Church Traditions
The
word church has many different meanings. It can be inclusive of all those who
worship God, the universal body, or it can be narrowed down to a group of
people who have the same beliefs in a specific God. Church can be further
narrowed down to mean all congregations of a certain church denomination.
Within denominations churches can be broken even further to synods and
districts. There are also independent churches with only local membership.
Church can also be referred to as the building where people come to worship.
The definition of church used in this book are members who make up the congregations
of two specific church bodies. The first body is all the true believers who
make up Christ’s Church, the true church, the spiritual church of God’s
Kingdom. The second body is the remaining members who have not completely
accepted our Lord. These members believe they are part of the church, but are
merely members of a physical and social church body on earth. They are not
listed in the membership of our Master’s church.
God’s
Kingdom includes everyone in Heaven and all who are under Christ’s grace in the
world, for we are all one through Jesus. Christ’s Church on earth consists of
all true believers who are scattered all over the world. Jesus told us that
where two or three worship in His name, He will be there also. Christ’s Church
does not have any special denomination, some worship physically together, but
all worship spiritually together through Jesus as the head of the church. This
true church is joined spiritually together in Christ through prayer, baptism
and communion. The Holy Spirit gathers, preserves, ministers and holds this
true congregation together in our Lord’s love.
Christ’s
Church has members in many different congregations on earth that fundamentally
believe in salvation through our Savior’s grace alone. This includes many
denominations with somewhat differing doctrines and views, but the same belief
on the major truths of the Bible. Trouble in earthly congregations is caused
because many members still have not met or accepted Jesus personally. Many in
the congregation still have not given up their will to the Lord, still adhering
to their human ideals within the earthly church body. Satan just smiles as this
worldly wisdom makes the church:
-
more worried about solving its own internal problems
than
saving the unbelievers who need Christ
-
more worried about telling others how great the church is
forgetting
all credit is due Jesus
-
a place where individuals can achieve self importance
instead
of the greatest becoming the least, servants to the Lord’s work
-
an institute of higher learning alone
instead
of an institute for spreading God’s love
-
a place to develop a great building scheme
instead
of supporting the poor and needy
-
where we can show how much we know about the Bible
instead
of lovingly helping others find Jesus through the Holy Spirit
-
more worried about civic duties, being part of the community
than
visiting its members, the sick, the elderly, those in prison
-
a place that is going to save the world
forgetting
the church can’t save anyone, only Christ can
The
church has many traditions, and if the tradition continues long enough it is
often accepted as the truth, as gospel. But we must look at these traditions to
see if they are overstepping our Lord’s will. For man can make no spiritual
law, only God can. When Jesus died on the cross He freed us from all church
ceremonial laws and traditions. We no longer have to go through the church for
salvation. We are free! We can go directly to Christ for our atonement. It
doesn’t matter what day you worship the Lord, it doesn’t matter what robes the
pastor wears, what vestments adorn the alter, it doesn’t matter what kind of
service you use as long as one comes reverently to worship their Master. We are
free to worship our God in the manner that best suits the needs of the congregation.
We do not come to church because the Lord requires us to or in order to earn
our way to Heaven. We come because we love Jesus, we want to be with Him, we
want to hear His message of love for us, we want to have our faith strengthened
in unity with our brethren, and it is easier, more enjoyable to do our Savior’s
work as a unit.
The
church should be careful not to infringe upon Christ’s atonement for all on the
cross by trying to perfect the congregation with man made rules or central
control. One is free from sin by grace, but the church often tries to rein in
one’s freedom, believing that by holding one in check the church can keep all
in the faith. The church makes its own rules believing the church itself
permeates what is needed to keep Christians in the faith. When one desires to
be baptized or come to the Lord’s Table for communion the church can exaggerate
its role. The role of the church is to be a haven for the Holy Spirit to open
one’s heart to Jesus. To let the love of Christ permeate to all gathered in His
name. What is needed in baptism is a real intent, desire, and reverence to
accept Christ. It is not necessary to take a complete course in the doctrines
of the church. It does not require swearing a loyalty oath to any church, it is
not necessary to have it be part of a certain church service. The most
important element of baptism is one accepting Christ, and that this conversion
can happen now! All accounts in the Bible have those who accepted Christ and
desired to be baptized being baptized within a few hours, always the same day.
