When hundreds of thousands or even millions are spent on a building and cool stuff to go in the building while the community around it suffers.....you might be in the wrong place.
When you're told you suffer simply because you lack faith....you might be in the wrong place.
When the business of faith is an actual business....you might be in the wrong place."
I saw this last night. I don’t know if the person is a believer or unbeliever. No one can truly know the heart of another person. If they are a believer, than the picture of the church of today to them, is one of unrepentant pride, greed, and a conformity to the world. If they are an unbeliever, than the same applies, and it paints a grim picture for how the church looks to those it is called to reach.
Matthew 25: 34-40 Then the King will say to those on his right, `Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, saying, `Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'
Poverty and the poor are used 446 times in 384 verses. In contrast wealth and greed are used 1,453 times in 1,273 verses. So God needed to discuss the dangers of greed almost 4 times as much as helping the poor. Sounds like that was a big issue in biblical times, and even more so now. The church is supposed to be His Light in the world. We are supposed to be a representation of Christ’s hands and feet here on earth. Christ’s hands were giving not receiving. His feet were walking miles to help others. Not propped up in ease and comfort.
We want to bring the lost of the world into the church to show them a new life in Christ, but the majority of churches look no different than the world around them. Their one point on people suffering because they lack faith I have to disagree with. Suffering is not from a lack of faith, it’s a prerequisite for faith. Faith is strengthened in suffering. But its hard to get that point across to a broken world, when all they see through the window is ease and comfort. How much have you truly suffered for Christ? How much are you actually willing to give up for Christ?
Jesus and his disciples had nothing. The first century church had nothing. They freely gave whatever they had. Was it given freely for the building, or for items of comfort in the building? Let’s see what scripture says: “And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
So what can be gleamed from this text. It says first they were devoted to the teachings. In other words, God’s word was their life. And they were together and had all things in common(they were all of like mind). They sold their possessions and gave to those who were in NEED. They had favor(or kind, caring) to all people. And in result of living like this, their numbers grew DAILY!
Church, God’s Church, was never meant to be run like a business. Jesus had some strong feelings with business being conducted in church. Matthew 21:12-13 And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, "It is written, `My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you make it a den of robbers."
A word to the churches: Do you want revival in the church? Do you want to truly reach the lost in this broken world? If so, priorities must change.
1) The Word must consume our life.
2) We must be like-minded, a cohesive organism.
3) Our finances must be focused on those in need.
4) We must show love to all people, not just the ones that meet certain criteria.
5) Walk as Christ, completely apart from this world, not conforming to it.
And in doing so, He will increase the numbers of saved for His Kingdom daily. The world is yearning for light. His Church is groaning for revival. It’s time for a call back to the church of the apostles.
