Tomorrows Church, Todays Hope

For those faithful readers, you have read what I have said about “What went wrong with Christ’s Church” and “How to Fix a Broken Church”? This text will share with you my vision for “Tomorrow’s Church, Today’s Hope”, a vision that I feel is inspired by God. We must believe that God always wants us to reach our fullest potential as faithful believers and follower’s of Christ. The church which is “Us”with each and everyone of us being the true church of God, asked by God to fellowship together, becoming in the greater sense of things the community of the Church. (Scripture: community, fellowship)

Philip. 2:1-11
Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and sympathetic? [2] Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose. [3] Don't be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. [4] Don't think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing. [5] Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. [6] Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. [7] He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. [8] And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal's death on a cross. [9] Because of this, God raised him up to the heights of heaven and gave him a name that is above every other name, [10] so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Ephes. 2:12-16
In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from God's people, Israel, and you did not know the promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. [13] But now you belong to Christ Jesus. Though you once were far away from God, now you have been brought near to him because of the blood of Christ. [14] For Christ himself has made peace between us Jews and you Gentiles by making us all one people. He has broken down the wall of hostility that used to separate us. [15] By his death he ended the whole system of Jewish law that excluded the Gentiles. His purpose was to make peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new person from the two groups. [16] Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.


1 Cor. 3:16-17
[16] Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? [17] God will bring ruin upon anyone who ruins this temple. For God's temple is holy, and you Christians are that temple.



Many of us may find it difficult to think of us as being the church, rather then the building we commonly call the church or temple. But in truth we are the church of God, our bodies being the true temple of God. In “How to Fix a Broken Church” I discussed how we can fix the church or temple that which is our body, a vessel for the Holy Spirit, and the true church. In “What went wrong with Christ’s Church” I discussed the historical development of the “Church” we are familiar with today as being a building with walls, floors, and ceilings, and what went wrong with Christ’s true definition of the Church.

What I will discuss in this text is how as individual temples of God, we can commune together in fellowship and fulfill God’s true intentions for his Church here on earth. To do this I feel I must debunk what I see as today’s church and where they are lacking in meeting the purpose for God’s Church. There is no one denomination or group that stands out from the rest, either small or mega in size but rather how they fail to meet the needs of the true temple of God, those who attend their organization. Some are doing a better job then others, and while they may be succeeding they may still be failing God’s commandments virtually by being to big to manage individual needs, or to small to reach out in the community as a church. Yet, there is no right size that is perfect as a church. Historically the church was small groups of people isolated in neighborhoods where they met in their homes, caves and the like often in secret. It wasn’t until the Christian faith was recognized by the Roman Empire, that these meetings had official status to meet openly in public places. In time official sites where built and the church became a organization of believers.

Hebrews 10:23-25
Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. [24] Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds. [25] And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near.


Ephes. 4:10-13
The same one who came down is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that his rule might fill the entire universe. [11] He is the one who gave these gifts to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. [12] Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ, [13] until we come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord, measuring up to the full stature of Christ.

Well let us get down to the foundation of tomorrow’s church, what I feel may be the changes to come for the Church to be able to continue to fulfill God’s will here on earth. The best place to start is personnel observations, those of my experience with the many churches I have visited and sought to find a home for me. From Childhood to adulthood I have been introduced to the many different congregations of Baptist, Pentecostal, and non-denominational groups. In my earlier years as an adult, a new born in Christ, I sought to find a fellowship that I could be comfortable in, one that I felt met God’s will as I understood it. I regret that I found myself shifting from one group to another, never truly finding a home for my own individual temple to reside at. There were various observations and reason as to why I didn’t fit. One, having accepting Christ as my savior, I had yet to be baptized in water. As I understood it, to be baptized in water was a physical act that demonstrated by acceptance in Christ, and invited the Holy Spirit to enter the new vessel that was created by my rebirth in Christ.

John 3:1-7
After dark one evening, a Jewish religious leader named Nicodemus, a Pharisee, [2] came to speak with Jesus. "Teacher," he said, "we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are proof enough that God is with you." [3] Jesus replied, "I assure you, unless you are born again, you can never see the Kingdom of God." [4] "What do you mean?" exclaimed Nicodemus. "How can an old man go back into his mother's womb and be born again?" [5] Jesus replied, "The truth is, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. [6] Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life from heaven. [7] So don't be surprised at my statement that you must be born again.