Not having to wait two weeks or taking a six month course. Not having to pledge
to anyone or anything but to our God. The church belief that instruction in
church doctrine allows the Holy Spirit to open a more receptive heart than
through the regeneration of baptism is non-Biblical. It doesn’t look at the
other side of the coin. Only the Holy Spirit can enable one to believe in Jesus
Christ. When one comes to be baptized it could be the only chance to reach this
individual, for one’s heart can easily grow cold again. This is a time when you
have enthusiasm in an unbeliever’s heart, why crush it leaving the impression
baptism is just a scheduled event. Baptism is the most important event in one’s
life, when we are reborn with Christ. Jesus told us the Good Shepherd would
leave the ninety nine and go after the one lost sheep. Everything else can wait
while we enable the Holy Spirit to bring faith into another’s heart. Then the
church should make sure its love goes out to help nurture and strengthen the
new brother or sister in Christ.
The
church can also exaggerate communion. Communion forgives our sins and
strengthens our faith as we become spiritually one with Christ. Paul rebuked
those who were drunk, not knowing what they were doing, and taking communion.
This was taken out of context and started closed communion, whereby all had to
be confirmed members of that particular church to receive communion. Jesus
instituted communion for all who believe that He gave His life for our
redemption. That His body and blood are spiritually present under the bread and
wine for the strengthening of our faith, for the forgiveness of our sins. This
is what is needed, not the membership of a particular church. Why keep a Christian
from strengthening their faith, why deny one the forgiveness of their sins,
because they are not a member of your church? Closing the Lord’s table from
believers pulls families apart. This is especially true on Christian
celebrations, when close friends and relatives who are in Christ’s Church yet
of a different earthly denominational church, cannot partake of the Lord’s
Supper together. The church should assist all in finding Jesus, not in
controlling His grace. We are free! We are all free to receive the grace of our
Lord Jesus Christ.
The
church must also be careful of central control. Elders should be chosen by the
local church alone to lead them. Deacons should also be chosen in the same way
and assist the elders. The local church should help evangelists spread the
word. Pastors and teachers are needed to help congregations search and find the
meaning of the Bible. The local church must be free to make all these decisions
on their own, chose their own leaders. Even when the apostles wanted assistants,
the deacons were chosen by those they would serve. Paul gave qualifications the
elders should possess. The elders should be mature men who are seasoned
Christians. The elders should love the Lord, be temperate, have raised and kept
their families in the faith, be respected by the congregation, and serve the
church in humility. All the qualifications for elders and deacons are in
Timothy and Titus. Pastors and teachers of the church should work under the
elders. As all servants of Christ mature they will gain the confidence of the
congregation to lead them, to become an elder. The church has been instructed
to be slow in ordaining those who are called to serve the Lord. Letting them
grow, being sure they are mature in the Lord, in their own personal life to
fully commit serving Jesus. The trouble is the church ordains only pastors
coming out of seminary college expecting them to be the leaders, to be the
controlling influence of the local church.
Experienced
elders are even told they are not qualified to do all the functions of the
church for they have not graduated from seminary or college. That ordination
depends on knowledge from schooling. That love, dedication, spiritual maturity,
life experience, humility, the life situation to completely serve the Lord are
not good enough to be an ordained leader of the church. The church needs the
stability of mature elders to hold the congregation in the love of the Lord, to
keep the church running smoothly.
There
are many manmade rules the church has made and changed. Like making it a sin to
drink alcohol, not allowing life insurance, using the old covenant laws, not
allowing pastors to marry, the church not loving or accepting their neighbors
as themselves. There are many rules the church now makes because of the pressure
of society. Homosexuality is accepted, as is divorce for any reason, the
Christian family structure has been allowed to completely break down, the
improprieties of the pastors, teachers, leaders of the church being hidden to
avoid embarrassment. The worst part is the pride and arrogance of the church
not coming forward with the truth. The church is more worried about itself, how
it appears to others, protecting its educated leaders, than coming forth with
the truth, than letting the congregation know what is happening. Christ would
have us step forward letting all know the church is not perfect, that it also
needs Christ’s guidance and forgiveness.
