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The Search for The Church
One of the things I continually encounter is caution and disillusionment about Christianity and "the Church." To be honest, it is no wonder that many "outsiders" feel this way. First of all, we need to admit that what the world
views as “Christianity” is a tangled mess of conflicting
ideologies, traditions, and conflicting teaching. Open the telephone book
“Yellow Pages” of
Second, we need to admit is that there are a number of elements under the larger umbrella term "Christianity" that have given it a number of black-eyes over the centuries. Papal corruption, the Crusades, the inquisition, Reformation wars and denominational suspicions and hatred, conflicting doctrines, and the antics of later 20th century television “evangelists.” Then, there are the “liberal” churches that have turned their back on the Bible in the hope of being “relevant” to modern culture - they embrace materialistic/naturalistic evolution as true and then “celebrate diversity” (approve of abortion and homosexuality, even ordaining practicing homosexuals although Scripture clearly forbids it). Add to this a number of political and personal agendas and shenanigans going on in many churches today and it is not hard to understand why many are disillusioned and cautious about getting involved with anything calling itself a “church.”
Also, the term "Church" is applied to so many different things. Some churches are huge and powerful earthly institutions, focusing on politics, power, and money. Other churches are very small and struggling little groups that have so isolated themselves from other churches and the rest of society that they resemble little exclusive clubs - many of these small groups remain small because they really do not want any “outsiders” breaking into their little “family.” Then you have those groups that claim that miraculous things happen in their group, sometimes even passing rattlesnakes and poison around as tests of faith and proof that they are the "true believers." There are TV evangelists that are obsessed with material earthly blessings (note the gold furniture onstage) and making big money. Both traditional churches and newer ones can be so in-grown that they claim to want growth, but don’t really want to build personal relationships and leave visitors feeling “unwelcome.”
I once had a number of these same feelings about organized Christianity and "the Church," but in my 20's I started over with a Bible (a vague Presbyterian background, but no contact or influence from any organized church) and was able to eliminate a number of the problems that had kept me away from Jesus. I found myself on the way to discerning what Biblical Christianity originally was/is. Start with Good Questions It is very hard to arrive at solid "answers" if you don’t even know what the questions are. Some of the first questions that people investigating “Christianity” ought to ask are: “What is Christianity" in its original and intended form? What is “the Church” as Jesus intended? Why are there so many different “churches” and doctrines floating around now under the label of “Christianity”? Is there any way to make sense of this mess? What is "the Church"? Old Testament Israel was a community of people in a covenant relationship with God (Exodus 34:27,28), although individual personal "faith" (assurance & conviction) in God's existence and response to sincere seekers (Hebrews 11:1,6) varied quite a bit. When you read the New Testament, you find Jesus mentioning “the Church” (ekklesia, a "called out" group) twice - He would build His own Church (Matthew 16:18) and explaining how the Church would handle problems between its people (Matthew 18:17). The next time we encounter the word “church” it is in reference to the body of Jesus’ followers being sobered over the sudden deaths of two of their members for lying to the rest of the community about money and property (Acts 5:11). Next, we find a zealous Jew named Saul persecuting the followers of Jesus in Jerusalem (Acts 8:1-3). When Saul was converted, the church scattered over a larger area and enjoyed peace for awhile (Acts 9:31). In the Gentile city of Syrian Antioch, the first mixed body of Jewish and Gentile followers of Jesus was formed and God gave these folks the name “Christians” as the term they would be known as from that time on (Acts 11:18-26; 1Peter 4:16). Originally, the term “Church” was used to describe the body of people who had embraced Jesus as the Messiah promised from the beginning. Here is how the writer of Hebrews described the followers of Jesus, But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel. (Hebrews 12:22-24) The Church is made up of people who now hold citizenship in the heavenly Mt. Zion/Jerusalem (Philippians 3:20), it is the group "called out" around the first born of all creation, Jesus (Colossians 1:18) and their names are recorded in heaven, they are members of a "new covenant" associated with Jesus the Messiah and are spiritually purified through faith in His sacrificial blood. While the church is a heaven-centered body of all those who are redeemed through the blood of Jesus, they are also found in small local units around the world. The intended relationship of Jesus’ followers to each other was to be unselfish “love for one another” (John 13:35; Colossians 3:9-17). What is the Name of the Church? The problem of viewing the church as a divided collection of personality cults is a very old problem, which Paul spoke to in his first letter the Corinthian believers, Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree, and there be no divisions among you, but you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe's people, that there are quarrels among you. Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, "I am of Paul," and "I of Apollos," and "I of Cephas," and "I of Christ." Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? (1Corinthians 1:10-13) As we look back over the centuries of church history that have unfolded, we could add that others have divided themselves into groups officially focusing on Roman Bishops, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Menno Simons, the King of England or Bishop of Canterbury, Joseph Smith & Brigham Young, Charles T. Russell, Herbert W. Armstrong, etc. On the other hand, there are a number of Biblical names applied to Jesus’ followers. However, these names seem to have been used in reference to the whole body of believers, not as unique labels to distinguish the orthodox from the heretics in a fragmented situation, as occurred later on. These terms were not "official titles" to distinguish different denominations and theologies on signs outside buildings, but were interchangeable descriptive terms for the body of believers that emphasizes God's ownership and identity with God/Christ. The phrase most-commonly used by the NT writers, especially Paul, is "Church of God."[1] The next term with frequent usage is "The Way."[2] Beyond these, we find only a few other descriptive phrases, such as "Church of the First-born" (Hebrews 12:23), "Churches of Christ" (Romans 16:16), and "Church of the Living God" (1Timothy 3:15). In our time, with party names based on a founder so common (Calvinist, Lutheran, Mennonite, etc.) and accepted, it might be well for us to remember Paul's admonition against party-division based on the names of men (1Corinthians 1:10-13) and declaration that the true church is built upon a clear foundation For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.(1Corinthians 3:11) So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, (Ephesians 2:19-20) and holds in common some basic elements I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:1-6) As we look at and compare "churches," we realize that there are a number of basic differences and this confusion arises from several fairly obvious sources. Confusion Source #1 - Different Foundations Jesus gave authority to the 12 Apostles He selected (Matthew 16:19) to establish the Church. The early church was doctrinally united in the “Apostles’ teaching” (Acts 2:42) and they taught the same thing in every church (1Corinthians 4:17; 7:17). The Apostles were to be listened to as the authoritative standard (1Corinthians 14:37,38; 1John 4:6). The clearly identified "foundation" for Christ's church was Jesus as Messiah - the beginning cornerstone - and then the Apostles and prophets (1Corinthians 3:11; Ephesians 2:19-22). This establishes the shape of the church's foundation - Jesus, His chosen Apostles, and His authorized Prophets. Part of the problem is that different groups have added uninspired people to their foundation and this changes the shape of each of these portrayals of "the Church." One large group claims a continuing "Apostle" sitting on a throne in Rome in their authority base, while another claims twelve restored "apostles" in their authority system (Utah). Various groups coming out of the 16th century European Reformation have enshrined their original founders in their various church foundations - some have a "Martin Luther" room in their basement, a number of groups have a John Calvin room, a few have a "Menno Simons" room, and this pattern continues right up to today (with many other groups adding different highly-regarded individuals to their foundations and each of these gives a slightly different shape to each of the resulting foundations). However, the divinely inspired summary of the foundation for Christ's church does NOT include: Augustine, any Popes, Wycliffe, Huss, Zwingli, Luther, Calvin, Joseph Smith, Charles T. Russell, either of the Wesley's, Spurgeon, Billy Graham, Tim LaHaye, etc. Whenever you add anything to the foundation of "the Church" beyond Jesus, His Apostles and Prophets, and the writings the Holy Spirit inspired through them, you are changing the shape of the "church" you build on top of your foundation and that has a lot to do with why there is such a bewildering variety of organizations claiming to be the "Church" and an equally bewildering assortment of "versions" for Christian Doctrine. Confusion Source #2 - Enemies Within Before the Apostles died, they warned of false teachers and division to come later behind false teachers and power/money-hungry leaders. Old Testament Israel