Romans 7:1-6
Now, dear brothers and sisters—you who are familiar with the law—don't you know that the law applies only to a person who is still living? [2] Let me illustrate. When a woman marries, the law binds her to her husband as long as he is alive. But if he dies, the laws of marriage no longer apply to her. [3] So while her husband is alive, she would be committing adultery if she married another man. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law and does not commit adultery when she remarries. [4] So this is the point: The law no longer holds you in its power, because you died to its power when you died with Christ on the cross. And now you are united with the one who was raised from the dead. As a result, you can produce good fruit, that is, good deeds for God. [5] When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced sinful deeds, resulting in death. [6] But now we have been released from the law, for we died with Christ, and we are no longer captive to its power. Now we can really serve God, not in the old way by obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way, by the Spirit.

Matthew 28:18-20
Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth. [19] Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. [20] Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Matthew 3:4-7
John's clothes were woven from camel hair, and he wore a leather belt; his food was locusts and wild honey. [5] People from Jerusalem and from every section of Judea and from all over the Jordan Valley went out to the wilderness to hear him preach. [6] And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River. [7] But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to be baptized, he denounced them. "You brood of snakes!" he exclaimed. "Who warned you to flee God's coming judgment?

Matthew 3:10-13
Even now the ax of God's judgment is poised, ready to sever your roots. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire. [11] "I baptize with water those who turn from their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is far greater than I am—so much greater that I am not even worthy to be his slave. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. [12] He is ready to separate the chaff from the grain with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, storing the grain in his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire." [13] Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John.

Mark 1:3-5
He is a voice shouting in the wilderness:
'Prepare a pathway for the Lord's coming!
Make a straight road for him!' "

[4] This messenger was John the Baptist. He lived in the wilderness and was preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had turned from their sins and turned to God to be forgiven. [5] People from Jerusalem and from all over Judea traveled out into the wilderness to see and hear John. And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.

What happen instead was hesitation by church elders to baptize me based on what they felt as a lacking in me to: One, regular attendance, Two, faithful tithing, and Third, a outward and visual demonstration of my walk in Christ, or rather they couldn’t visually see me wearing my faith on my shoulders. Any questions about being baptized was tabled until I meet one or more their requirements.

Now, I would tell you that even in my earlier walk as a Christian, I had a understanding of scripture and the wisdom this understanding bestowed on me. I could not find anywhere in the scriptures that I had to meet a list of requirements before I could be baptized except confession of my sins. In time, I faded away from these groups, looking for a church that would without hesitation or pre-requisite baptize me based on what Scripture tells us about baptizing followers in Christ. I had confessed of my sins, and I had ask Christ for his salvation. Now I was reborn in Christ in the early 70's, and it wasn’t until 1982 until I was baptized in Christ. It took nearly more then a decade to find a church that put no requirements on me for my Baptism, except confession of faith and my sins. Now I understand that Baptism is a big step to take and one should not take it likely, but have some instructions on its purpose and role in our Christian life. After this, the mere desire is the only reason we need to be Baptized, and that is because Christ asks it of us. So you can see why I put my feet across many church threshold finding a body of Christ that didn’t make conditions based on attendance, tithing, and whether or not I wore my faith on my coat sleeve. I believe that such follows only after we have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and a church body opens their arms warmly without pre-conditions. To do so is to play the judge and that is God’s office and not the church.

Matthew 7:1-6
"Stop judging others, and you will not be judged. [2] For others will treat you as you treat them. Whatever measure you use in judging others, it will be used to measure how you are judged. [3] And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own? [4] How can you think of saying, 'Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,' when you can't see past the log in your own eye? [5] Hypocrite! First get rid of the log from your own eye; then perhaps you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye.
[6] "Don't give what is holy to unholy people. Don't give pearls to swine! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.

