February thotz for 2/19 misuse of the word church

It has been a couple of weeks since I found time to sit down and blog.
So many distractions , from personal matters at home to snow storms in the North east. I was stuck in a blizzard for a couple days last week.
But for the most part (so far) winter has avoided our area. Funny how every winter we brace for the worst and when it does not occur we sense a bit of a let down. Not sure why that is except that maybe in a few years we can have some great stories about the winter of so N so.
And with no harsh winter , no stories so we have to go back further and further to the "big one." For me that would be the winter of 1996. Gosh, everyone still talks about that. Seems we need more stories . Not this year though. It has been more mild for the most part.
The blizzard last week was a doozy . Packed a punch for sure. What I find amazing is the casual nature we take on when discussing these events
 or even experiencing them.
Sometimes I wonder if we truly understand how God uses nature (His creation) to advance His agenda (or Kingdom)
We apply science (also His creation) and we "think" we have figured it out.

I'm only thinking this way because that last blizzard I went thru was a rare event known as a bombogenesis. I actually thought that was interesting.
https://weather.com/science/weather-explainers/news/what-is-bombogenesis-weather-bomb

It was accompanied by stronger than normal winds and lightning & thunder. In a blizzard. Most folks remember where they were when they heard thunder snow that first time. Because it's so rare. We marvel at these things but do we truly understand God's power?
It's good to marvel at God's power thru nature but it should also cause us to fear God.

But people don't fear much these days.
Do we fear God? Do we understand God?
A casual understanding of the Bible would reveal that we don't.
Maybe for a brief time we might fear God. But it doesn't last long.

But the way we think about the weather is not the only thing on my mind as of late.
Frankly, the way we think about everything' seems to be "off"  balance.

From time to time I need to remind myself as well as others, what this blog is all about.
People who focus on context (of anything) think differently.
Perspectives tend to broaden.
This is not a desired thing in this self focused culture.
In other words, if it's not happening right around us at any given moment we are currently in, we tend not to care about it.

Putting things into there proper context definitely has a way of messing up our cozy lives.
People don't like to think about the reasons they believe what they do.
We don't want to examine why we think what we think.
We either like or don't like issues, based on what I don't know.
There are many reasons people believe what they do, but if they ever get pressed on their beliefs they truly don't know why.
Some trust in experiences to form their beliefs, others use emotions.
Now there's two things you don't wanna mess with.
But can they be trusted.
Most people just say things like "that's just the way it's always been" so traditions become a deciding factor in what we believe.

When the Bible talks about the "traditions of men" what do we suppose that means?
Could that be 'everything that's influenced us since the day we were born?
Can these influences be trusted?
Adding context to issues reveals clearly that No, the influences we (all) grew up under can not be trusted.

Putting things into context does not fix everything. It is not some magical formula for todays problems. All context does is show us the magnitude of the problem. When we realize what we are up against, in this world, this should make us want to seek after something bigger than us.
Gods law also reveals this.

The things that influenced us, as we grew up, were severely limited but by the time we figured that out, the damage was already done.
Over time.  Gods Word was not properly passed from one generation to the next.
Kind of like a game we used to play whisper down the lane.

(here is a brief example of that game. The original sentence btw, that this video uses to start the game off is ➡️The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn't said 🔚.  
Take note how it ends.)

This game is best played with 20 kids or more, standing in a line and a message gets  started by the first child in line and whispered to the next child.
By the time the last child in line got the message from the beginning, it was completely changed.
The point is :
All context is , is that last child going back to the first child , bypassing all the children in the middle,  to find out what they truly said.
Now, what a person does with that context is up to them.
This is EXACTLY what happens in history when it comes to biblical principles.

When I went back to see what God really said, (for me that was almost ten yrs ago, my first time thru the entire Bible) I was amazed as to how everything became so changed from the original message.
This began a firestorm of events I could never have predicted.

History or Gods Word, from the beginning, was meant to be a massive whisper down the lane thing. Truthfully , we should have been shouting it down the lane.
At some point, we need to go back to the original , to sort it all out.

I know I can never change things in this culture, but understanding what God said from the beginning helps me in not having to have to bend the knee to every new thing that comes along.


But I was raised in a "do as you were told" mentality and "don't ask questions."

That would lead to some strange ideas. But soon those strange ideas became 'tradition. "
We would believe many things because that's the way it has always been. Or so we thought.
People love traditions. We have them for everything. Holidays especially.
But those traditions were as shaky as a.... As a fiddler on the roof.

