History: The Three Eras of Modern Missions

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History: The Three Eras of Modern Missions

The two emerging dynamics Dr. Timothy Crouch reflected on in his email are non-receptivity to Westerners and a strong animosity toward a Christian presence. These progressive changes can affect the relationships on how local Alliance Churches relate to the overseas churches and national church organizations.

The non-receptivity to Westerners causes a defensive stance against those who want to reach out to local or national churches overseas. I feel that God always looks for those who will stand in the gap (see Ezekiel 22:30). Another strategic concept which is mentioned in Ralph D. Winter’s article is a “Bridge of God” where you have “one or more believers in an otherwise unpenetrated group” (Three Mission Eras, 266). This strategy may be the answer to winning souls in a less than friendly country where westerners are not welcomed. A relationship that bonds those who are willing to receive the gospel and accept good advance from their distant western Christian family may be the bond that ties the foreign local church to the western missionaries.

This strategy may also work well with national church organizations if it is accompanied with the needs of their nation. National missionary organizations like Franklin Graham’s Shoe Box or an organization which digs wells for people groups without sufficient water supplies may be the “shoe in” that softens the animosity between the unwanted Christian presence and foreign churches and national organizations. The Christian missionaries whose desire is to reach lost people groups where there is “non-receptive” or “strong animosity” towards them may want to couple the “Bridge of God” approach or work with a national organization which is already established in that country which meets the needs of the people group they are trying to reach.

I think by joining an organization, for example that digs wells, we might be able to network nearby villages with each other as they receive a new commonality. In this case, a new water supply. The missionary can build relationships with the local people and find a “Bridge of God” which may flourish in the new network of people who need to hear the Gospel. These strategies must be undergirded with prayer. Prayer can move the hands that hold the universe together and establish relationships which will connect people to win souls for church and Kingdom missions. God is looking for someone to stand in the gap. Will it be you?

In Christ,

Greg

Biblical: A Global Theology of Missions

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Biblical: A Global Theology of Missions

When considering the question asked at the end of McQuilkin’s article, “How could a loving God condemn those who have had no opportunity to respond to Christ (Perspectives on the World Christian Movement, pp. 175)?” Romans 11:22 comes to mind; it says, “Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness” (NKJV). God’s attributes never change; He is immutable. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (see Hebrews 13:8). Another verse comes to mind, “But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why have you made me like this?’” (Romans 9:20 NKJV) I am not God. Who am I to question God and His word. I can only turn to the scriptures which is God’s authoritative truth.

Robert McQuilkin starts out by explaining what lost means. We must consider this if we are to defend and understand the part of the question which says, “Those who have had no opportunity to respond to Christ.” “Those” are the lost because they have not yet heard of the Gospel. How can God condemn “those”? We must turn to the Holy Bible and find scripture that can help us (Romans 15:4, and 1 Corinthians 10:11). First we can turn to John 3:16-18.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God (John 3:16-18 NKJV).

Looking at this scripture, we find that those who believe not or reject God’s gospel are condemned already. Knowing this, we can say there is a judgment which leads to eternal life and eternal condemnation. McQuilkin even says, “The Bible does not teach that God will judge a person for rejecting Christ if he has not heard of Christ” (173). Where again are those who have not heard? What about Sodom and Gomorrah? Do you think those in Sodom and Gomorrah heard the word of God? In Genesis 18:17-33, Abraham’s conversation with God reveals that he knows God is a just God and will not punish the righteous when he asks God, “Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25 NKJV) God is immutable; He cannot do wrong. He must do right and judge justly. How could anyone trust or believe in a god who was flippant about what he said. God does not forget our sins as some may say. The word says he remembers them no more (see Hebrews 8:12). How can you believe a god who forgets? Maybe he will forget he saved you. God has to do what He says because God is True and He speaks the Truth.

Today we have those who want to water down the word of God through Universalism. Three points of Universalism believe first, that all will be saved if God is merciful and good. Secondly, a Wider Hope belief is “Not all will be saved, but many who have not heard of Christ will be saved because God is just and will not condemn the sincere seeker after truth” (171). Thirdly, the New Wider Hope believes at least those who live by the truth may be saved on Christ’s merits or at least be able to be given a chance at the pearly gates. Each of these Universal beliefs get a little closer to the truth but never reach it. God’s word says there is only one way and that is through the belief in Jesus Christ’s finished work (see John 6:29, Romans 10:9-13).

