By Russ Welch
One of the most troubling things for me today is to see those who are seeking the perfect Church. For they often fall prey to false doctrines in regard to the Bride of Christ and become ensnared with a -rebellious and strife-full spirit. Trust me when I speak of this for I have personally been down that road to the extent that I felt all traditional Churches were of devil and the only true Church was that of the house Church, Yet in the journey down that rabbit trail I found that either they were mini models of the big Church or a group of people who had become separatist, had an elitist mentality (they were right everyone else was wrong) did not evangelize, sat around complaining about the “traditional Church”,and or they simply refuse to fellowship with anyone especially those who attend a Church in a building. (I am not implying all House Churches are of this nature – I did attend some that were filled with love)
I thank and praise the Father for the eye opening wisdom which Holy Ghost poured into my life, the discipline of the Father through rebuke & correction via both His Word and His servants as well as His mercy making room to repent for my calling what is of the Lord (no matter how imperfect) unholy.
Truth be told, neither the traditional nor house Church will be found to be the perfect Church. Each has its error as each in some way or another is still in the hands of humans.
A never ending search
If we are truthful, we will admit that we live in a day that finds many in search of the “perfect” church. Many are simply seeking a place to have their hearts warmed and ears tickled. As well there are those who diligently seek that one denomination or church body that is in total harmony. Where everything runs as it should. Where everyone is so holy the halos are almost visible. A place where every point of doctrine is identical with what we personally believe. Where every part of the worship service is exactly the way we like it. A group where each and everything within that church is exactly what we think it should be. When something doesn’t go exactly as we think it should. When we find a few minor points of doctrine that we disagree with what we believe. When we don’t find the perfection we seek. We move on to another church, thinking it might be “the” one.” Yet what is the end of our search? We never find what we’re looking for. Because the “perfect” church doesn’t exist and it never will – at least, not until the Lord returns.
I constantly run across people who are seeking a Church in which they have to submit to no one, that the only voice and only teacher they need is Holy Ghost, they reject all authority. And so many, like I myself was misled, proclaim they have read the Word, which has brought them to current revelation. In all reality we find a vast amount of what they are speaking is just contrary to the teaching of Christ and His apostles. Take the position of “One only needs the Holy Spirit as a teacher” – can we ignore the scriptures? For in them we find one of the gifts given to the Church by the Father is that of “Teacher”. As well it is clearly stated in scripture that we are all called to submit one unto the other.
If one were to truly listen to Holy Ghost, He would show them that there are solid Biblical fellowships out there, both that meet in (Oh no) “BUILDINGS” hold onto your stones, as well as those who meet in homes. I thank the Lord for His guidance in opening my eyes to this truth and bringing me to the place where I see such fellowships, and have been connected to such fellowships that are truly thriving in the love of God, operating in the liberty of the Spirit without fear of one taking over the other, for they trust in the leading of the Holy Spirit and are able to trust Him as they submit one to another, even though they too are not perfect yet they seek to honor the Prefect One.
We have many groups and individuals who fell prey to the whispers of Hell because of being hurt unjustly in the Church or having a heart of bitterness and resentment rooted in pride that caused them to become isolated. This does not mean that they are bad people, they are still of the Bride and must be loved, ministered to that the Lord may heal their hearts and restore them to the fellowship with other believers.
We also have a rebellious group, who fell for false doctrine and have become wolves of the faith, seeking but to gather like-minded individuals to their groups and cause dissension in the fellowships causing great harm especially to young believers and they come under the guise of desiring total unity when in reality they seek to destroy any and all unity. Though they speak of having “no leaders”, they are inwardly hungry to lead and as such seek but to steal other believers from Churches and fellowships to attain they status of “True leadership”. They will prey on the wounded and broken hearts and the young immature believers.
Two very dangerous and often stumbling positions in a wounded believer and a young Christians life is that of:
A. Pride
Such as thinking they know it all and need not have anyone correct them in regard to the Word. (This list could be a blog in itself – so I will keep it short here)
B. Erroneous doctrines & false teachers
That of running into those who totally lack spiritual wisdom and spiritual maturity in regard to the Lord’s Bride, – especially in regard too who the Bride is made of and where He calls His Bride to to meet.
Now either and or both of these dangerous positions can lead a believer to the point of spiritual depravity in that they become disconnected, become open to the enemies ability to bring in false doctrines, confusion, disappointments and ultimately empty their vessels of Spiritual fuel, till they fall to the place that they simply burnout and turn away from not only from the Bride, but from the Lord all together.
We must put away false and divisive doctrines!
We must put away separatist doctrines that bring division and stop looking for the perfect “Church” and start loving, praying for, and sharing the gifts God has placed in our lives with those for whom He has connected us – in other words get off our high horses called pride and spiritual arrogance and seats of judgment and enter in to the fields of labor, for the harvest is ripe!!!
We need to be very cautious that every book we read we do not take for the gospel or that every person who calls themselves a disciple of Jesus is truly that, for we have the warnings of those vicious wolves spoken of by our Lord and His apostles. This is why the Father sent Holy Ghost, that He would lead us into all spiritual truth and yes He does speak through other believers as well as the Word so don’t waste your time waiting for the cloud to cover you and a thundering voice to call out to you, or a bush to burst into flames as you walk by, calling out your name, or for that Angel to appear with a flaming sword and a scroll from Heaven. (Although the Lord could do such, if He so chooses after all He is God)
We must be as the “Bereans.”
We read in Acts 17:11, of how the Bereans were commended because they listened to everything that Paul said, and then went home and checked the Scriptures (our Old Testament) to see whether what Paul said was true. Learn to do the same thing. Make sure you have your Bible with you, and read along with what the Pastor or teacher is reading, even if you’re using a different translation. Take some notes, and then go home and check the scriptures to see what God says about what the preacher said.
Is the Church perfect? By no means, though Praise God we shall be when the Master returns – Does the Lord still send His servant to sound the horns of repentance – Does He assign messengers to bring correction? Yes He Does – The key is in the scriptures for when we look to the prophets in the Bible -There was a quality of authority like that which Jeremiah and Isaiah had and many such prophets like them, in that they prophesied to God’s people from the lowly position of humbled repentance.
To sum it all up, if you’re looking for a home church, whether it be a House Church or a traditional Church in a “building” pray and ask the Lord to direct you to the congregation where HE wants you to be, where you can serve Him best, and where you can be fed. And then begin to visit churches. Don’t get hung up on a denomination. Remember, the “church” that Jesus spoke about is the Body of Christ – made up of every born again believer in the world. The congregations where we attend are just that – congregations. And it doesn’t matter what is written over the front door. Instead, what matters is what is written on the hearts of the members and what is being taught from the pulpit and in the Sunday school classes.
We are living our lives as the very image of Christ Jesus to the world – let us do such and starting showing His character in all we do, putting down the stones hatred and lifting up hands of prayer, one for another and establishing His Kingdom here on earth!!
Radical Disciples - A Remnant Revolution 