back up, and fill in wherever there was a need: assistant to the pastor, but not be the pastor, church janitor, Sunday school assistant and teacher, youth helper, and youth leader, Bible camp cook, camp counselor, and camp maintenance man, provisional Prison Chaplin, Christian School worker, musician, worship leader (mickey mouse as far as skill goes), men's ministry assistant, ministry organizer, Bible class teacher, vehicle mechanic (and a poor one at that), street evangelist, soup kitchen aid, prayer team member... Basically in whatever and wherever I can help. I have never been the ordained person for most, if any, of those services, but the fill-in until those who were truly called were able to step in. I have genuinely been honored and blessed to have served in such a role - 'Hero Support'. THANK YOU LORD JESUS! I would not give up my calling for anything that He has not called me to, and I hope you feel the same about what God has called you to do. You may then ask why I have written all these - well, because the Lord put it on my heart to do so. My hope and prayer is that they will encourage, inspire, and help everyone who reads them. I have studied and trained many years for this.
 "Once the trees went forth to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, 'Reign over us!' But the olive tree said to them, 'Shall I leave my fatness with which God and men are honored, and go to wave over the trees?' Then the trees said to the fig tree, ' You come, reign over us!' But the fig tree said to them, 'Shall I leave my sweetness and my good fruit, and go to wave over the trees?" Then the trees said to the vine, 'You come, reign over us!' But the vine said to them, 'Shall I leave my new wine, which cheers God and men, and go to wave over the trees?''' Judges 9:8-13
 You can never be more satisfied and complete than by being and doing what God, your Heavenly Father, has called you to be and do. God told Mother Theresa to go and help the poor in Calcutta. How many disciples of Jesus do you know that are more honorable than her?
 

THE SERVICES OF THE CHURCH

 In the topics of the SACRED ACTIVITIES OF THE CHURCH in previous writings, I covered many of the activities of the Church. Within every group or denomination, the predominant part of church services revolves around a gathering. They will vary from church to denomination, but typically the church gathers together to build itself up in our most Holy Faith, to worship the Lord, to break bread (the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of Him), to pray, to receive teaching and revelation.

 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25

  All these are fantastic and wonderful, and we should never lightly regard the freedom to be able to participate in them. Many places in the world do not allow such privileges. We need to remember to pray for the services, that the Lord will use them for His glory and meeting with His people.

THE CHURCH IS A BODY

“For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by One Spirit are we all baptized into one body…1 Corinthians 12:12-13

  Something else we should not despise is the variations and diversities within the Church. As the Holy Spirit penned it through the teachings of the Apostle Paul, the church is a Body, made up of multiple parts, whether referring to each individual member, or perhaps even the many varying groups and denominations (that may also apply).  Each group reaches some (hopefully), and we must reach everyone we can for Jesus and their salvation’s sake until He returns. Remember what Jesus said to James and John when they saw someone casting out devils in His name, but were not following them, “Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.” Luke 9:49-50

WHAT ABOUT THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH

  When we look at the church as a many-membered body, it implies diversity of members and parts that all work together to function as a single unit. The unity is not that all the members are the same (1 Corinthians 12:17), but that they all work together supplying their portion so that the body can function as it should (Ephesians 4:16). Each member is diverse in its gifting according to God’s intended design but is critical for the proper function of the body as a whole. Again, this is referring to each individual member, but it can also apply to the various church groups as a whole. True, human traditions, laws, and teachings have tainted the actual function of the Body of Christ/Church, and the Lord will work around these even as He will with our own personal follies, but unity does not mean everyone becoming and doing the same thing. This idea of complete unity under the power of one man or one group is strictly human reasoning and motive, and is something the Lord will not compete with. Sorry. Instead, we love one another, honor one another, serve one another, work with one another as we are able, and definitely pray for each other.

THE SAFETY AND THE CAUTIONS

 God has placed authority in His House for our protection – “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give and account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.” Hebrews 13:17 NIV

Even Paul went to Jerusalem and submitted himself to the apostles and elders there to make sure he was correctly preaching the Gospel - Galatians 2:1-10

 CAUTION – The leaders of the Church are not your lords; Jesus is our only Lord. They care for us and advise us, but the final decisions are up to us to decide what is best for ourselves and what is the Lord’s will for our lives. “A wise man will hear, and will increase learning, and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels…” Proverbs 1:5

 It is not their responsibility to govern our personal lives, yet God has also placed them in a position to speak into our lives if we are open to hear. However, with regard to the workings of the church affairs, that is their jurisdiction, and we had better pay attention to what they have to say.

EMBRACING THE CHURCH

 When we become believers in Jesus, we also are adopted into His family. God’s people become our brothers and sisters, and we should serve and love them as such. This goes beyond an organization, but also within an organization if the situation be so; however, our church life, as with everything we do and in all our relationships, stems from the outflow of our deep personal relationship with Jesus AND THE LATTER MUST NEVER REPLACE OR BE SUPERIMPOSED ON THE FORMER! Far too many people who have been hurt within church settings, for whatever reasons, have fallen away from the Lord through it. There must be a reasonable and safe separation so that the dealings of men will not stumble you from your walk with Jesus. People will fail you, and you will fail people, but that must never be a reason to walk away from the Lord. (Please read the study called “Dealing with Fallout” if you haven’t already read it). We must diligently and even jealously guard our relationship with Jesus, and never let anything or anyone get between you and Him. “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want…” Psalm 23:1 “Whom have I in heaven but Thee? and there is none upon the earth that I desire besides Thee.” Psalm 73:25 Yet all the while, carefully walking in peace and love with all people, especially our brothers in Christ.

 The apostle Paul, amid all his adventures, church planting, preaching, teaching, and hardships, said, “But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for Whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish…that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection…” Philippians 3:7-10 NIV
 So the actual fulfillment of our personal walk with Jesus Christ is expressed in the love we show for our fellow man, and especially for His people, the church. “…for he that loves not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God Whom he has not seen?” 1 John 3:20

CONCLUSION - As believers of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are members of His Body here on earth, the Church, with a place, a purpose, and a value, not only to Him, but also to those with whom we share in this wondrous walk and life. Let His love flow through you and share in His Joy. You are His Church.