"The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches." Matthew 13:31
From a humble beginning with 12 guys, one previously deceased teacher, a new gospel and a resurrection to prove it the church started in upper rooms waiting for direction. That direction came in a powerful way as the Holy Spirit descended upon them bringing the gift of tongues as a witness of the power of God. So in just a few days the church grew to over 3000 people! But, how could these 12, also being new believers, take on a congregation of 3000?
The good news is really that, GOOD! And people whether they like it are not are attracted to good. So naturally when a group gathers talking about good news, and feel good type of stuff it is going to attract many sorts of people to itself. The paradox to it all is that not all the attracted people are "good."
I will apologize now for this, I do not believe people are intrinsically good.... They are quite the opposite and are naturally bent to evil. However, as my last post stated we were created for good, yet we have deviated from this path. When we choose not to acknowledge God as supreme in all things. From this stem all sorts of sins. In this, though, is the NEED for the gospel.
The other side, however, of the Gospel is that it is offensive; saying that we are imperfect and need someone to save us. The other common controversies that surround the church like: there is only one way to heaven, and without Jesus people go to hell. Yeah, these are difficult to swallow, it is hard to accept, yet from God's perspective He is only being just and making it easy to understand His plan. Hell was created for sin itself, the devil and his angels and not for human beings. By choice some will go there, having rejected Christ and denying God.
I don't say it is easy to believe because I am one of the "chosen ones," or that I "already have my ticket," but I do hurt and ache for those who will have to endure that. I am learning more and more to have the heart of Jesus in that: "The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." And: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in His shall not perish but have everlasting life." Explanation made, lets press on.
Some come into the church on the premise of good things and finding out the bad become disheartened. Some don't see the validity in religion, seeing it as outdated and more like a fairytale and persecute the church. Others still, this being the category applicable to our topic, value the church only as a networking opportunity and attend and participate as a means for gain. Not to say that there isn't gain from the things of the church but as Paul would say, "Godliness with contentment is great gain."
So again, we have this strange organism called the church that has at its root goodness and truth, but in its wild attraction can produce evil and blasphemy. Of course if we take into consideration that the "Church" is the very people who are called out by Christ, according to His gospel, then we see what God's true intent was: to have a people zealous for good works, honoring Him before all men and preaching repentance to the sinners.
As the "body" of Christ we are to function as a unit toward a common goal. Much like our bodies that goal is life. Even more so the end result is eternal life with Him, as a body. "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long suffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so also you must do." Colosians 3:12,13
The good news is really that, GOOD! And people whether they like it are not are attracted to good. So naturally when a group gathers talking about good news, and feel good type of stuff it is going to attract many sorts of people to itself. The paradox to it all is that not all the attracted people are "good."
I will apologize now for this, I do not believe people are intrinsically good.... They are quite the opposite and are naturally bent to evil. However, as my last post stated we were created for good, yet we have deviated from this path. When we choose not to acknowledge God as supreme in all things. From this stem all sorts of sins. In this, though, is the NEED for the gospel.
The other side, however, of the Gospel is that it is offensive; saying that we are imperfect and need someone to save us. The other common controversies that surround the church like: there is only one way to heaven, and without Jesus people go to hell. Yeah, these are difficult to swallow, it is hard to accept, yet from God's perspective He is only being just and making it easy to understand His plan. Hell was created for sin itself, the devil and his angels and not for human beings. By choice some will go there, having rejected Christ and denying God.
I don't say it is easy to believe because I am one of the "chosen ones," or that I "already have my ticket," but I do hurt and ache for those who will have to endure that. I am learning more and more to have the heart of Jesus in that: "The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." And: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in His shall not perish but have everlasting life." Explanation made, lets press on.
Some come into the church on the premise of good things and finding out the bad become disheartened. Some don't see the validity in religion, seeing it as outdated and more like a fairytale and persecute the church. Others still, this being the category applicable to our topic, value the church only as a networking opportunity and attend and participate as a means for gain. Not to say that there isn't gain from the things of the church but as Paul would say, "Godliness with contentment is great gain."
So again, we have this strange organism called the church that has at its root goodness and truth, but in its wild attraction can produce evil and blasphemy. Of course if we take into consideration that the "Church" is the very people who are called out by Christ, according to His gospel, then we see what God's true intent was: to have a people zealous for good works, honoring Him before all men and preaching repentance to the sinners.
As the "body" of Christ we are to function as a unit toward a common goal. Much like our bodies that goal is life. Even more so the end result is eternal life with Him, as a body. "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long suffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so also you must do." Colosians 3:12,13
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