From the Body to the Body
Vital Words to the Body of Christ
from the Harvest Team at New Foundation Publications
We pray these words encourage you
in your walk to press into the Kingdom.
A Word Given to Brian Waala
The pastors are speaking of drawing closer to God while their vision of Him grows dim. The "heros" of the Christian faith, those spoken of highly in modern Christendom have become popular with the world. It is because there is no life in them. They speak of the world and the world hears them. They speak smooth things. In the name of church growth, methodologies have become the substitute for the head. Supposed revivals are spoken of in hushed tones when the materialism of the followers and leaders is spoken of. It is, though, deflecting the attention to what God is supposed to be doing elsewhere. When the lack of faith is highlighted and when doctrinal deviance is decried, the messenger is silenced or ignored.
God in His mercy gave the beginnings of revival rain but the methods of God become the model of ministry - His being was ignored. Now, the leadership is deceived and deceives followers with promise of coming revival. But the body has become disjointed from the head. The churches of today have been seduced by the apostles of church growth. What the Apostle feared would happen has happened. 2Co 11:3 "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." These false apostles speak often in scholarly tones of the "body of research" that they claim authenticates their methodologies of the "modern" church growth movement. In reality these "reasonable" methodologies are bankrupt. Professing themselves to be wise, they are become fools.
Church creeds, doctrinal statements, lying signs and wonders and reliance upon the arm of the flesh are the norms of ministry today. Prayerless preachers brings powerless messages which result in pathetic people. The flock of God is being wasted and the shepherds (elders, deacons and pastors) do not see the very destruction they are leaving.
In fact, even when there is no real Spiritual growth building programs are pursued. Having seen fleeting glimpses of God's power, now the cart is put before the horse. Where once building programs were embarked upon because God had given souls for the harvest, now building programs have become the promise of future growth. Where there really is no substantive growth, building programs are still pursued based upon the promise of future growth. This is not faith but presumption.
This stems from a wrong headed theology that has defined the church as an organization with a building. The church is the body of Christ with localized branches and has everything to do with people and nothing to do with buildings. This bad doctrine seems to be an unshakeable cancer.
Just as images of God are made to encourage "worship" and become an idol, so a false representation has been made of the church, and it has become an idol. In fact disagreement over buildings (to or not to build) often destroy the unity of an organization. But here is the irony, that is exactly what God wants, he wants to destroy the idols of mens' imaginations and build in their stead bodies of believers seeking Him earnestly without worldly props. It is outside of the structure that you will find God and be found of Him. The solution is to seek God with your whole heart and he will bring the sisters and brothers together in a perfection of union centered upon the Christ who is our life and being. In Him, we live and move and have our being.
In quietness and solitide you will find me. In weakness, your strength will be known. Rising early you will find me. Outside the camp you will hear my call.
We would like to hear from you, sharing your calling in God, and what the Lord is speaking to your heart in this last hour of time. Looking forward to hearing from you soon. Email us at: Vitalwords@aol.com
Vital Links to the Body of Christ
New Foundation Books complete on the internet
Caring Cherers Educational Supplements for Parents training God's Heritage
Children Sing the Word Scripture Songs
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