There's no better way to illustrate that than to consider how we think about the word "church."
From this point on, in this post , my thoughts will have an unusual "sound" to them.
Something I noticed early on , as I began my first trip thru the entire Bible , putting things into context was, my communication "sounded" different to others (but not to me)
This became a problem , especially with my friends and family and mainly my wife. This "sound" has power to destroy if we're not careful.
All this "sound" was is , what people "thought" I was saying.
Because at some point along the road of putting things into context, I began to ask questions . Many of those questions pertained to the traditions of men, or things we grew up with or maybe just things we were used to because that is the way they were always done.
When anyone takes on this "sound" they are labeled as negative and even arrogant. That's regrettable but it's unavoidable.
This post raises concerns over what we think "church" is and it will "sound" like I am confused , angry , ready to leave church and start a commune .
It will "sound" like I think I am right and everybody else is wrong. It will "sound" like I discovered something new and it will "sound" like I am trying to change peoples minds concerning what they believe.
Communicating in this way can be a real pain and this is where you find out who your true friends are.
This is why it is easier , in this culture , to just go with the flow. A mass majority feel most comfortable in the status quo.
Keep in mind, there are several "flows" we can choose from. Most folks choose a liberal flow. Liberal thinking is in every sphere of culture, even church.

When I first noticed , that due to my putting things into its context , the way I "sounded" was different , I knew I needed a better reaction to that other than saying "that's not what I meant."
I began to realize that when people hear you speaking , they react to this based on what they learned or what they heard or what they have experienced.
Getting to the truth requires some digging , and I found out quick, people do no like digging into their beliefs.
People respond with what comes to their minds at first.
It was then that I asked others to disregard the first three things that come to mind because in most cases , that is not what I was saying and that is where that "sound" came from.
What so many people forget , when communicating with those who ask a lot of questions is , they are trying to learn more as well.
I am not telling you something. I'm asking something.
Of course, the next place many will go is to tell me I think to much without ever realizing they just admitted that most of us think to little.
My desire , when communicating either in person or on a blog , is to at least have others understand why I am saying or asking , what I do. If others consider opposing points of view , that's the best we can strive for. This is not an apology , but only an explanation.

When it comes to the subject of church even though I wonder as to where our ideas came from , I will continue to do what I am lead to do and pray earnestly to God for direction.


This will be tough to watch but it's only intended to make us think.

Now here is a concept that by the time it was whispered to my generation , it had become so changed that when I went back to what God said about it originally, what I grew up with was light years from that.
Sadly , many in my generation made serious decisions about what they believe based on a false
re-telling of what truly is not all that complicated.   Many I know left this new version of church.
Leaving something without knowing all the facts is very foolish.

These thoughts are directed what we readily see in this culture as church.
I already know the endless excuses we give to maintain this idea of church we have.
Many of these excuses sound extremely Christian based , so to examine them requires a humble attitude.


I grew up under the theater model version of what's become known as church.
All that means is, we go to a large seating area facing a stage and we watch what's taking place.

The concept of anyone calling themselves a Christian and gathering in a large area may not be new, but the way those attending are expected to behave has certainly evolved into something different.
People  don't participate. They basically  just watch.
Even the song time is structured. Music is something that has changed as well.
Structure is not something to completely avoided. But it is something to be mindful of.

Any participation is encouraged thru teaching Sunday school or cleaning the church.
Sunday school and the way we sing and what we sing are things to be mindful of.

Here's another tough thing to watch but again, it's meant to get us to think.

This models influence has followed me right up to the typing of this post.

Church became something we attend rather than something we become.
Worthy preachers have tried (in vain) to reverse this, but due to a Bible ignorance, their efforts go unrewarded.
A generation of believers who grew up in homes where children were to be  seen and not heard, it stands to reason that they  would feel right at home in churches that would (unknowingly) follow the same seen and not heard, with those who attend.
Petra wrote a song called seen and not heard,. It's a sad commentary of church goers.

When I began blogging, my focus was in my confusion as to why God's Word is rarely read cover to cover.

I've since come to an understanding as to why that is and the results of either reading it all or not reading it all.
What's interesting about all that is, once anyone puts God's Word into its context (and stays there) there's no going back to the way we used to think.
Because of that, other issues will follow this pattern of context (eventually) and sooner or later, ur views of what you think church is, is destined to be examined.
When that occurs we soon discover that all the language that surrounds what we think church is, doesn't add up.

We say "we planted a church"
"we're going to church "
" I'll see you at church "
" how was ur church '
"what does your church believe "
" the church is a hospital for the sick "

In this day of a church on every corner and any wind of doctrine saying the same things, and connecting that with the apostles" writing letters to the church" is it any wonder the word "church" gets abused.
Even when Paul was writing to the churches, he made a distinction. He wasn't writing to all who attended.
1 Corinthians 1:2


It becomes clear that the Bible's idea of church, has struggled these past hundred years,  as to where they should meet and who they should meet with.
Could we have unknowingly moved the Biblical concept of church to Wednesday night?
Those prayer meetings or Bible studies  pastors so desperately try to encourage people to attend? Is that the closer idea of church?
It's not exactly the Bible's idea of the church, but it's much closer to it.
Any differences (between Wed night & the true church) are due to the fact that the idea of Wed night is delivered in an open air, Sun morning format and that's bound to mess up the meaning.
Simply put, do the same people attend both Sun and Wed?
answer : No.
Why do we force believers every Sunday,  to worship with non believers and then call that church?

