Keep church business in the Church

I believe we are no longer using the church as we should.

We have turned it into a show to bring the world in, when in actuality it is for the Christian to shut the World out for a while and be safe. We see the numbers on Sunday morning when the majority of the world attends, yet when the few faithful show up Sunday Night and Wednesday night we get down because the excitement, the crowds do not show, yet that is precisely the time to be there for that is when the Spirit is there, that is when you need it most. That is where you energies should be focused.

We have completely altered the purpose of the church. To our own detriment. It was never intended to be a House for the Lost, it is a home for the church family.

It is a safe haven, a sanctuary, a family gathering place.

Way back when in the First church, the Apostle Paul expected the church Family to have nothing to do with the world’s system. Yes we are to work in it, yes we are to live there, sleep there, eat there but we are not to dwell there, not to abide there and not become a part of.

We are to come out from among them and be separate. The Church is for the Christian, a place to meet and Worship. A place to gather and fellowship, it is to be your life after the workday, on the day off.

The first church was so eager to talk of Jesus to meet and live for Him, they went from house to house as a body worshipping the Lord.

Paul is so dedicated to the notion of the church being THE place for the Christian that he even thinks you need to bring your disagreements there. Your disputes are to be solved there.

1Co 6:1  Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? 

Do any of you in the church having an issue with another, as a child of God, dare to go to the world’s courts? We are to be judged by the saints, those in Christ who can see the matter from a sanctified state.

We are not to quarrel in the world, we are not to take our issues out amongst the world.

BE SAVED

A few weeks ago, this phrase caught my attention. Call on the name of the Lord and BE Saved.

Not Get saved, not received salvation.

62 verses of BE SAVED.

0 verses of get saved. Got Saved, receive Jesus.

Many times, I get intrigued by Wording in the Bible.

For instance, in the Book of Mark

Mar 6:51  And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.

Were they amazed? No they were sore amazed! Beyond Measure! And then they wondered.

Mark gets his point across but frankly seeing Jesus walk on the water, then watching Him.

I look at the wording of verses in the bible, and it says be saved.

Rom 10:12  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 

Rom 10:13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

It says call on the name of the Lord and BE SAVED. Not get saved, not receive salvation.

I don’t know why but that hit me as a strong thing to say. The Wording spoke to me. It is not a thing to achieve, a thing to work for, it is an enduring state - present and future bearing. BE saved.

We talked not too long ago about this same Jesus and the comfort that should bring to God fearing people.

Now we have Be Saved. Which Means call on the name of the Lord and Be saved. Be Saved. Don’t do a thing but call on the Name of the Lord, Believe and be saved. It’s all on Him at that point right? If you believe and call on His name, then by His Word you must be Saved. Of course this is not a flippant call and why? God knows the Heart.

Be saved. It’s a state of being. Be saved.

Walk around Being saved from the penalty of sin which is death and Hell.

Be, Saved. Not earn, not get not lose it. But BE SAVED.

Comforting for some reason.

A Thought

What I am about to say is going to seem very condescending unless you have identified with what I am talking about.

I was asked the other day, a tad sarcastically, if I didn't drink because I thought I was a saint.

No, because I am a saint, I do not drink.

I am not my own, I am bought with a price. When you realize the price paid for you, then you understand your worth.

That is a thought, a practice, a teaching we have deviated from and now we affirm sin rather than teach holiness.

Because I am a Saint, I try (please note that word try) to live as it would please Him, not me.