was warned that false prophets would come and they should use the original, authorized teachings to evaluate them (Deuteronomy 13:1-4). Jesus warned those who live in this age that many false Christs and false prophets would be coming (Matthew 24:24). Paul told the elders of the Ephesian church to stick with the “whole counsel of God” that he had delivered to them,” because “savage wolves” and men from amongst their own ranks would later arise with a desire to create their own followings with corrupted teaching (Acts 20:27-32). Paul warned the Romans of self-centered, smooth-talking church-dividers, offering teaching different from that of Jesus' Apostles (Romans 16:17-18). Paul warned the Corinthians of false apostles, deceitful workers, and servants of Satan who disguising themselves as servants of righteousness (2Corinthians 11:13-15). The Galatians were warned that there would not be any "authorized" changes from the original message delivered by the Apostles - not from them, angels, or any man (Galatians 1:6-9). Paul warned the Thessalonians that many would be lost for failing to have a “love for truth” and would instead be deceived by Satanically-inspired signs and wonders associated with a false leader who would arise within the church and claim to have divine authority (2Thessalonians 2:3-12). He warned Timothy that many would eventually fall away from the Christian faith as they are deceived by false teaching that would originate with deceitful spirits/demons and be spread by men who are hypocritical liars with seared consciences (1Timothy 4:1-3). Paul wrote that evil men and imposters would come (2Timothy 3:13) and that the time would come when many would not want sound doctrine but would gravitate toward teachers who would tell them what they want to hear (2Timothy 4:3-4). Peter warned that greedy false prophets (similar to those of the Old Testament era) would come and secretly introduce destructive heresies and many would follow them (2Peter 2:1-3). Jude also warned of false teachers within the church (Jude 4-13,16-19). A large part of the mess that “Christianity” has become is due to these prophecies being fulfilled. Don’t be surprised that Christianity has become something of a confusing mess after 2,000 years - Jesus and His Apostles told us that trouble was coming and many would be misled by false leaders and teachers (Matthew 24:24; 1Timothy 4:1; 2Peter 2:2). [*also see my article on False christ's/prophets/teachers] Confusion Source #3 - Failure to Learn from Scripture/Submit to God Since we all have the same Bible, why so many differences? First of all, let me say that the main reason is NOT that “everyone interprets the Bible differently” because of inherent problems with the Bible. God is NOT the cause of the confusion and division that has long plagued the earthly "Church" (1Corinthians 14:33). The historical setting and context of Scripture, the meaning of Biblical words, and the mechanics of Hebrew and Greek grammar are, essentially, the same for everyone. The problem does not, primarily, arise from Scripture, but from people. First, many do not study the historical and cultural setting or seriously research the meaning of words and grammar - essentially, many people do not read Scripture well. The problem here is not simply reading Scripture intelligently and sensibly, but difficulties in reading everything. Many people do not sufficiently understand grammar, word meanings, literary and cultural contexts well enough to make proper sense of much of what they read. Second, although possibly more influential than the first one, most people do NOT develop their beliefs directly from Scripture, but from the groups they associate with and secondary sources - what their church’s theologians teach, what popular media figures teach, and what they read in popular literature. Most people do not really learn to become "independent thinkers" and students, who are capable of critical reading and analysis of available evidence. Some are not mentally capable of doing this, but most are simply not shown how or encouraged to do so. As a result, most people choose their beliefs (on many matters) by choosing to believe what some "expert" says or writes. For example, if you ask most people what they think the church should look like or how to become a Christian, they will probably tell you what they have adopted from their own church does/teaches or what the Pope, John Calvin, Billy Graham, Jerry Falwell, Chuck Swindoll, Tim LaHaye, Rick Warren, or you fill in the blank says about it. Ask them what will happen when Jesus returns and most people will tell you to read or listen to Hal Lindsey, Jack van Impe, or what Jerry Jenkins and Tim LaHaye’s wrote in their “Left Behind” series of books. However, ask these same folks what the Bible says about these things and where to find it and you will generally receive blank looks, excuses, and a lot of hemming and hawing! Because we have many humanly invented or tweaked institutional "churches" and doctrines coming from many un-inspired experts over the centuries, Christian doctrine and church practices are a tangled and confusing mess. Third, there is