1 Cor. 5:1-13
I can hardly believe the report about the sexual immorality going on among you, something so evil that even the pagans don't do it. I am told that you have a man in your church who is living in sin with his father's wife. [2] And you are so proud of yourselves! Why aren't you mourning in sorrow and shame? And why haven't you removed this man from your fellowship?
[3] Even though I am not there with you in person, I am with you in the Spirit. Concerning the one who has done this, I have already passed judgment [4] in the name of the Lord Jesus. You are to call a meeting of the church, and I will be there in spirit, and the power of the Lord Jesus will be with you as you meet. [5] Then you must cast this man out of the church and into Satan's hands, so that his sinful nature will be destroyed and he himself will be saved when the Lord returns. [6] How terrible that you should boast about your spirituality, and yet you let this sort of thing go on. Don't you realize that if even one person is allowed to go on sinning, soon all will be affected? [7] Remove this wicked person from among you so that you can stay pure. Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us. [8] So let us celebrate the festival, not by eating the old bread of wickedness and evil, but by eating the new bread of purity and truth.
[9] When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. [10] But I wasn't talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or who are greedy or are swindlers or idol worshipers. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that. [11] What I meant was that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a Christian yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or a drunkard, or a swindler. Don't even eat with such people. [12] It isn't my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your job to judge those inside the church who are sinning in these ways. [13] God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, "You must remove the evil person from among you."

1 Samuel 16:5-7
"Yes," Samuel replied. "I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Purify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." Then Samuel performed the purification rite for Jesse and his sons and invited them, too. [6] When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, "Surely this is the Lord's anointed!" [7] But the Lord said to Samuel, "Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn't make decisions the way you do! People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at a person's thoughts and intentions."


Romans 5:3-5
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us—they help us learn to endure. [4] And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. [5] And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Now the church that focused on the visual embodiment of Christ in a person’s life and quick to point out to your outward appearance isn’t quite at a spiritual level they expect to see, comparing you with others is very judgmental. If you didn’t wear it openly on your coat sleeve, then you weren’t a spirit filled person. Now I must admit, if a person confesses he is a spirit filled Christian, then it should show in your attitude, the way you speak, and behave. However, not all of us are Robert Shuller’s, Charles Stanely’s, or Charles Swindoll and the many leaders of Faith in our country. Rather, many of us are still very much infants in Christ, meek and mild in our faith, waiting to shine our faith for all to see. Those that make a judgement based on the “Shine” they don’t see openly, are making an judgement that may very well snuff out the shine that is internally waiting for the moment that it is encouraged to peek out from under the basket.

It is a dangerous attitude to compare Spiritually mature Christians with those still growing in Christ and searching wisdom in the Word of God. With knowledge and wisdom, comes growth, and with growth does our “Shine” increase until it is foremost and visible to others. The unforgivable is to say that until you “Shine” you are not one of us. It was at these times, that though I felt enriched and alive with God, to be told that I am not one of them, my “Shine” was diminished and withdrawn deeply within. It was difficult to meet a standard that one’s elders set as being the proper “Shine” level one had to have before they were considered one of them. When we put an “outward appearances” as a measurement of our walk in Christ, we judge unfairly what God is doing in that person’s life and what God intends for them. Only God knows His timetable, the where and when you will reach your “Shine” potential. It is not for man to decide the where and when.

The church that focuses on how well your pocket is lined with Gold, and how much you are willingly to give is the church that I found hard to fit in with. Maybe it was because I had very little to give in Gold, and they had very little to give in charity. I have always been the sort to find a balance by giving more of myself then my wallet. I am a strong believer in scripture that tells us to give of ourselves using the gifts God has given us.

Matthew 5:11-18
"God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are my followers. [12] Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted, too. [13] "You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it useful again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. [14] You are the light of the world—like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. [15] Don't hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. [16] In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. [17] "Don't misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to fulfill them. [18] I assure you, until heaven and earth disappear, even the smallest detail of God's law will remain until its purpose is achieved.

Acts 6:1-6
But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. Those who spoke Greek complained against those who spoke Hebrew, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food. [2] So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. "We apostles should spend our time preaching and teaching the word of God, not administering a food program," they said. [3] "Now look around among yourselves, brothers, and select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. We will put them in charge of this business. [4] Then we can spend our time in prayer and preaching and teaching the word." [5] This idea pleased the whole group, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (a Gentile convert to the Jewish faith, who had now become a Christian). [6] These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them.