Man
has always had a problem with his ego, his pride. He believes in himself, that
which he can accomplish. Humility is a foreign subject to him. It is very hard
for man to admit he is nothing, and give all the credit to someone else, even
his own God. One can try to be politely humble, by doing the Christian thing of
giving all the glory to their Lord. But often these words are not really from
the bottom of their heart, their true feelings. One must let the Holy Spirit
guide them as a new born babe to put aside their human attributes of ego and
pride. The church must also understand how ego undermines the church. Human
adulation is such a common practice in the church that it is hard to know where
to start explaining it, so let start at the beginning.
There
are no man made heroes in the Bible, only God doing miraculous works through
mankind. There is nothing one can do to promote God’s work, God alone does it
all through us. The only thing we need to do is pull our ego out of the way so
our Lord will be able to accomplish His plan through us. Man is not great, but
God is able to do great things through him. Look at the disciples. They were
unlearned men. They had no special attributes going for them. They were with
Jesus, saw His miracles and still could not completely believe, comprehend, or
understand Jesus. The disciples were terrified, hiding out with fear after
Jesus death. Jesus wouldn’t turn them out to the world until the Holy Spirit
came upon them. These men were not heroes, it was the Holy Spirit that enabled
them to spread God‘s word. Through our weakness God perfects His strength.
Paul, the most known apostle was killing Christians, would never have found
Christ of his own volition. But Jesus used him to carry the message to the
gentiles. Paul states he is nothing without the Lord, that he can not boast of
any achievement because it was all Christ working through him. Yet today we
have denominations and churches named after men as though they did something
great, that they brought something special to the church. All the great
ministries around proudly advertising some one who will can lead us to God. All
the advertisements showing what this church and that church can do, even the
letter heads all proclaim what the church is doing for the world. But they have
got the cart before the horse, as none give Christ the top billing. They do not
put Christ message through------, but give man top billing, as though it is his
message. Saints and patron saints are now given glory for all they did, some
even pray to saints or statues of saints who have gone to Heaven. But saints
are merely all believers in Christ whether they are in Heaven or on earth. They
were all humans, and all their accomplishments were merely what God was able to
do through them. Churches praise their ministers for their accomplishments with
elaborate festivities. They believe these pastors held the congregation in the
faith and made the church grow by their work. Some churches are even proposing
a hall of fame for pastors. These churches are forgetting the real truth. That
it was Christ working through man that makes all accomplishments possible, that
it is the Lord alone who enables us to complete His work. The church also
forgets about the other side of the coin. The many failures we have trying to
run things on our own, disrupting the Lord’s work. The many times human ego has
botched up God’s plans. The boasting of church leadership accomplishments
overshadowing the message of Christ’s love. Man and the church can do nothing,
but with God all things are possible.
Ego
is also slipping into the membership of the church. The pride of members for
what they have accomplished through their efforts and money. They are like the
man at the altar thanking God for making him so great that he was able to do
marvelous things for the Lord. Yet having his prayer rejected by God, while one
who fell down on his knees begging forgiveness me for I am nothing had his
prayer accepted. Those that receive human praise for their work, those that
have self pride in their accomplishments have received their pay on earth. But
those who have done the Lord’s work while giving their Master alone the praise,
have their rewards stored away in Heaven.
Ego
can easily turn into jealousy, especially in the leadership of the church. Many
have different talents in the church, but often the pastor thinks he alone has
the ability to show man the way to God. They want the church to grow, but the
church to grow through them. Many leaders are unhappy if someone else delivered
a better sermon, had a better rapport with the congregation, or could give that
special Bible class. Others pastors have wanted to work as a man and wife team
only, leaving others out. Still others believed they are the C.E.O. of the
congregation, the boss to guide the church to its glory. These leaders believe
they are the only chance for this congregation to be saved. They forget they
are but a mere speck in God’s great plan. For there will be many who not only
preached the word of God, but have healed in our Savior’s name that will not walk
through Heaven’s gates. Jesus will judge all on what talents they have been
given, how they were used, and if any of His sheep have been led astray. For it
is God who leads through man, man is lost on his own. Jesus would have leaders
become servants to the congregation, to love the congregation as Christ loved
us. To do even the humblest tasks, as our Lord even washed His disciples feet.
To utilize the talents that God has given each and every believer. For even
through the mouths of babes comes forth praise. Only through humility, when we
throw our ego away, when we admit we are nothing, not just say it but mean it
from the bottom of our hearts, will the Holy Spirit be able to change our
lives, can Jesus start to use us to carry out His plan. We then will be able to
work together for our Lord, not caring who does what, but using all to further
the work of our God. What Christ does through me is not the ending but the
beginning of greater and better things. For God will use others to far surpass
what little any of us does, for the glory belongs to God, not man.
When
you read the above one might think churches are not the answer. But churches
are the lifeblood of keeping Christians working together in the Lord. They only
need to focus on Jesus, they need to use the KISS theory. Keep it simple
stupid. Don’t start by showing the world how great the church is, start by
telling the good news of Jesus Christ to all around you. Your family, friends,
workers, those you are in contact with, those who need help, bringing them to
the narrow pathway where one can find Jesus Christ. Spread Christ’s love one
person at a time realizing if the Holy Spirit reached only one unbeliever per
member of Christ’s church, it would double in size. Help new members,
supporting them as they grow, get strength, and mature in the Lord. Then use
the church organization to reach people throughout the world. Remembering to
feed the needy spiritually with the grace of Christ along with the daily
necessities of the body. The mark of a Christian church is not the fancy
buildings they utilize, but what they do for the Lord. Churches can survive
without the newest facilities, the fanciest technology, much easier than the
unbeliever can survive without knowing Jesus, the poor can survive without food
or clothing. We don’t need the top learning institutions with fancy sports
stadiums to put Christianity on the map. We don’t need costly churches,
grounds, or advertising to proclaim what our church does. We need to show all
Christ’s love for us, that this love makes one a new and different person. That
we are not part of this world, that we care for others as Christ cares for us.
That all are welcome in our Savior’s Kingdom, that all are saved through the
grace of Jesus Christ.
Church
members are like coals burning in a campfire on the ground. Together they stay
hot giving off much heat, making a campfire warm and light. When the coals are
separated and strung out by themselves they can not maintain their heat and die
out quickly. The trick in maintaining a hot fire is to feed it with dry wood
which keeps the coals burning brightly. Christians are no different, we need to
gather together and be fed the love of Christ to keep our faith burning strong.
We do not need to hear how great our church is, we do not need to hear how
great our pastors and workers are, we do not need fantasies to help children
understand Jesus, we do not need to hear about old covenant rules, we do not
need a constant diet of old testament stories, we need to be continually fed
the gospel of Jesus Christ’s love for us. That through grace Jesus can save all
who believe and repent of their sin. Not in repetitious responses, but in
everything the church does from the messages of those with Christ’s love
burning in their hearts, to the actions of love and concern from all within the
congregation. People have immediate problems, some are even spiritually dying.
They need the good news of Christ’s love and forgiveness.
The
church like the fire of coals must not have man made restrictions put around it
or it will burn out. Restrictions put around the fire make it hard to add wood
and keeps the wind from blowing under the fire. The fire stagnates, for without
new wood or wind to kindle the embers the fire slowly dies out. So it is with
the church when they try to encumber the congregation with man made rules that
confuse the church members. When Christians are free to worship Christ the Holy
Spirit can breathe on them, making the coals red hot for all to see. Many
seeing this glowing love come adding more fuel to the fire, making the fire
hotter and hotter until even those coals on the edge on the fire turn red with
love to the Lord. That is the atmosphere the church should provide for all.
Where they are fed bread so they are never hungry, where they are given water
so they never thirst, where there is the warmth of Christ’s love so they will
never grow cold, believers will always come. We are free! Free to gladly
worship our God.