Since the persona of the Church is under attack by leftist and progressives today, I think a little look back at something I wrote in 2014 in a book titled “Religion in a Handbasket” might be of interest to some of you.
(While it has been historically understood that we’re all to be as one in the Church the actual appearance of the body of Christ as a sum of all its parts reveals a very different image to the world’ And it’s one that appears deformed as a whole, not only in a physical sense but more importantly in a spiritual one. This has occurred because more doctrine is being spewed forth at the pulpits of churches today that’s uncharacteristic to the Spirit of God than at any other time in our history. So an image is being fostered by a religious mindset that’s orientated to the enemy’s way of thinking, where truth can be according to whatever one deems relevant.
In this case to a socialist mannerism and secular humanistic push toward progressive Christianity. I say progressive in that it is forcing ministers to give way to thinking that says manipulation by any ministry authority is rightly divine counsel, even though its purpose is not one based on any spiritual truism. 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. John 16:13-15
That brings us to the next thing that Paul says in that there is only one Spirit of truth nurturing all parts, and glorifying the character or image of the one who created us. This is the Spirit of God, or Holy Spirit to some, or Holy Ghost to others, He is one and the same. And the most important aspect of the Holy Spirit is that He is the same in nature as God and Jesus His Son. Meaning that what He does is done in the very same manner as they would do it. He is the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead and now abides in those who are led by Him to reveal each one as a spiritual son or daughter of God. 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Rom 8:11
There is a reason why there must be only one spiritual mannerism flowing through the Church since He is the same in nature as the one who is at the head, Jesus Christ. This means the manner of spiritual character the Church is to be was already determined before its existence. God has already set all things in place by His word into which He crafted divine actions to ensure what would be the spiritual activity of the Church throughout its presence here. 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you aren’t mere words. I don’t just make them up on my own. The Father who resides in me crafts each word into a divine act. John 14:10 (MSG)
Even if Jesus found it necessary to try and explain in detail how all this works His revealing would be that in every aspect it is the will of His Father to be the express teacher to His disciples. Since everything they see Him do and hear Him say would be totally aligned to God’s doctrine. As we can see nothing is to be done out of anxiety or anxiousness for any spiritual prowess, or gain in ministerial recognition. Because only by the word and Spirit of God are all things truly revealed.
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all Eph 4:5-6 Paul points out to the church at Ephesus that we are all by one Lord (Jesus), one Faith (ours), and one Baptism (by the Holy Spirit), brought to a place where the one God who is above all works through and abides in His creation. God’s purpose is to make sure the previous verse is as simple as can be so that anyone who comes to Christ can have a conscious understanding of it. Sadly, it has been by a religious spirit made to be the most difficult thing to comprehend, simply because every denomination of the body of Christ deems themselves to be the only source for such truths. This creates confusion that narrates among the people of God and promotes an unable knowing of what the truth is as seen in the Church’s difficulty to reveal it.
Now before you blow your foundation gaskets, there’s always a smidgen of the truth professed among them but my purpose is to reveal that there should be no diversity of doctrine, as the core element for the stature of faith in Christ as revealed by the Spirit of God. And to those who declare that this doctrinal diversity is non-relevant if all are somehow coming to faith in Christ, I say you are ignorant of any real truth! Why? Because Christ as truly being at the core of the Church will see to it that the spiritual narrative by His divine nature only reveals one character and image of God. And has no variance from anything that would present the same character in us. So, holding on to religiously driven doctrinal traditions, such as no tongues, or there must be tongues, or there must be no instruments for praise or praise as the only ministry or prosperity is the way of pandering to the sins of many is alright, all reveal there’s a battle of ignorance taking place within the Church.
Now let’s look more intently at this for just a moment, if you were looking for help in the middle of some crisis of life and decided to find a church where you might find help, you will see multiple choices. Which isn’t wrong in context to a diversity of language, or by any social or ethnically cultured backgrounds. But wrong regarding the message from the pulpit if it vastly differs from its prophetic truths all because of those willing to be controlled or influenced by a religious premise. A premise that breeds doctrines based on social conformity purposed to hide any manipulation of the truth that pertains to an image of Christ. So rather than being equally governed by the Spirit of God to bring about a true perception of Him among His creation, they see no true spiritual purpose for the Church.)
The world is in a chaos filled with hate and descent of others and many of the pulpits of the Church are busily pondering over who’s the most relevant in today’s dynamic work of ministry. The world’s ways never have nor can they ever save anyone from sin and the eternal separation from God that comes by a denial of Jesus Christ as Lord and savior. All this over the top hyped up worldly staged presentations to attract the attention of young people who can’t see an image of God or even a spiritual entity present only works to further denial of the real mannerism to be seen.
