SUBJECT:  Church and Ministry

QUESTION:  I am a member of the Body of Christ and I have a number of accusations I would like to bring against the church and its ministry.

Note: This was an e-mail from a purported firstfruit who had a number of points [attacks] against the church and/or its ministry.

ANSWER:

I understand the points you have made, partly, because countless individuals, forums, message boards, newsgroups and independent articles have stated them.

Thank God that for each of us, we stand alone before God in the Salvation Process.  Whether we succeed into the Kingdom with eternal life or fail into the Lake of Fire, we stand alone in judgment.  We cannot blame anyone for our failures and no one can take credit for our works, accomplishments or successes.  No one can get us or force us into the Kingdom or the Lake of Fire.

If this is true in the Kingdom of God, then why not now, here in the Salvation Process?  Why do we get to bitch, moan, and complain now?  Why do we get to lash out with attacks, disgust and hate against fellow brothers and sisters, called by the Great Creator God and who have God's Holy Spirit?  When one opens his or her mouth to belittle or attack another, where is the blood of Christ?  Did we just stomp on it?  Are we not spitting in the face of Christ?

Isn't the simple truth of the Word of God that if a minister or church organization goes contrary to God's Word and/or into apostasy that we are to simply leave?  Is there indication and instruction to spew forth attacks and hate and every foul word we can think of?  Are we to further divide the congregation of the Body?  Are we to dig up and/or expose the sins of others?  Are we to gossip?

Are we to puff up ourselves or our groups and make ourselves better than those we are attacking and showing so much hate?  Are we to write and post commentary that downgrades the branches and the very vine, which is Christ?

Isn't the Bible a book about individual Salvation?  Isn't it a book that encourages us to invoke the power of the Holy Spirit in the form of principles such as love, forgiveness, mercy, forbearance and longsuffering?  Are personal attacks the fruit of the Holy Spirit?  Will we not be judged in the same way we judge [condemn] others?  Are we to cover the sins of others with the blood of Christ and the mercy and forgiveness of the Holy Spirit or are we to sling mud and dung upon the mistakes and sins of others?

Are we not the masters of our own spiritual household and masters of our own Salvation?  What does God say?

Matthew 24:45-46
45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

Question:  Doing what?  Expressing love or hate?

3 John 5
Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;

Question:  Are these attacks on ministers and brethren faithful?

1 Peter 4:10
As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

 

Question:  Is there a gift of hate or attacking brethren?

Colossians 3:17
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

 

Question:  All these words against the church and its ministry, are they offered in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ?  Do we thank God for them?

Luke 16:10
He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

 

Question:  If we can't be kindhearted, one to another, despite our mutual mistakes and sins, then how can we be faithful in our Salvation Process; that which guarantees our entrance to the Kingdom, assuming we can maintain the process?

Galatians 6:10
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

 

Question:  Do we do this good with the blood of Christ and His Holy Spirit or do we do it with mud and dung slung against the household of faith?

I can tell you that the Work of God is going to be completed.  It is going to be done.  It matters not whether it is done by a woman, by a man, by a house church, by a fellowship group, by a chartered church or the largest collective organization in the Body of Christ.  Each has a part.  God has called His elect.  The faithful ones will succeed regardless of where they are or who they are.  It will be completed because of the Holy Spirit in us.  It will not be completed by those who sit on the sidelines and trash everyone else.

Jesus made a prediction to His disciples after they asked Him on the Mount of Olives what the sign of His coming would be.  In part, He said something about both those in the world and those in the very Body of Christ...

Matthew 24:10-12
10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

 

MANY will be offended.

MANY will betray one another.

MANY will hate one another.

MANY shall be deceived.

MANY will have their love wax cold.

If this is true, who WILL be in the Kingdom?

Matthew 24:13
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

And what of those who are offended, who betray, who hate and whose love goes cold?

(still in the same chapter)...

Matthew 24:46-51
46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;

49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;

50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,

51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Note:  Those who smite their fellowservants will have their portion with the hypocrites and they will be weeping and gnashing their teeth.

Question: Then what does Christ do to them when they still want into the Kingdom?

Matthew 25:10-12
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

Answer:  The door was shut.

Question:  After reading your e-mail, I have only one question for you.  What side of that door will you be?