What might happen if Sunday , when everyone came to what we call church, it was announced that all we are going to do is pray and that everyone is expected to pray as well?
Anyone who even hints at objecting to that , they would be the ones who do not belong.
(This idea does not follow tradition)

Our minds have forever connected church and evangelism.
Trying to separate them is next to impossible, It is as if those two words became interchangeable.


When it comes to Sunday morning, It's not a case of who's sitting with who or whose saved or not.
The problem is a mindset that allows for both.
God's message gets presented differently from any Sunday mindset vrs any Wed mindset, in this culture.
Evangelism is wonderful, just don't call it "church."
But in this culture, redefining words is a favorite pastime.
When that happens, Christians can attend a Sunday meeting for decades never knowing if they're part of the "in crowd" or not.
That's because the principles from the Bible get preached different.
Much time is spent reassuring the believer as well as evangelizing the unbeliever. Both occur in an open air setting.
That's when law & Gospel get confused.
All this is fine. Just don't call it church

Now a midweek gathering is not like that.
There, more orderly participation is encouraged

Believers  rarely attend any Wed night because they think they already did the "church thing" on Sunday.  (confusing ain't it)
Many Christians and non Christians are just satisfied thinking they went to church.



But those two words (church & evangelize)  are not synonymous.
They are distinct.
Because these two words church and evangelize became so connected , big buildings were needed to support these two words.
But we still knew that believers would want to get together so we moved their night to a week day night.
Preachers could never figure out why they could not sell this night as well as they could Sunday morning.

Truth is, the midweek gathering is church for the believer. But because that idea was placed in an open air setting, preachers would encourage non believers to attend as well (and of course they didn't) so they wouldn't feel left out.
Since both believers & unbelievers thought they already did the church thing, people stayed home.

Honestly, why would a small group of true believers want a non believer showing up at their Bible study? All there gonna do is mess things up.
Don't believers get enough of that at work?

But, in this culture where people get saved before repenting (also backwards) these types of confusion will continue.


The question I must answer for myself is, if weekly Bible study or Sunday night prayer time or even fellowship in believers homes, is a closer reflection of a true Biblical meaning of church, then what am I going to do with that time slot reserved for Sunday morning some call church.
I'm not sure how to answer that.

Keep in mind as you read these thoughts.
I'm not ready to abandon the Sunday model we all grew up with.
I'm just putting things back where they belong.
While Sunday morning does seem to get all the attention, a more accurate church gathering resides in mid week prayer /Bible study.
That's where orderly participation occurs.

I currently attend a congregation that preaches the Bible line by line. People ask me why I favor that.
The answer is simple.
All the effects of the Sunday model I mentioned earlier in this post, don't occur in a line by line, vrs by vrs setting.

Yes, that line by line teaching is still in an open air theater type setting, which does complicate things.
So many venues follow this same type of teaching structure. A class room idea.
Someone teaches, people listen.

Generally, people want to know what the whole Bible says.. And a verse by verse setting is a good setting for that.
People that visit churches that preach line by line are amazed. The longer they attend they begin to wonder if anyone else knows this stuff.
The longer they stay, their hearts (or understanding) begins to change.
This is good but is it church?

I am blessed tremendously every time I sit under verse by verse teaching. I go away strengthened, encouraged, discipled, growing spiritually to heights I never dreamed possible and it's all God's doing, not my own.
But I'm still suppressing much joy.

What happens when God's Word does what it's designed to do?
What happened over time, since the time we became saved?
Why did we think verse by verse was not important then?
Even in verse by verse settings, the teaching is good but people remain silent.
But accountability is there. (in line by line teaching)   If people object to line by line , they are not objecting to the preacher.
They are objecting to God directly. That's a bit more serious (an understatement)
Besides, it's harder to change what a line says. It's best to leave any interpretation of any line, to other Scriptures.
If I have a problem with what a line by line preacher is saying, I will pray and go to the Bible to discern my problems.
Isn't that what we're supposed to be doing?
If I come away not understanding something, I'm ok with that. God will (and does) reveal things when the time is right.
When the preacher reads Gods Word, filled with the Holy Spirit and delivers it with Godly passion to a  hungry for the Bible congregation , these are people I want to get to know more and worship with.
I may have many questions but hanging around people who are hungry for Gods Word is not a bad thing in this day and age.