McQuilkin points out that those who reject Christ will be condemned in proportion to their rejection and those who continue to apply what they have been given will receive more. For a minute, I thought he might be talking about stages of condemnation. A compartmentalization of the condemned in Hell or even Heaven (173). But then I believe he redeems himself in “No Other Way” (174).  I believe the word is quite clear for there are many verses that proclaim that Jesus is the only way to be saved from our lost state of being unto eternal life (John 14:6, 6:44, Acts 4:12).

In summary, we can live by God’s word and believe all that it says or make an excuse for our lack of comprehension. God’s ways and thoughts are higher than mine. I can only believe the authoritative truth of God’s word. In His truth it says there will be a judgment of the just and the unjust (Daniel 12:2, Acts 24:15, Romans 14:10, 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Revelation 20:10-15). Where are “those”? They must be in the no excuse explanation of Romans 1:20 or maybe in the dispensational age of 5:13-21 or maybe in the purpose of God to make His Glory known through vessels of honor and dishonor 9:11-24. “Those” who are condemned, who did not have an opportunity to respond to Christ, may very well have had an opportunity in their lifetime. God can reveal Himself to those even if they have never heard of Jesus Christ. Ours is not to judge unto condemnation but to bring the truth and the Gospel message to those who have not heard, so they can receive the blessings of God and eternal life.  “O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” (Matthew 3:7 KJV) Let it be you and me.

In Christ,

Greg

 

THE BODY OF CHRIST PART 8

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1 THE BODY OF CHRIST PART 8

When looking at the body of Christ or Christ’s body, we are looking at the church which is the body of Christ. In this report I will be comparing the relationship of the church in the following ways: the church’s mission and its purpose, the church’s relationship to Jesus Christ, church leadership and the authority in the body, the church’s relationship to the Christian and Missionary Alliance, and the relationship between the church’s members.
1.1 THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CHURCH’S MEMBERS
The relationship between the church’s members are family related. Church members are brothers and sisters in Christ. They are God’s children in His kingdom and are to be a holy nation, a peculiar people when compared to this world. God’s children are to be united, forever building each other up, and encouraging one another when they fall short.
Church members are first called to have a relationship with Jesus Christ as his or her Lord and Saviour and become more like Christ. They are also called to assemble themselves together. “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25 NKJV). If we do not assemble together, how are we to stir each other up in love, good works, or exhort one another? The assembling of the saints is important and helps us grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, in oneness.
Jesus prayed for us to be one with Him as the Father is one with Him. “The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, that the world may know that you sent me and love them even as you love me” (John 17:22-23 ESV). We are called to be like Christ, to be one with Him, that we may become perfect in Him in all things. Jesus is our example as the Head of the church; we need to find scripture and become more like Christ. “There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call – one Lord, on faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Eph. 4:1-6 ESV).
Jesus also admonished His disciples and religious leaders when they were not lining up with the Kingdom’s principles. Galatians 6:1 tells us, “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted” (NKJV). Church members have a responsibility to admonish their brethren in love, so we can continue to walk in right relationship with Jesus and each another.
God has ordained us to be the body of Christ in unity. At the very least, He has given to each of us the ministry of reconciliation and a measure of faith. We can see that God equips the body with leaders (1 Corinthians 12:28), the Holy Spirit gives us spiritual gifts as He wills (1 Corinthians 12:8-11), and Jesus gives the church the five-fold ministry to equip us for His ministry, so we can grow into the fullness of His stature.
The church is a living organism which is growing into the oneness of God to fulfill His mission by growing in Christ and reaching out to others to advance His kingdom (1 Corinthians 10:17, 12:12; Galatians 3:28). We should expect all Christians with the foundational beliefs to come together and work toward God’s purpose, to put down our minor differences, focus on the major needs like to seek and to save those who are lost (Luke 19:10). God, “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4 KJV) should be our state of oneness. We can bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to every creature throughout the earth on a larger scale by joining together for Christ’s sake. Then as church members, we need to disciple them with Biblical truths, teach them to become more like Christ, and reach others where ever they go.
In Christ,
Greg