also a problem with personal submission to God's authority. Some people do not have as much trouble understanding what Scripture is teaching as with submitting to what they read. I'm talking here of the Naaman Complex - that attitude by which we want something from God, but expect to receive His blessings on our own terms. Naaman was a Syrian army commander with leprosy who sought help from the prophet Elisha, but he was incensed when Elisha asked him to do something other than his own imagined picture of how things should work - only when he humbly submitted to what God's authorized spokesman told him to do was he healed (2Kings 5:9-14). In our time we see a similar attitude expressed in those who balk at Christian baptism (repentant believer's immersion) - "why isn't infant sprinkling good enough?" or "baptism is a work and doesn't have anything to do with salvation!" In reality, Christian baptism seems to be just as effective as a "screening" device for distinguishing humble seekers from the self-willed "religious" folks as was John's baptism in Jesus' time, And when all the people and the tax-gatherers heard this, they acknowledged God's justice, having been baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God's purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by John. (Luke 7:29-30) This is probably what Peter had in mind when he wrote that "baptism saves" (1Peter 3:21) - not that the water is magical, but that this is where we humbly submit to God's instructions "by faith" in the same way that Noah did. Prior to the flood, Noah was "a righteous man, blameless, walked with God" (Genesis 6:9), but these personal qualities alone are NOT what saved his family. Only when his faith moved him to build the ark that God told him to build did it become "saving faith," for this physical "salvation vehicle" played a very real and significant role in the "salvation of his house" (Hebrews 11:7). Noah's "obedient faith" was important, for the ark turned out to be much more than a "mere outward symbol of a salvation already accomplished" (as the "faith-only" folks assert for Christian baptism). When people read Peter's declaration that baptism "corresponds" to Noah's building of the ark and "saves you" (1Peter 3:18-21) and then say "Well, I still don't think you need to be baptized to be a Christian/saved," then I am reminded of Naaman and what would have occurred if Noah had viewed the ark-building project as the "faith-only" folks view baptism. Cleaning the Windshield To sort out this mess, we need to clean our windshield and restore the foundations. Since liberalism has little interest in Biblical Christianity, we know we can look elsewhere to begin with. However, all who regard the Bible as a source of inspired truth tend to view the original first-generation church under the Apostles as the “real thing.” Foundational is that Jesus is Lord and the Apostles were His appointed executors, given authority to establish the church and lay the foundations of its teachings.[3] The Apostles all got the same message from Jesus and they taught the same things in the churches (1Corinthians 4:17; 7:17). Thus, the “authority” and source of truth issue can be settled to begin with - Jesus’ Apostles and the New Testament writings are the only inspired and authoritative source from which questions about Christian doctrine, salvation, and the Church should be answered.
However, the good news is that the foundational teachings are still available and the original faith can be embraced any time you go back to the source - with the Old Testament as crucial background material, read the New Testament writings. The foundational truths - what “faith is and the content of it - that God exists and rewards those who seek Him - is just as valid today as ever (Hebrews 11:1,6). The standard for judgment is still what Jesus’ taught (John 12:48) and you can find this in the New Testament. The “Great Commission” is still based on making Disciples/followers of Jesus on the basis of teaching them what Jesus commanded and baptizing them (Matthew 28:18-20). The wisdom that leads to salvation is still available in the inspired Scriptures (2Tim. 3:14-17). Much that goes by the name “Christianity” is a confusing mess, but the original message and necessities are recorded in Scripture and available for anyone who wants to start over fresh. In 1974 I went back to the Scriptures and found the seeds of the Christian faith still available and ready to produce spiritual life in those who seek with a sincere heart. The same is possible for you! "Being Added" vs. "Joining" the Lord's Church So, how should one expect to become a part (a "member") of a local congregation? It seems that many earthly religious groups have different ways of becoming "a member" of their group, but I think the safest route is to view this the way the early church did. You can take out your exhaustive concordance and search in vain for anything in the Bible about "church membership" - the phraseology isn't there. You won't be able to find anything on "becoming a church member," because this was not how Jesus and His Apostles understood things. What you will