Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Meeting As A Body of Christian Believers

     I want to start out with a quote by T. Austin Sparks that is a great truth when it comes to what we call Christianity today.

      "What is called Christianity today, and what has come to be called "the church" has become a tradition, institution, and a system quite fixed, rooted, and established as ever Judaism was, and it will be no less costly to change it fundamentally than was the case with Judaism...a very heavy price is attached to the change which is necessary to solve the great problem."

      I look and listen to many believers today and wonder, "do you really know and understand what you are professing to believe when it comes to meeting together? Sadly, Christians, when their proverbial apple-cart is upset (traditions, not essential doctrine) it really rattles their cage so to speak. I know, it has happened to me many times over the course of my Christian walk, but that's another story for another time.
     
      From my vantage point, Christians act as if there is some sacred, unwritten rule somewhere that says that Christians are not to question other Christians beliefs about traditional church practices about meeting together. They have their traditions written in stone, and for the most part, don't want to change them. As I examine the scriptures, I see and believe that many times traditions over time have been made into doctrine in many a believer's mind.

     Am I sounding a little upset? I guess I am because believers have become fat, lazy,  and complacent when it comes to checking out if the Holy Spirit is really with them. It's all too easy to follow along and maintain the system, than to examine it to see if there isn't a better way.

      I am saddened by it, I am frustrated by it, but it will not affect my relationship with God, my Father, and Jesus my Savior.... To Be Continued