THE BODY OF CHRIST PART 7

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1 THE BODY OF CHRIST PART 7

When looking at the body of Christ or Christ’s body, we are looking at the church which is the body of Christ. In this report I will be comparing the relationship of the church in the following ways: the church’s mission and its purpose, the church’s relationship to Jesus Christ, church leadership and the authority in the body, the church’s relationship to the Christian and Missionary Alliance, and the relationship between the church’s members.
1.1 THE CHURCH’S RELATIONSHIP TO THE CHRISTIAN AND MISSIONARY ALLIANCE
The church and the Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA) have an intimate relationship that grows from the Church level into a district level, then a national level and finally into a worldwide level of governance.
1.1.1 The Church and the General Council
The national level is still under the General Council which is the highest governing body of the C&MA. The General Council includes members of the accredited churches; thus, the local churches are a part of the highest governing authority in the C&MA. The General Council meets annually; the local churches can send two lay delegates to represent their church. “If the voting membership (as reported in the most recent annual report of the church) is 150 or more, another lay delegate may be sent for each additional 100 voting members or fraction thereof. At the district level the churches are involved in a district conference.” (C&MA Manual Section A-2 Article VI Section 6.2 (A) (3)). As a part of the General Council, the Church has an active role in the functions of the C&MA and advancing the following:
• The mission and vision of the C&MA
• Evaluating the progress of the ministries of the C&MA
• Electing officers, transacting business, and enacting denominational polices
• Providing opportunities for worship, fellowship, spiritual renewal, inspiration to greater service, and the developing of ministry skills.
The mission of the General Council is the same on all levels of the C&MA governance; it is, “The mission of The Christian and Missionary Alliance is to know Jesus Christ; exalt Him as Savior, Sanctifier, Healer, and Coming King; and complete His Great Commission.”
1.1.2 The Church and District
The church and the district are united in the C&MA mission which is “to know Jesus Christ; exalt Him as Savior, Sanctifier, Healer, and Coming King; and complete His Great Commission”.
The church’s relationship at the district level is to be in no way in conflict with the General Council or the C&MA Constitution and Bylaws. The District is there to help the local churches in their district, to complete the commandment to make disciples of all nations, to fulfill its function in fellowship, evangelism, church health and multiplication, and world missions.
The District appoints its pastors in their district churches and approves Christian workers through the Licensing, Ordination, and Consecration Council (LO&CC). The accredited church is governed by a governance authority as is each higher stage of the C&MA. In general, the Church has a Pastor (who is the acting chairman and president), secretary, treasurer, assistant treasurer, and such other officers as may be designated in the church bylaws or in the state law. These officers of the church must be approved by the District Superintendent and meet the membership qualification as listed in Article III under Section A4 of the C&MA manual.
The District and the District Superintendent have an intimate relationship with their district churches, and the churches are to be a voice at the district conferences. Just like the General Council’s annual meetings, the districts have annual meetings in which the accredited and corresponding delegates may attend each year.
1.1.3 The Church and the C&MA
At each level the church and the C&MA have two primary purposes; they are to be Christ-like and spread the gospel throughout the world. This is done through leadership, mission, pastoral care, and governance. The leadership of the C&MA promote the spread of the gospel worldwide and the unity of faith in the full stature of Jesus Christ as Saviour, Sanctifier, Healer, and Coming King. The mission of each level is the Great Commission and is the same mission at each level of the C&MA- local, district, national, and worldwide evangelism. This also includes discipleship making, church health and multiplication, and missions mobilization. Pastoral care is very important at the district level; new pastors receive coaching to improve their ministry skills. The District Superintendent or D.S. is a “pastor’s pastor” and should make available pastoral care like: fellowships, retreats, training opportunities, conferences for his pastors and their wives, so they can continue to develop and participate as the living body of Christ. Pastoral care ensures the health of the pastor which flows down to his congregation through the church’s governance authority. This leads to the last primary function, governance. At the district level, the LO&CC approves all licensed, ordained, and consecrated workers to the D.S. who gives the final approval. At the national level, official workers will be determined by the Board of Directors as stated in Section B-1 of the C&MA Manual.
The Church and the C&MA’s relationship should be in unity with the C&MA Manual, the vision, mission and faith statements to become more like Christ and to complete the Great Commission with the hope of seeing our blessed hope and appearing of our great God and Saviour, Sanctifier, Healer and Coming King Jesus Christ.
In Christ,
Greg