find is a discussion of "covenant" relationships and being "added" to the Lord's body when you obey God's covenant requirements. God made a covenant with Abraham (Genesis 15) and both Abraham and God's presence walked "between the halves" of the covenant blood animals - when you spoke your promises and contacted the "covenant blood" you were in a "covenant relationship with God. At Sinai, the Israelites heard the requirements of the covenant God was offering (Exodus 20:1-17; 34:27-28) and then they agreed and contacted the covenant blood (Exodus 24). Jesus' blood was shed both to provide atonement and to inaugurate a "new covenant" (Matthew 26:27-28) and this blood is contacted by faith when repentant believers submit to the likeness of Jesus death, burial, and resurrection in baptism (Acts 2:37-41; Colossians 2:8-14). Rather than offering some humanly devised method for "joining the church," Peter told seekers on Pentecost what they needed to do (Acts 2:37-38), held forth the promises and encouraged them "to be saved" until they submitted to baptism and then these folks were said to be "added" to the Apostolic group (Acts 2:41). The test in Acts goes on to describe this new group of believers and what they did under the Apostles' guidance, with the closing comment, And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. (Acts 2:47) This idea of God "adding" people as they submit to His instructions fits well with both the Biblical and Middle Eastern concept of covenant relationships and the Biblical idea of the Lord's "Book of Life" - a divinely-kept record of the righteous who belong to God's true covenant people on the basis of their obedient faith. The "book of life" was first mentioned by King David, May they be blotted out of the book of life, And may they not be recorded with the righteous. (Psalm 69:28) then by the Apostle Paul, Indeed, true comrade, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. (Philippians 4:3) and, finally, a number of times by John in the Apocalypse (Revelation), 'He who overcomes shall thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels.(3:5) . . . And all who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.(13:8) . . . "The beast that you saw was and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and to go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth will wonder, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come. (17:8) . . . And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.(20:12) . . . And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.(20:15) . . . and nothing unclean and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life. (21:27) Accordingly, our concern should not be having our name on the list of "members" in some earthly religious organization, but "being added" by God as we submit in faith to His instructions and, thereby, have our name recorded in the Heavenly register - the Lamb's Book of Life! Thus, we think it best to follow the Apostles' teaching and practice as the surest way to prepare people for Gods' eternal kingdom. The true "Church" is the earthly body of the redeemed, New Covenant members, and those whose names are recorded in the Book of Life. ------------------------------- CEM - 12/20/2005
[1] Acts 20:28; 1Cor.1:2; 10:32; 11:16,22; 15:9; 2Co.1:1; Gal.1:13; 1Th.2:14; 2Th.1:4; 1Ti.3:5 [2] Acts 9:2; 19:9,23; 22:4; 24:14,22 [3] Jesus gave His twelve Apostles authority in the church: Mt. 10:1; “bind & loose” 16:19 & 18:18; 28:18-20; Lk. 9:1-2; Acts 2:42; 8:18-19; 1Cor. 14:37-38; 2Cor. 10:8; 13:10; Gal. 1:6-9; Eph. 2:19-22; 1Th. 2:6; 4:2; 1Jn. 4:6. A Ministry of Severn Christian Church (Severn, Maryland) Unless otherwise noted, all material produced by Charles E. McCoy All Scripture citations/quotations from New American Standard Bible To send a question to Chuck: chuck@severnchristian.org
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any
major city and look up “Churches” - that alone will cause many to close the book
and choose to just take their chances on judgment day! What a mess - Catholic,
Eastern Orthodox, Episcopal, Presbyterian, Methodist, Lutheran, Mennonites,
Amish, Baptist, Assembly of God, Pentecostal, Holiness, Unitarian, Universalists,
Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, Christian Science, and then the ones that need the
really big signs - the “Separated, Dispensational, Total Salvation, Apostolic,
Fire-baptized, holiness, Church of God in Christ, Baptist Temple.” There are
those little guys that don’t have that distinctive something in their name, but
just call themselves the “Christian Church” or “Church of Christ.” There are
evangelical “non-denominational” Churches that seem to be so anxious to
successfully “market” the church to all
demographic
groups that they offer what seems like a religious version of the multiple-movie
theatre (lots of offerings) approach (left, above). Liberalism and “eager to
please the crowd” evangelicalism treats doctrine and Biblical teaching as
something to “bargain/ negotiate” so as to satisfy the “church-hoppers &
shoppers” that browse their offering on Sunday mornings - you could call it
“Kingdom-light” (right).
