What we call “church” – permeates every area in our society. “Church” is so ingrained in our minds, that with the orchestration of “church” leaders, this process has now become a thing. We say, “Mother has gone to “church.” “Are you going to “church?” “Church” was really good today.” What “church” do you go to? Instead of acknowledging we (believers) are the only one true Church – we have redefined who we are in Christ, and made it into a process that man has contrived out of the flesh. Make no mistake – the Church Christ built has always been people only. It has never been an organization, a sermon, a building, or any other earthly thing or process that we can ascertain in the flesh.
Church buildings are everywhere –encompassing every corner of the American landscape. We have been beguiled into believing that going to “church” is the way you worship God. We have accepted this without ever giving due thought that “church” has come to take precedence over our relationship with Christ. How have we come to this? It certainly is contrary to anything Jesus ever spoke off. There is not a single scripture in the entire Bible that says believers are to attend, join, start, build, or support a “church.“
These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by man. Matthew 15:8-9
This past Christmas season, my mother received a good number of Christmas cards, which she typically displays each year. Looking at the cards, it suddenly struck me that the majority of the cards, where not a Christmas tree, or a nativity scene, or Santa – and no, not even Jesus as a baby. Most cards depicted a church; typically a country church, or a small church in the woods, or in some town setting. We have truly substituted our churches for Jesus – as if they are one in the same. We believe our religious acts and traditions, equates to having a relationship with Christ. If we have “church” we have Christ, and I am telling you this is a lie straight from the depths of hell.
Satan is unequivocally brilliant and is the mastermind of deception. Looking at the cards, I thought how incredibly clever and cunning Satan is. He presents our churches as benevolent, when in fact, the devil knows this building – with all its’ protocol and pomp, is nothing but an idolatrous substitute for a genuine relationship with Jesus. I’m sorry to offend, but it is the truth – yet most are blind to this. Satan has orchestrated this thing we call “church”, to replace a real relationship with Christ. And he has succeeded. Instead, our relationship is with the church itself, it’s laws and customs, the people within, and its religious doctrine. This contraption is not only based on a false gospel spawned out of the hearts of man, but is a system and concept forbidden none other by Jesus Christ.
Back to the question – How have it come this? The answer is simple. We are the reason why it has come to this. We have chosen to follow men over God. We have accepted and adopted this idolatrous man-made substitute, simply because it is what we’ve been taught throughout the centuries. For over 1,700 years we have been fed and believed in this lie. Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. Matthew 7:15 We rather church leaders spoon feed us the Word, and remain ignorant, so we don’t have to delve in too deep for ourselves. Church leaders do not want believers to realize there is a connecting theme throughout the Bible; otherwise we will begin to understand that Jesus death actually replaced their positions and authority. We rather pretend the verses stand alone, and parrot them as taught by men. Rest assured, men will avoid anything that would cast suspicion on their power and most assuredly their livelihood.
Listen to the way churchgoers talk about church. Often you will hear: Have you ever been to Pastor Joe’s “church”? Have you ever been to Reverend Ellen’s “church?” Whose “church?” Let’s rewind, and see what they’ve said? Yes, it’s right here – it’s Pastor Joe’s church, and Reverend Ellen’s “church”. Hey, whatever happened to God’s church? Why do we speak as if men or women have ownership over God’s people? The answer is because they have. Did Jesus tell us to do this? Absolutely not! We have allowed man to have authority over God’s people, and we ourselves are submitted to them instead of Christ. In other words, we have allowed them to usurp Christ’s lordship in our lives.
But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. But the greatest among you shall be your servant. (Matt. 23:8-11).
Any man-made church government is a clear violation of Scripture. This truth is starring you in the face, and you do not even see it. Jesus said He alone is the Head of the Church. We will be bold enough to call you out as a liar, if you were to say these buildings and organizations we so adore is what God intended for believers. NOWHERE – is there any institutional church in the New Testament, or a place where a man, or elder, or anyone who has self-appointed himself as a leader. Well, wait a minute – except for Diotrephes, – and the apostle John called him out on it. We will be writing about him eventually.
Other institutions in our society have embraced and accepted without question this man-made tradition and process we call “church” as a normal part of life in this world. Even various applications, such as Social Security, cites “church”, and use it as an example of a social activity for those filing for disability. Surprisingly, they are on to something, because that’s just what man has done – they have transformed and fashioned God’s Ecclesia, into a religious, social club. Many retail businesses and those in the service industries are often closed on Sundays. The postal service use to not run on Sundays and for the most part still does not today. All of this emanated from the religious and church traditions of man that falsely asserts God set aside Sunday as a Christian Sabbath. This is absolutely not true, and it has no biblical basis. But these man-made beliefs and practices have impacted and prevailed in every area of our society.
Commercial and television shows often incorporate the worldly man-made church system into various facets of media entertainment. Take the movie “War of the Worlds.” What could had been a beautiful tribute to the power of prayer, all became dependent and localized inside a “church” building made by the hands of man. The building held the power and took center stage as the refuge from the aliens – not the believers united in faith. The building and it’s mystical powers was the focal point – demonstrated as necessary by the people to enter in order for God to have Him answer their prayers.
I wonder instead what it would had been liked if believers all across the world and different cities started praying; from the streets; from their homes, parks, office buildings, the neighbors, from the fields, the African safaris, Siberia, Mexico, – all being united as the Body of Christ, His Ecclesia. The point is the church building in the movie was not necessary in order for God to answer prayer, nor is it necessary in reality. Anytime you attribute spirituality to an inanimate object, you have committed idolatry. The building served as an idol in the movie, as it does so today.
Our fathers worshipped in this mountain, and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus said unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor at Jerusalem worship the Father. Ye worship that which ye know not: we worship that which we know: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and Truth: for the Father requireth even such to worship him. God is a Spirit, and they that worship him, must worship him in Spirit and Truth. John 4:20-24
A very sad commentary: The fact is a person is more apt to be asked what “church” you go to, or come to our “church”, before he or she is even asked, “Do you believe in Jesus Christ?” If you unable to see or admit that, than you are very much ensnared in Satan’s deception, and have a role in aiding and abetting his master plan. This whole man-made church system, caters to the flesh, and is fueled by the demonic forces of hell. It is Satan’s second greatest deception in this world, because not only it holds the believer in bondage, but also the non-believer. It has no basis in Scripture and is fully rooted in the traditions of man.
Our society as well as many others, typically judges a person’s character by their level of participation in organized religion. Instead, they should consider a person’s character by the depth of their relationship with Jesus Christ. But instead, “church” leaders have beguiled us into thinking that our participation in their man-made kingdoms, is the hallmark of what it means to be a believer. Instead, it is the hallmark of one embracing friendship with the world. We measure our Christian walk and the walk of others by what we see and what they do. The flesh requires physical proof. We even subject this unfair standard onto ourselves, as well as others. We need to have a building, a structure, and an organization. We need to see a leader other than Jesus heading the ship. We require something tangible to show God and ourselves, that we are doing what we need to do. That is the role of “church” in this world, and chances are it is yours.
Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” Matthew 24:1-24