John Part Five
John 1:13
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
(KJV)
We are in the family of God as a free gift from God. He sought after us when we knew Him not. He sent His messengers after us with the Gospel. He never gives up on us. We are ultimately His fruit. He gets all the glory and all the credit. It is God's will for us to be in His family. He has adopted us. And we now have many brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers in this vast family of God. We are born again.
The "Personal Kingdom Builders" (of which there are many that you would not even suspect) do not want you to go to other churches. They want you to stay within the confines of their belief structure in "their" church. They are fearful that you might go and stay somewhere else. Which would mean possibly a loss of tithe income for their kingdom. But if they were truly serving God there would be no reason to keep you from exploring our wonderful family the Body of Christ.
I like to visit other churches to see how that part of my family worships and conducts itself. I like to meet other brothers and sisters in Christ. We are one Body, no matter where we meet together. Too often, where a Christian fellowships is over emphasized.
And there seems to be an unspoken message that if you do not fellowship where I fellowship then somehow we can not fellowship together. But there is only one family of Believers, and many meeting places. We have to remember that each and everyone of the meeting places got their start from some doctrinal viewpoint and will reflect that viewpoint. We must be open to one another as the body of Christ. It is not what we know about Jesus that berings us together. It is that we know Jesus that brings us together.
Rom 12:4-5
4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office.
5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
(KJV)
1 Cor 6:17
17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
(KJV)
1 Cor 10:17
17 For we being many are one bread, and one body, for we are all partakers of that one bread.
(KJV)
1 Cor 12:12-27
12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:
25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
(KJV)
Eph 2:16-22
16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
(KJV)
Col 3:15
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be thankful.
(KJV)
1 John 1:7
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Jesus is the light. Are you walking in Him? Then you can have fellowship with anyone in the Body of Christ no matter where they fellowship. I believe that you will fellowship where you are getting spiritually fed. I know that I will not stay where I am not getting fed spiritually. We are a part of the greatest family of all time. Act like it and visit your family openly and freely. Enjoy each other for you will be together for all eternity. Some would discourage visiting the other members of the Body of Christ by calling you names like "Lone ranger" or a "spiritual nomad", ignore them. I believe that it is very healthy for you to explore the Body of Christ. I always encourage it! You can still fellowship where you are getting fed. And you should give your tithe and support where you are getting fed. I am not saying God wants you to not belong to one particular church. What I am saying is that it is acceptable to celebrate our diverse family while attending our church of choice.
I pray that God would tear down al churches that would capture portions of the Body of Christ and deliberately keep them from interacting and dialoguing with the full family of God. One of the main signs of a cult is that you are made to think that you are superior and separate from the rest of the Body of Christ. Watch out for this. It is a party spirit. Do not allow it to happen to you. Visit your Christian Family. Always have an open heart for all believers in Christ Jesus!
This next says it like it is. The churches of Christ salute you the reader, a member of God's great family. And beware of personal kingdom builders who would seek to separate you from the rest of the Body of Christ.
Rom 16:16-18
16 Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.
17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
(KJV)
1 Cor 3:4-9
4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
(KJV)
When one comes from one church to another, often they do not agree with the vision and goals of the new church. Sadly, they do not understand that even though different ministries and churches have different goals, different visions, different emphases does not make one right and another wrong. God has placed differences in His body so that we can meet diffrent needs and complement one another, not compete with one another. Just as there are different callings on individuals, churches also have special callings. One ministry might emphasize deep worship, healing, and pastoral care; another might be more directed toward teaching and mission outreach; another might specialize in prophecy, the end times, and restoration. It is important for every Christian to be a part of a church body that has a similar calling and spirit to his.
(Dr. Gary L. Greenwald "The Spiritual Dynamics of Relationships" pg 47.)