THE BODY OF CHRIST PART 6

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1 THE BODY OF CHRIST PART 6

When looking at the body of Christ or Christ’s body, we are looking at the church which is the body of Christ. In this report I will be comparing the relationship of the church in the following ways: the church’s mission and its purpose, the church’s relationship to Jesus Christ, church leadership and the authority in the body, the church’s relationship to the Christian and Missionary Alliance, and the relationship between the church’s members.
1.1 CHURCH LEADERSHIP AND AUTHORITY IN THE BODY
Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. “Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same” (Romans 13:2-3 NKJV).
All authority has been given by God, and if we resist authority, we will bring judgement on ourselves. There is a constituted authority appointed by God. Here is a definition of constituted authority:
“CONSTITUTED AUTHORITIES. Those powers which the constitution of each people has established to govern them, to cause their rights to be respected, and to maintain those of each of its members.”
“The officers properly appointed under the constitution for the government of the people. Those powers which the constitution of each people has established to govern them, to cause their rights to be respected, and to maintain those of each of its members. They are called ‘constituted,’ to distinguish them from the ‘constituting’ authority which has created or organized them, or has delegated to an authority, which it has itself created, the right of establishing or regulating their movements.”
http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Constituted+authorities
I think this definition and explanation of constituted authority works well after reading the C&MA’s organizational structure for church government. First of all, we believe all authority is given by our Creator, Who establishes our rights and limitations. God is our ultimate authority “And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues” (1 Corinthians 12:28 NKJV). Each member is important to the church, but everyone must be under the constituted authority so we can honor God. When we agree with the C&MA Handbook and the faith, vision, and mission statements as an organism (a living organization), then we will work toward the goal of fulfilling the Great Commission and ushering in the coming King, Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18 – 20; 24:14).
A quote from the book, A Movement for God Chapter 11 Constituted Authority, states: “This principle of government was adopted by General Council as a means of insuring that the concerns of every member, every local church, and every officer can be expressed. It provides each local church the freedom to address the needs of people in its specific community, while providing for unity and cooperation with other member congregations across the continent.”
Constituted authority is the conformation of all entities in the C&MA while letting them express their concerns and addressing the local needs of the people. The C&MA is a hub structured organization that reaches out as the body of Christ. It is recognizing God as the giver of all authority which we respect and are obedient to while we serve and submit to Him and one another. God appoints all authority in the church. We must respect and follow the leaders in the C&MA as they have been raised up by God and have followed the principles laid out in the C&MA handbook. Therefore, when we think of the authority of leaders and the church, we can submit willfully knowing that God has first appointed all authority and secondly that the C&MA handbook is Biblically sound. The members of the C&MA from the leadership to the members of the body are all in agreement, so there are no schisms in the body of Christ.
In Christ,
Greg

62 Pithy and Profound

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Pithy and Profound

The statement was purposed to me, “I was thinking about how God rebuked Job for asking why he was suffering but allowed Abraham to go on and on about the sodomites.”
So, why do you think God let Abraham go on and on in Genesis 18 and in Job 38 God stopped Job?

I think God deals with us where we are. David asked why Lord in the Psalms then turn it around and praised Him. When we are going through things we more than not ask God why? Instead of what am I supposed to learn from this? With Abraham, God went to him to let him know what was happening. God went to Moses and said He was going to wipe out the Hebrews and Moses interceded for them. In these situations, Moses and Abraham were intercessors. Job was questioning God and God answered him through questions which were super natural and therefore brought Job to a place of understanding.
Let us not forget that, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” Romans 15:4
God has given us examples to follow
In Christ,
Greg

THE BODY OF CHRIST PART 5

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1 THE BODY OF CHRIST PART 5
When looking at the body of Christ or Christ’s body, we are looking at the church which is the body of Christ. In this report I will be comparing the relationship of the church in the following ways: the church’s mission and its purpose, the church’s relationship to Jesus Christ, church leadership and the authority in the body, the church’s relationship to the Christian and Missionary Alliance, and the relationship between the church’s members.