And that's why I favor vrs by vrs, line by line.


Gods idea of church is an assembly of believers. So what is God desiring to assemble? However we decide to answer that, I can safely say that if a non believer gets tossed into this assembly , it wont be what was intended. Again, even a casual glance at the Bible will reveal that.

The way we do  Sunday mornings is a curious one. Our mindsets regarding it tell us that any other way of doing it would create division,  eventually. Actually, a clue to what's missing is in that thinking.
Have we lost something, in our quest to avoid division amidst believers?  


What  sustains this model we've become so accustomed to every Sunday  is a populous that's Bible illiterate.
Even some congregations  that do Exegetical teaching,  struggle.

But if the church you attend doesn't read thru the Bible,  any biblical teaching, no matter how good it is, comes across as law preaching. Or anther way said, something we gotta "do."

For example, I'm struggling with understanding what it means to be baptized in the Holy Spirit.
Now I'm sure I could find many places that would want to straighten me out, but the point is, for decades that came across as law preaching because it was delivered in a theatre open air  type setting.  This teaching (baptism of Holy Spirit) had to be preached so as any believer or non believer might understand.
The personal aspect was watered down (so as to not offend the unbeliever) and the emphasis was placed on the fact that we had to "do" this. (law)

Another consequence  of modern Sunday morning is,   I have suppressed so much joy over the five decades of thinking I was attending church.
All the times I wanted to cry out to God, maybe pray, express gratitude.
But I kept it inside me.
When biblical church behavior is suppressed for years and years, Christians either start a blog or they become comedians.
Growing up, we never did understand the seperation believers are to have with the world. The human condition is to strive to get along, with everyone.
Comedians do  joke about it now.

Or we joke about our differences in worship. 

Comedy these days is what it is. I've found myself laughing right along. But something always seemed to be "off" in it.




Some people, when they get to this point (or sooner) think that attending another type model of the same thing, is the answer. In many cases, that means a charismatic model.
Trust me, that's not the answer.
It's just another theater mode



Because I suppressed so much of the joy of the Lord over the years, is it any wonder that when I find myself in a group of people (believers or not) I'd  wind up being over talkative and over bearing. Just ask my wife or family if you don't believe me.
I've come to hate that aspect about myself and I also must repent of that.

I'm not blaming this model of church.
It's what we grew up with. It's all we know.
Then, when we  do come up with the right biblical answer, we bring that right answer, to the same  model we grew up with. (like small groups - right idea /wrong place)

I'm not saying non believers shouldn't enter any Sunday gathering.
But church is for the believer, to build up, encourage, convict and disciple the believer. This is not rocket science. But what happens is, Sunday time is evangelism time, the Unsaved get the focus  and since the Christian hears that repeatedly, he needs reassuring.

Again. This is ok, it's just not church.
Church is when all the Christians assembled participate in orderly  prayer and sharing and word.

People might ask, "what are Christians supposed to do as culture advances generation to generation?"
My reply might be "when did meeting with friends and family, praying, reading, singing not become good enough?"

I never said get rid of the way we do Sundays..  It's needed, to spread the gospel.
I attend a congregation where God's Word is preached line by line. But is that church?
Good preaching and singing can be found on the Internet.
I'm only wondering, how did this model we do each Sunday  "become" our version of church.




By now many might be thinking, I've lost my senses. But nothing could be further from the truth.
It's not my intention to encourage others to 'stop doing this & start doing that.'
But it is my intention to challenge "church"  goers to think
People can go years thinking they are going to church or raising their kids in church, never understanding what that really means.


The only true method of revealing what church really is, is persecution.
The results from that will be as noticeable as the attendance of Sunday vrs Wednesday meetings.
This is why it is so important to get this right (what the church is)
Will younger people know what to do when the time comes. Or  will they just do as there told. That's what we are used to.

If what they are attending weekly seeks to unite believers & non believers, and they "think" this is church, what will happen when they are asked to unite with other religions?
In their minds (young believers) what's the difference between what they weekly attend and a one world religion?
That is where this society is heading.
Many church leaders are pushing that unity.

I can't answer these questions . But I do know that when persecution does come, the (highly) visible church will remain (highly) visible.
But God's true church is not seen in this way.
It's not measured by numbers.
It's not advanced by emotions.
Only God knows who His church is. The reason it's difficult for us to see is because that church is served to us on many things we seek to avoid.

In closing, we have two concepts.
1) the Ecclesia -  divisive & offensive
2) modern church - inclusive & inviting

If anyone got to this point on this post , I thank you. I need to end this because it is time to go gather with the saints (yes, I still do that)
As always, when it comes to the Bible...tryreadNit!