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Don't go to church!
by Dewayne Rachels Don't go to church! Become a member of The Church! Are you confused yet? Many people have the wrong idea of church, I was one of them. Let's look at 2 definitions of Church. 1. A building where believers go to worship, pray, & fellowship. 2. The body of believers in Jesus Christ. We attend the church building because we are members of The Church. The Bible tells us not to forsake the assembling together (Hebrews 10:25). Once we ask Christ into our hearts a change takes place; we can't get enough of God; we constantly want to be around others who are walking in Christ. If this desire is not evident with someone's confession of Jesus then they should examine their life and compare it, not to other peoples' lives and sins but with the life of Jesus. When we become members of the building we are joining their ministry. We are giving our lives to participate in the ministry through that church building with the other members. The Bible tells us we are ALL called to preach the word. 2 Timothy 4:2, 2 "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine." Let's break this verse down with the Strong's Concordance. 'Preach' - Greek Word: khrussw : Pronounce: kay-roos'-so 1) to be a herald, to officiate as a herald 1a) to proclaim after the manner of a herald 1b) always with the suggestion of formality, gravity and an authority which must be listened to and obeyed 'the word' Greek Word: logoj : Pronounce: log'-os 1b2) the sayings of God 1b3) decree, mandate or order 'be instant' Greek Word: efisthmi : Pronounce: ef-is'-tay-mee 1c) to be at hand 1c1) be ready, 'in season' Greek Word: eukairōs : Pronounce : y-kī'-rōs 1) seasonably, opportunely 2) when the opportunity occurs 'out of season' Greek Word: akairwoj : Pronounce: ak-ah'-ee-roce inopportunely:-out of season. 'reprove' Greek Word: elegcw : Pronounce: el-eng'-kho 1) to convict, refute, confute 1a) generally with a suggestion of shame of the person convicted 1b) by conviction to bring to the light, to expose 'rebuke' Greek Word: epitimao : Pronounce: ep-ee-tee-mah'-o 1) to honor, to mete out due measure, hence to censure 'exhort' Greek Word: parakalew : Pronounce: par-ak-al-eh'-o 2c) to console, to encourage and strengthen by consolation, to comfort 'long suffering' Greek Word: makroqumia : Pronounce: mak-roth-oo-mee'-ah 1) patience, endurance, constancy, steadfastness, perseverance 2) patience, forbearance, longsuffering, slowness in avenging wrongs 'doctrine' Greek Word: didach : Pronounce: did-akh-ay' 1) teaching 1a) that which is taught Why did I feel the necessity to break this verse down? I did this because in Modern Day American Literature we don't associate the power of words with their meaning. For example, preaching isn't the telling someone about Jesus. The actual word in Greek was to 'herald' that is to speak loudly with urgency and authority. Who has given us that authority? God! The word is talking about the decrees and mandates of God. The Bible says to be, "instant in season and out of season". This is translated about being ready when opportunities present themselves as well as when they don't. I would go out on a limb and say Jesus and the disciples always used life circumstances to help encourage and teach their followers. As farmers know, seasons are things they look to know when to sow and when to reap. I believe we are told here to study the word and know when to plant the word and when to lead someone to the Lord. Reproving is telling people when they are wrong and rebuking is harshly criticizing someone with due respect. But the Bible also says to exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. We must encourage people even through their mistakes as many times as they make those mistakes with the same love, and patience, that Jesus shows to us. We must remember the only way to change someone's heart is to show them the heart of Jesus through the worst and best of times and by using the sound doctrine, which is the teachings that is written to us in the Gospels of Jesus Christ. I should have begun this lesson with 'don't just go to church, become a part of the church's ministry'. When you find a church family that you adore and would like to become part of their family then examine yourself and know that becoming a member is more than just saying, "Add me your member list." You are saying I am ready to enter and labour in your ministry with you. Dewayne J Rachels (DJ) www.labourersministry.org Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |