Posted by
Steve Fuller on Monday, December 28, 2009 6:31:24 PM
Hebrews 10:25 "not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching."
<b>Discipline of Church</b>
Astute observers are becoming increasingly aware that Doctrine of the church has become progressively weakened and in some cases abandoned all together by American Evangelicals. Robert W. Patterson, Associate Director to the Executive Director of the National Association of Evangelicals, wrote about this back in a 1991 article for <i>Christianity Today:</i>
<i>"When President Dwight D. Eisenhower became a Christian, he made a public profession of faith in Christ, was baptized, and was extended the right hand of fellowship at the National Presbyterian Church in Washington D.C. the second Sunday after his inauguration in 1953. Had the former President expressed interest in Christ a generation later under more consciously evangelical auspices, he might not ever been challenged to identify with the body of Christ through baptism and church membership. A personal relationship with Jesus, he would have been told, is all that really matters"</i>
Without a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, all is lost. But we must not mistakenly reason that one's relationship with Christ minimizes the importance fo His Church. Yet this is precisely what multitudes of evangelicals assume and act out.
<b>The Doctrine of the Church</b>
So many today need to be blasted from their delusions by an understanding of the great Doctrine of the Church. There is no text that will ignite one's soul more than Hebrews 12:22-24, which describes the seven stupendous meetings which the Christian experiences in the Church:
<i>"But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel."</i>
1.) First, we come to the city of God - "But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem".Mount Zion was the location of the Jebusite stronghold which David captured and made the religious center of his kingdom by bringing to it the golden Ark of God's presence. When Solomon built the Temple and installed the Ark, Zion/Jerusalem became synonymous with the earthly dwelling-place of God. In Christ we have come to it's heavenly counterpart, the spiritual Jerusalem from above. In one sense it is still to come, but at the same time we have already arrived there in spirit. Christians are now citizens of the heavenly city and enjoy its privileges. How much better the relationship between God and His people is under the New Covenant.
2.) Second, as the church we meet Angels - "and to innumerable angels in festal gathering". Moses tells us that "myriads of holy ones" attended the giving of the Law (Deuteronomy 33:2), and from Daniel we hear that "Thousands upon thousands attended him {the Ancient of Days - God}; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him" (Daniel 7:10). David said, "The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands" (Psalm 68:17). In the church we come to these dizzying thousands of angels, all of whom are in joyful celebration. They were everywhere - mighty flaming spirits, "ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation." (Hebrews 1:14), passing in and out of our lives, moving around us and over us, just as they did to Jacob of old.
3.) Third, we come to follow believers - "to the church of the first-born whose names are written in heaven". Jesus was the first-born Par Excellence, Seed Royal, and by virtue of our union with Him, we are first-born. All rights of inheritance go to the firstborn - to us, "co-heirs with Christ" (Romans 8:17). In the Church we do more than come into each others presence - we share membership together.
4.) Fourth, we come to God - "You have come to God, the judge of all men." We come in awe because He is the Judge - but we do not com in craven dread, because His Son has borne the judgment for us. This is our highest delight - to gather before our God!
5.) Fifth, we come to the Heavenly Church Triumphant - "to the spirit of righteous men made perfect." Though they are in Heaven, we share a solidarity with those who have gone before. The same spiritual life courses through us as through them. We share the same secrets and joys as Abraham and Moses and David and Paul.
6.) Sixth, we have come to Jesus - "to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant." It is through Jesus that the promises come to us. He is the source and dispenser of all for which we hope. He is in us, and we are in Him.
7.) Seventh, we come to forgiveness because of the sprinkled blood - "and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel." Abel's warm blood cried condemnation and judgment from the ground, but Christ's blood shouts that we are forgiven and have peace with God, Hallelujah!
Brothers and Sisters, the Scriptures tell us that in the Church, "you have come" to these seven realities, and if this does not create a wellspring of thanksgiving in each of your hearts and a longing for fellowship in the visible Church, nothing will!
There are dazzling images of the Church that assault us again and again in the New Testament in an effort to raise our thinking to the proper height. As the Church, actually we are Christ's Body (Ephesians 1:22-23). He is the Head, and as members of His Body we have at the same time a profound unity, diversity, and mutuality. We are a temple (Ephesians 2:19-22). He is the cornerstone, and we are living stones (1 Peter 2:5) - forming a living place of worship. We are the bride (Ephesians 5:25-33. And Christ, our groom, loves us with a holy love which will bring us to the Marriage Feast of the Lamb. We are his sheep, and He is the nurturing shepherd ( John 10:14-16, 25-30). He is the vine, and we are the branches. We are organically in Him, drawing all our sustenance for life from Him (John 15:5).
What should the truth that we are the Church mean to us? It should fill us with wonder and thanksgiving. We ought to sing, "I am His body, His temple, His bride, His sheep, His branch. I have come to His city - to angels - to brothers and sisters - to God Himself - to the Church glorified - to Jesus - to forgiveness through Christ's blood."
This doctrine also tell us that the Church will outlive the world. Harry Blamires wrote:
<i> "The world is like a great express train hurtling towards disaster - perhaps towards total destruction. And in this truly desperate situation certain passengers are running up and down the corridors announcing to each other that the Church is in great danger! The irony of it would be laughable if it were not so searing. Why, most of the Church's members have already got out at stations en route. And we ourselves shall be getting out soon anyway. And if the crash comes and the world is burnt to ashes, then the only thing that will survive the disaster will of course be the Church."</i>
Personally, the doctrine of the Church ought to tell us that we are part of the grandest institution the universe has ever known, and that we are tragically diminished by non-participation in Christ's Body. Correspondingly, the Church is diminished by those who "preach" against participating as well. You, I and those who "preach" against the church, need church! The Scriptures are most explicit regarding this: "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage on another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:25).
This straight forward exhortation should be enough in of itself. But still, there are many other powerful reasons for faithful participation in Church, not the least of which is as Cyperian wrote, "We all need a mother" to nurture our growth from babes to maturity. This has certainly been the case for me as it was the womb that kept me until that night when my Pastor, Dr. Howard F. Sugden, preached the Gospel from Luke 19: 16-31. It finally clicked at the tender age of 6 years old, that if I didn't do a thing at that moment, and something happened to cause my death, I would go to Hell and live in eternity being burned in the lake of fire. Knowing that fire hurts, I could not imagine living forever, burning. To much pain for me even just a little burn. So I gave myself to the Lord. This concept was simple for me then to understand, and is simple for me to ask others about now. "Do you know Jesus? If you were to die right here, right now, do know for sure where you would spend eternity? Would you like to know for sure right now? Then let's not waste anymore time. Follow my prayer, and pray it earnestly because your life depends on you doing so!" That's all it takes. But what happens afterward? Does the knowledge of God automatically dwell in them? Can they place the Bible to their heads and receive all truth through osmosis? Of course not! They need instruction, and it needs to systematic. That is where Church comes in. It first proclaims the truth of the Gospel, then it gives us tools to know the Gospel, in an environment (remember Christ is the head of the Church) where the new Christian can learn truth systematically from the ultimate authority...God's Word. In this ministry, I use this saying...that I learned in church by the way..."Letting God's Word do God's work in you!" Just as raising children in Church gives them a tremendous advantage in life, so to does it with us.
Understanding that we need the mothering of the Church, we must also understand that we will never benefit fully as we should if we are not apart of it due to a lack of commitment to it's head, Christ. Think for a moment about the Christian, what is it really about? It's about commitment, first above all else to Christ, but also to the church, to family, to marriage, to friendship, to ministry. None of these will blossom or flourish without commitment. Commitment in good times as well as bad times is what makes a marriage grow and brings the greatest fulfillment.
Even on the most elementary level, you do not have to go to church to be a Christian. Likewise, you do not have to go home to be married either. But in both instances, if you do not, you will have a very poor relationship. Among the growth-inducing benefits of commitment to the Church are:
* Worship - having your soul swept up to God in the unique elevating power of corporate worship.
* Hearing the Word - so that your soul can feed on its proper food, bringing health to your whole being.
* Attendance at the Lord's Table - so that you are refreshed as you thank God for the atoning work of Christ.
* Discipleship - as one is committed to the Church through its ups and downs, an appropriate deepening takes
place which the uncommitted heart can never know.
* Vision and mission - as one remains committed, a supernatural vision for life takes hold which results in mission.
<b>The Discipline of Church</b>
If the grand and great doctrine of the Church tells us anything, it tells us that whoever you are and however busy you may be, the Church must be at the very center of your life, Church hitchhiking is an aberration! And so is mild commitment.
Honestly, are you a hitchhiker, kind of a "free agent", or a Lone Wolf McQuaid? Are looking for a tentative place on the roster, here for a season, there for another? If so, you will never attain to your full spiritual manhood, nor will your family reach its spiritual maturity. What we need here in Church and in this lost world is for Men and Women to practice the Discipline of Church:
<b>The Discipline of Regular Attendance</b>
As part of this matter, you need to commit yourself to regularly attend the worship services of your church. Your schedule ought to bow to your commitment. When you travel, you ought to attempt to schedule yourself to be back for church, and if that is impossible, attend elsewhere while you are on the road.
<b>The Discipline of Membership</b>
If you are not a church member, you need to covenant before God to find a good church, join it, and commit yourself to supporting her and submitting to her discipline.
<b>The Discipline of Giving</b>
Your financial support of a local church should take precedence over your parachurch commitments. This should be regular and systematic (10 percent is a good starting - point)
<b>The Discipline of Participation</b>
Your time, talents, expertise, and creativity must be poured into your church to the glory of God.
<b>The Discipline of Love and Prayer</b>
Timothy Dwight, heir to the Puritans and the greatest president of Yale University, pennd these beautiful words:
<i>I love Thy Church, O God!
her walls before Thee stand.
Dear as the apple of Thine eye
And graven on Thy hand
For her my tears shall fall;
For her my prayers ascend;
To her my cares and toils be giv'n
Till toils and cares shall end.</i>
<b>Food for Thought</b>
Why is the idea of church so unpopular today? Why aren't more people interested in attending a good Church? Why are certain authors advocating a separation theology about the Church and why is this a heretical(against/contradictory to what God has taught) teaching?
According to Hebrews 12:22-24, what spiritual treasures are found in the church? Put these in your own words, then thank God for each one of them.
What does the image of the church as Christ's body suggest to you (Ephesians 1:22,23)? His temple (Ephesians 2:19-22)? His bride (Ephesians 5:25-33)?
What do our attitudes toward church and toward Christ have to do with each other? If the latter is misguided, will the former do any good? Can you see how this attitude has misguided us as a country?
Why are you tempted to do what Hebrews 10:25 says not to do? What spiritual blessings might you miss out on by staying away from christian gatherings?
What strengths and weaknesses as you see in you church. Now write down the ways you personally are contributing to each of these, and also specific ways you can be part of changing the weaknesses.
<b><i>Application/Response</i></b>
What did God speak to you about most specifically, most powerfully in this chapter? talk to Him about it right now!
Men and Women of God, we need the Church because the Scriptures say we do, because we need a mother to nurture us, and bcause without commitment to her we will not grow! - Chappy