1.1 The Church’s Relationship to Jesus Christ
Christ said that He would build His Church upon the fact that He is the Christ and the gates of hell would not prevail against it. The church will never be destroyed by evil forces (Mt.16:18). The Church is the assembly of believers in Jesus Christ our Saviour. This is a relationship that bonds believers to their Creator. The Church or the assembly of believers in Jesus Christ our Saviour to Jesus Christ can been seen in many ways; some are the temple, the body, and the bride.
1.1.1 The Bride
The church can also be seen as the Bride of Christ. John the Baptist, when speaking of Jesus, called Him the Bridegroom in John 3:29, “He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled” (KJV). Jesus has His church and is considered the head of His wife, “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body” (Ephesians 5:23). God has established authority. Even as God the Father is the Head of Christ, Christ Jesus is the Head of His bride, the church. Paul gives us the example of Jesus as the husband and the church as His bride in Ephesians 5:22-33. God places the husband as the head of his bride even as Jesus is the head of the church. The wife is to ultimately submit to her husband’s authority and the husband is to love his wife even unto death. It is also the husband who is responsible to help his bride grow in the word to present her spotless before Jesus. Jesus cleanses His church that He might present it in all glory to Himself. Jesus said that He sanctifies Himself that His followers maybe sanctified by the truth of God’s word in John 17:19. We are the bride of Christ and Jesus wants us to be without spot or blemish when we all get to heaven. Jesus is our exemplifier for He died for His bride and we are to respect Him.
We can see many examples of the wedding feast, but I will jump right into Revelation 19 and 21. We can see in Revelation 19:6-8 that there is a marriage supper of the Lamb, the groom Jesus Christ, and the bride or the church of Jesus Christ is granted to be “clothed in fine linen, bright and pure” (ESV). The bride is sanctified and presented to her groom. When we get to heaven, we will be in the New Jerusalem, the holy city. It will be an assembly of saints as the church in heaven, and it will also be considered the bride of Christ as Revelation 21:9 points out, “Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, ‘Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.’ And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,” (Revelation 21:9-10 NKJV). A wedding begins a new future, and the wedding of the Lamb begins a new eternal future in an everlasting city of peace where the bride and groom are one now and forever.
Jesus Christ and His body of assembled believers is His bride. The church is married to her groom with marriage vows. When we take marriage vows, we do not say “For better or worse, for richer or poorer, and I’ll see you for one hour on Sunday and maybe Wednesday if I can make it. That is not a relationship. All the Biblical examples represent an intimate relationship of respect and love. We are to trust and obey God’s word, His ordinances and act as His bride. We are ambassadors of Jesus Christ here on earth which will draw others to the groom of eternal life and righteousness. The church’s relationship starts here on earth and continues into eternity. We are to function as a bride and a holy priesthood who acts as the body of Christ. In short, physically, the bride and groom are made one flesh and spiritually; we are to be one with Jesus as He is one with the Father. The relationship of the Church and Jesus Christ should be oneness.
In Christ,
Greg

THE BODY OF CHRIST PART 4

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THE BODY OF CHRIST PART 4

When looking at the body of Christ or Christ’s body, we are looking at the church which is the body of Christ. In this report I will be comparing the relationship of the church in the following ways: the church’s mission and its purpose, the church’s relationship to Jesus Christ, church leadership and the authority in the body, the church’s relationship to the Christian and Missionary Alliance, and the relationship between the church’s members.

1.1 The Church’s Relationship to Jesus Christ
Christ said that He would build His Church upon the fact that He is the Christ and the gates of hell would not prevail against it. The church will never be destroyed by evil forces (Mt.16:18). The Church is the assembly of believers in Jesus Christ our Saviour. This is a relationship that bonds believers to their Creator. The Church or the assembly of believers in Jesus Christ our Saviour to Jesus Christ can been seen in many ways; some are the temple, the body, and the bride.

1.2 THE BODY
Jesus Christ is the Head of the body which is the church or the assembly of believers. Colossians 1:18 says, “And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence” (NKJV).
In 1 Corinthians chapter 12 Paul proclaims that we are the body of Christ. “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually” (1 Corinthians 12:27 NKJV). He also says that the body has many members and just like our own bodies we cannot say to another part of our body, “If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body’,” (verse 15). The body has many members and each helps the body function so that it can have a purpose or fulfill a purpose. When we see Jesus as our head, we follow after His truths; His truths are in His word. God has given the body gifts through Jesus and the Holy Spirit, and put them into operation. Jesus has given some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers (Ephesians 4:11). The Holy Spirit also enables the body of Christ with the gifts of the Spirit as He wills (1 Corinthians 12:1-11) and God appoints the individuals of the body into the operation “And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues” (1 Corinthians 12:28 NKJV).
The church is well equipped to fulfill God’s purpose when it operates in unity. God, the Father, puts the fivefold ministry (which Jesus gives to individuals in the body) and the Gifts of the Holy Spirit into operation. When we know what our gifts are and listen to our head, Jesus Christ, we are able to operate unity. We become a living organism instead of an organization. Ephesians chapter 4 tells us we are called to walk worthy of our calling or vocation. Our vocation is to minister the Good News of Jesus Christ by following our Head. Ephesians 4:11-16 tells us what the purpose of the five fold ministry is; it is to equip the saints or the individuals in the body “for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head–Christ– from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:12-16 NKJV).

