Do I HATE the “CHURCH”?

So by now I’ve learned that there a few spectrum of views on my blog; we have the ones that are part of the system of the institutionalized church (Traditions), those who are thinking about leaving, those have left and learned to become the church and LOVE, and other. Recently I was asked the question as to who is my page targeting? Is it targeting the unbelievers? How about the youth? Is it the sinners? My answer was that I am targeting whoever happens to come across my page. That person felt I only focus on the “CHURCH” and homosexuality. While I do focus on both of those but not as much as one may say. Out of 47 articles on this blog about three of them are about homosexuality and as for the CHURCH thing, of course my blog is about the church. Everything I post will have scripture from God’s word. I don’t value my opinion or anyone else’s. Only the word of God. (Also I might add that the articles on homosexuality are usually about myself. I’ve gotten great responses from practicing homosexuals saying they really appreciate how I put myself out their like that, some even say I’ve taken their excuses away. Praise God)

The question was then asked, DO I HATE THE CHURCH? I responded, “No I do not hate the church because the Church is the body of Christ, the bride of Christ.” With that said, I LOVE THE CHURCH, I LOVE BEING PART OF THE CHURCH. The thing is I have had to redefine what the word Church means to fit the definition of the word of God. When we think of Church today we think of building with people in it. When I think of Church I think of each person who choose to deny themselves to follow the Christ. I don’t think of the 10 “church” buildings on one block as the church anymore. THIS BLOG IS ABOUT BREAKING THE DIVISION WE HAVE ESTABLISHED AS THE CHURCH. Let me say that again, THIS BLOG IS ABOUT BREAKING THE DIVISION WE HAVE ESTABLISHED AS THE CHURCH. I am interested in becoming one again and loving one another as we read in the book of Acts.

Acts 4

The Believers Share Their Possessions

³² All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. ³³ With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all ³⁴ that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales ³⁵ and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

³⁶ Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), ³⁷sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.

As we know divisions always tried to set themselves up in the body of Christ and in Israel. Let’s look at Paul when he found out people began creating divisions based on who they choose to FOLLOW. The first signs of divisional churches.

1 Cor 1 ¹³ Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? ¹⁴ I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, ¹⁵ so no one can say that you were baptized in my name. ¹⁶ (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) ¹⁷ For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

We have completely ignored this and decided we wanted our own leaders to follow anyway. Today we live in a world where the minute you tell someone your Christian, They want to know what CHURCH do you belong to? Which really means who do you follow, what man do you follow? This is NOT what God intended for the body of Christ. If you remember in Acts, the Church was so unified that they got rid of the idea of need in the body.

So now for those who judge this blog harshly because it challenges what you already believe about the Church, I ask that you read them first. It is easy for us to generalize a person based on our disagreements. Offense is what we humans hold on to not LOVE. So if my post about homosexuality offends someone it’s what they will generalize this blog about. If another person is offended by my articles about tithing, they will generalize that my blog is about tithing. You begin to realize that the viewer will interpret something the way they please. There are 47 articles on this blog at this time and they are all a broad range of topics. The most popular ones are about the traditions of today’s church and reading God’s word to find out if those traditions are biblically acceptable. So do I hate the church? ABSOLUTELY NOT but I do hate many of the traditions that nullify the word of God. Does this mean that those who go to institutionalized churches are condemned? Let it not be, meaning no. God be the judge of the hearts. I have many friends who still choose to attend them and I love them and they love me. I am one with them as the church. One then asks how do I fellowship? I meet in homes, hang out with homeless, and am usually out with believers, learning from and with them. See we have be en trained to believe that you must be in a pew Sunday or Saturday morning. Usually you aren’t really followshipping. Yes your sitting next to one another but you can’t really get to know your brother or sister. You hold hands during prayer and you leave in a few hours. I was in that type of setting for most of my life and honestly I can’t recall most of the people I’ve sat next to unless friends already. Now I learn from other believers and know who they are intimately as part of the bride.

I love you all!

Praise Jesus!