Romans 12:5-8
so it is with Christ's body. We are all parts of his one body, and each of us has different work to do. And since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others. [6] God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out when you have faith that God is speaking through you. [7] If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching. [8] If your gift is to encourage others, do it! If you have money, share it generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.


1 Cor. 12:12-31
The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up only one body. So it is with the body of Christ. [13] Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into Christ's body by one Spirit, and we have all received the same Spirit. [14] Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. [15] If the foot says, "I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand," that does not make it any less a part of the body. [16] And if the ear says, "I am not part of the body because I am only an ear and not an eye," would that make it any less a part of the body? [17] Suppose the whole body were an eye—then how would you hear? Or if your whole body were just one big ear, how could you smell anything? [18] But God made our bodies with many parts, and he has put each part just where he wants it. [19] What a strange thing a body would be if it had only one part! [20] Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. [21] The eye can never say to the hand, "I don't need you." The head can't say to the feet, "I don't need you." [22] In fact, some of the parts that seem weakest and least important are really the most necessary. [23] And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect from the eyes of others those parts that should not be seen, [24] while other parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together in such a way that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. [25] This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other equally. [26] If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. [27] Now all of you together are Christ's body, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it. [28] Here is a list of some of the members that God has placed in the body of Christ:

first are apostles,
second are prophets,
third are teachers,
then those who do miracles,
those who have the gift of healing,
those who can help others,
those who can get others to work together,
those who speak in unknown languages.

[29] Is everyone an apostle? Of course not. Is everyone a prophet? No. Are all teachers? Does everyone have the power to do miracles? [30] Does everyone have the gift of healing? Of course not. Does God give all of us the ability to speak in unknown languages? Can everyone interpret unknown languages? No! [31] And in any event, you should desire the most helpful gifts...

Ephes. 4:1-16
Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. [2] Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love. [3] Always keep yourselves united in the Holy Spirit, and bind yourselves together with peace.
[4] We are all one body, we have the same Spirit, and we have all been called to the same glorious future. [5] There is only one Lord, one faith, one baptism, [6] and there is only one God and Father, who is over us all and in us all and living through us all. [7] However, he has given each one of us a special gift according to the generosity of Christ. [8] That is why the Scriptures say,

"When he ascended to the heights,
he led a crowd of captives
and gave gifts to his people."

[9] Notice that it says "he ascended." This means that Christ first came down to the lowly world in which we live. [10] The same one who came down is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that his rule might fill the entire universe. [11] He is the one who gave these gifts to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. [12] Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ, [13] until we come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord, measuring up to the full stature of Christ. [14] Then we will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe because someone has told us something different or because someone has cleverly lied to us and made the lie sound like the truth. [15] Instead, we will hold to the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. [16] Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

Therefore, when I could not give of my finance, I always sought ways to volunteer of my time, from being a Sunday School director, Church librarian, Church Clerk, laborer, and greeter, what ever was needed, even to lighting candles and preparing the sacraments of Christ.. One church I attended for several weeks, dismissed it’s associate pastor because he was always inviting in a class of people and families who survived on welfare and didn’t give the church a healthy picture of being of middle class or upper class members. You can understand my quick exit from this body of prudes and followed the associate pastor.

The Church that focused on my faithfulness in attendance and how many times I came to Sunday worships, where often the church who wanted only pew warmer’s they could record on their monthly reports to their regional or national convention, rather then actually get to really know the individual that warmed their pew. I found that after even a few Sunday visitations, that I walked in a stranger and left a stranger, even unto God. After a few weeks, I would become discouraged in my walk, and disillusioned about what Scripture was telling me about how fellow Christians should treat newcomers to their body. It was during this time that I would drift in my walk in Christ and doubt my salvation. These churches often wonder why they are unable to increase in size and maintain members. Unfortunately these churches often have inner social clicks and newcomers seldom are able to breach generations of such inner circles.

Romans 12:12-17
Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful. [13] When God's children are in need, be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner or, if they need lodging, for the night. [14] If people persecute you because you are a Christian, don't curse them; pray that God will bless them. [15] When others are happy, be happy with them. If they are sad, share their sorrow. [16] Live in harmony with each other. Don't try to act important, but enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don't think you know it all! [17] Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable.

