The Church Idol

Have we made the church into an idol and the church leaders into gods?

Why do we have the mindset that Christian ministry that is worth its weight must be done within the church, under the correct doctrinal leadership?

Why do we believe "different" is "wrong"?

When did doctrine and church theology become gospel?

When did church leaders become the voice of God?  Doesn't God speak to each of us? 

"God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoke to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they" (Hebrews 11:1-4, NKJV).

In the past, God has spoken through prophets - through other people - but now God speaks directly to us through His Son.  What, then, is prophecy and teaching today?

The Bible speaks of spiritual gifts.  Some are given to be prophets and teachers.  Some are given to be pastors (shepherds of the flock).  But does our Americanized concept of leadership taint what these gifts really mean?  According to the Bible, the gifts God gives He gives to every believer.  Each gift is of importance and should be used within the "body of Christ." 

"Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.  And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of the Lord" (Ephesians 5:17-21).

I see nowhere in this Passage that says we are to make the word of the pastor or leader our god.  I see that we, as followers of Christ, are to speak to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.  This does not necessarily mean we are to stand at the front of the church sanctuary and "lead" worship.  We have gotten so caught up in "leadership" that we have forgotten how to speak to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.  We trust so much in the "prophet" or "pastor" or "teacher" that we no longer know how to discern on our own what the will of the Lord is.  We forget that God does speak to us through His Son.  We are chosen by Him, and He communicates with us directly.  So often, even Christian colleges and seminaries that are training pastors and teachers spend as much time on leadership techniques and denominational doctrine as they do on teaching the Bible.

"For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.  But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load.  Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches" (Galatians 6:3-6).

God does not show favoritism to "leadership" or those in "high position" or "high standing."  He expects everyone to take responsibility for his own work, to share what he has been taught with others who teach.

The idea of "leadership as we see in Christianity today is not necessarily a Biblical concept.  Paul kind of did away with this idea with his household code in Ephesians 5:22-6:9.  In an age where male dominance was prevalent, Paul taught that not only should a wife respect her husband, a husband should love his wife.  Not only should children obey their fathers, fathers should not provoke their children or give them burdens that they could not bear.  Not only should slaves be obedient to their masters, the masters should remember that they also serve the ultimate Master, who does not show partiality based upon classes.  What a concept!

Imagine how things may change if we, as American Christians in 2014, took this concept to heart! 

The Kindness of God, the Kindness of Man

We are asked in Romans 2:4, "Or do you show contempt for the riches of His kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you towards repentance?"

How, we may ask, does God's kindness lead us toward repentance? After all, are we not taught from childhood that we come to know Jesus because we are afraid of going to hell? Are we not taught that if we mess up, we had better repent or we will experience the wrath of God? But here Paul is throwing a curve ball, so to speak. He tells us that it is because of God's kindness that we repent.

What is God's kindness? Romans 5:8-11 tells us, "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have not been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through Him! For if, when were God's enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life! Not only this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation."

Man was seeped in sin. God could very easily just have wiped everyone from the face of the earth. But instead, He chose to become human and make Himself a sacrifice for mankind's sin. This was the only way to satisfy the wrath God felt for the sin that had spread throughout His creation. That is kindness. That is chrestotes!

How, then, does this apply to man today? If God chose to show kindness rather than wrath, how should His followers respond in turn? Unfortunately, His followers today often do not show the same kindness - the same chrestotes. And this lack of chrestotes does affect the fellowship, the koinonia. Instead of showing the same kindness God showed, we, as His followers, often skip right to the wrath of God. I do not believe this is what God has in mind. It is still God's kindness that leads to repentance. And He still shows mercy and grace every day. It is when we realize that grace and undeserved kindness that we will choose to repent and live for Him.

What It's About

It has been a while since I have blogged. I am looking forward to getting back into it. The title of this blog says it all. Chrestotes is the Greek word for kindness. Koinonia means fellowship. These are the two ares of ministry that I am passionate about. I look forward to getting more of my thoughts out.

God bless.

Kandy