The church can be seen as a living body where Jesus is the head and we are the body. We are living temples for God (Ephesians 2:20-21; 1 Peter 2:4-5), and as the body of Christ, we must see ourselves as His: body, hands, feet, knees, mouth, arms, back, et cetera. We are to walk in unity with our head, Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-31; Ephesians 1:22) to fulfill His will and purpose.
In Christ,
Greg

64 Pithy and Profound

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Are you a Catalyst?

Catalysts: a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing any permanent chemical change.
This is a very interesting definition if we can relate it to Christianity. We all want to strive to be like Christ and be sinless. Sometimes the environment we are in can rub off on us. In such cases we are called to be the salt and light of the world and to change the atmosphere. We are not to be changed by the atmosphere around us.

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-6 NKJV)

When we are looking at the world with our spiritual being we will be ready to punish or avenge all disobedience because it will not line up with God’s word. It will put a bad taste in our mouth and we will feel disgusted. We need to be a catalyst in the world; we are to change our atmosphere without it changing us. We can do this by sharing the Gospel message without letting the world and its crafty deceptions changing us. Remember Galatians 6:1:
“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1 NKJV)

(Here is the hope of all Christians that are in the world but not of the world, to be unchanged in their environment while being others to Christ so they will change. Hopefully we all can change the spiritual reaction from dark to light, from the kingdom of Satan to the Kingdom of God, without any permanent negative change to our spiritual walk with Jesus.)
In Christ,
Greg

THE BODY OF CHRIST PART 3

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THE BODY OF CHRIST PART 3
When looking at the body of Christ or Christ’s body, we are looking at the church, which is the body of Christ. In this report I will be comparing the relationship of the church in the following ways: the church’s mission and its purpose, the church’s relationship to Jesus Christ, church leadership and the authority in the body, the church’s relationship to the Christian and Missionary Alliance, and the relationship between the church’s members.

1.1 The Church’s Relationship to Jesus Christ
Christ said that He would build His Church upon the fact that He is the Christ and the gates of hell would not prevail against it. The church will never be destroyed by evil forces (Mt.16:18). The Church is the assembly of believers in Jesus Christ our Saviour. This is a relationship that bonds believers to their Creator. The Church or the assembly of believers in Jesus Christ our Saviour to Jesus Christ can been seen in many ways; some are the temple, the body, and the bride.
1.1.1 The Temple
The church can be looked at as a building where believers fellowship. The Old Testament Tabernacle in which God instructed Moses to build (Hebrews 8:5) was filled with His chosen priesthood and surrounded by His believers. God’s presence dwelled in the Most Holy place, the heart of the Tabernacle. The priesthood served God night and day as God commanded them to serve. The priests where not only an integral part of the Tabernacle in serving God but they were also to intercede for God’s people.
Today’s New Testament church of believers in Jesus Christ worship God in the Church building and are to serve and intercede for God’s children both inside and outside the church. The Old Testament priesthood interceded for His people, but now Jesus Christ the High Priest intercedes for us directly. We have become the priesthood for God to both serve Him inside and outside the Church building’s walls. Inside we serve God through ministries and fellowship. We believe where two or more are gathered in His name, there He is in the midst; therefore, the presence of God is there. Outside we are to reach out to God’s children as Jesus reached out to us.
We are also the temple of God (I Corinthians 3:16, 17 & 6:19, 20), a living temple built upon the living Cornerstone, Jesus Christ our solid foundation. 1 Peter 2:4-5 say, “Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (NKJV). We are God’s living temples in which He indwells. The presence of God the Holy Spirit abides in each true believer.
Jesus spoke of the temple being His body (John 2:20-21). Paul also proclaimed this truth in 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17 and 6:19, 20. We are the temple of God and His presence abides in us.
Christians must see themselves as God’s temple. Paul proclaims in 1 Corinthians 3:16 “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (NKJV) We are a living temple in which the Holy Spirit abides. Temple here is the Greek word “naos” which is a well decorated shrine or temple. Can you imagine a well decorated temple with crystal clear water in the baptismal, stained glass windows depicting the gospel, beautiful wood pews, and the presence of God abiding there? This is what you are. We are to be sanctified and have a responsibility to keep our temple pure and holy (2 Corinthians 7:1).
In Christ,
Greg