Romans 13:8
[8] Pay all your debts, except the debt of love for others. You can never finish paying that! If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill all the requirements of God's law. [9] For the commandments against adultery and murder and stealing and coveting—and any other commandment—are all summed up in this one commandment: "Love your neighbor as yourself."


Hebrews 13:1-3
Continue to love each other with true Christian love. [2] Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! [3] Don't forget about those in prison. Suffer with them as though you were there yourself. Share the sorrow of those being mistreated, as though you feel their pain in your own bodies.


Now area to which some churches lack the ability of the body to welcome new visitor’s and just how much follow-up is done in getting to know that new visitor. I must admit that a smaller church body had a better track record of doing this, while the larger churches were having a difficult time in assuring that they followed up on new visitors, or frequent visitors. Even when a new visitor card was filled out, requesting a follow-up, one gets very disappointed when the follow-up fails to appear. My understanding is that Scripture makes it very clear about welcoming those who are seeking God, even those who already confess their belief in God. When such is not a priority, or becomes a difficulty for a Church to perform, the church is failing their commission Christ has given them. If they wonder why they don’t grow as a body of believers, or that they are not reaching out to bring in new converts, they should first review this commission and find a way to overcome this weakness. Which is simply to obey the Word of God.

Of all that I have experienced, a time came when I found a church home that baptized me without any precondition except that which is Scriptural. I didn’t have to wait until I reached a number of visitations, or that my giving showed how much I could enrich the coffers. But rather on belief that I understood the significant of what Baptism meant and why. I confessed my faith in Christ, I acknowledged my rebirth, and I understood the sacrifice of Christ, the love of God for his people. By this alone was I accepted by Christ and not by man’s criteria. I rose out of the waters blessed by God that I had forsaken my sinful nature, and accepted his son Christ as my savior. The journey started in a jail cell where I accepted Christ as my savior and asked his forgiveness for my sins, and the journey ended more then decade later when I was baptized. Since then my life in Christ has taken me down many paths directing me to follow Christ were he leads me. I have come to understand more clearly that the church is more then just a foundation where four walls rest on, but the true church is myself and now matter where I may be led by Christ, the church that I am, follows as well. It has been my pleasure to be apart of some amazing bodies of believers, those who are more attuned to the Word of God, and blessed with leadership that see’s that all who enter the material building of Christ, are welcomed and when they leave they leave not as strangers but as welcomed members of the family of Christ.

Big or small, rich or poor, the congregation of Christ, those who follow Christ faithfully, must meet the needs of Tomorrow’s Church. They must adhere to Scripture if they are to prepare and ready believers for the coming of Christ. They must not ignore strangers, as if they are outside the body, but welcome then as a part of the body. They must not place worldly conditions of soul and heart to meet a standard that is unreachable, but allow Christ to mandate what is right and holy for his church the individual believer, the true church. They must not allow an inner circle of members to place themselves above or closed to new members, but embrace those who seek God, as if they are long last family. They must not place wealth or social position as pass keys into the kingdom of God, but rather, accept the meek, the poor, and the weak as equals in Gods family. They must not invent reason’s that are not supported by Scripture to deny entry into the church based on personal preferences, wealth, or social status. Above all they must not hinder the blessings and gifts of the Holy Spirit by claiming they can measure the faith of another, and judge by this measure their lack of “Shine”. For in Gods eyes we are all his children, worthy of His love. Which is equal in measure to all who accept Christ as their savior. No man or women, layperson or elder shall set themselves above all others as greater then the meekest and poorest of followers, for they allow pride to cause them to be greater then God, thus the meek and the poorest shall also stumble, and fall prey to the same sin. For none are greater then God, but God himself, and none are as faithful as Christ who willing gave his life for our sins. Thus we are equal to one another in Christ, equally receiving salvation and equally forgiven of our sins. Until today’s church can accept this equality, they will not become tomorrow’s church were they will inherit the kingdom of God.

Article Source: http://www.religionarticlelibrary.com

Rev. Vergeson is an associate member of the Universal Life Church (since 1979) and founder of God’s Temple of Grace Ministry Website at www.geocities.com/revdocrobert. The website offers bible studies and personal testimony. Visit www.todayschurch.blogspot.com for additional written material by Rev. Vergeson. You can contact Rev. Vergeson through email at RevDocRobert@yahoo.com

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