Tag: faith (Page 2 of 7)

I love Christian gatherings. That was not always true in my younger days. Then in my early twenties I was humbled by circumstances in my life to the point that I came to a greater level of surrender to Christ. At that point I was drawn to other believers with whom I found more in common than before. The meetings we had in the church building were very exciting, powerful and encouraging. We were in a time of what some call revival, others might call a “move of God.” Many believers that I knew outside of that fellowship were also experiencing a new awareness of the presence of God in their lives. It was a time that I will never forget. In this environment, evangelism is free and natural. Who wouldn’t want to share joy such as this?

Since then I have never lost the desire to gather with other people who love God. There have been many painful times, for sure. Close friends have suffered illnesses like cancer, others experienced divorce or loss of a child. When people become close through their faith in Christ, they learn to “rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” There is also the pain of separation. Sometimes families move away from the area. Sometimes they are called to serve elsewhere. Sometimes strong disagreements can cause separation. Like I said, there are many painful times, but still I have never lost the desire to gather with the people of God. Over the years I have been exposed to various concepts of what a meeting should be like. I have learned to respect the patterns and traditions of others for the most part, as long as Jesus Christ is at the center.

There have been times when my entire week has been centered around the church I am a part of. I am not saying that is necessarily a bad thing. I have been in close communication with others involved in the planning of meetings. Much of this time helps to build relationships among us. Having often been a part of the group that provides the music and leads in the singing of praises, I know how much time that can require. Other times I have had the privilege of teaching, and I need to invest in preparation for that part of the service.

Getting together in men’s and women’s groups and small group bible studies during the week have been also normal for my wife and me. One of her favorite aspects of Christian fellowship is in teaching children about God and the bible on Sundays and during summer Vacation Bible School. Other opportunities have come along for us to serve at senior centers and homeless shelters and we are blessed in them.

All of this can and should be beneficial and a part of life in the Kingdom of God. At the same time I can see the possibility of some misconceptions here. Is this all there is that constitutes what we read about in the bible of life in Christ? Could everything become too focused on that one event on Sunday morning which is over after an hour or so? Think for a moment. In the bible, the people of God always had meeting times. In the New Testament, they were highly motivated to gather because of Christ. Yet there is very little of our modern forms seen in the Old or New Testaments. Have we enshrined our traditions, however wonderful they might be, while limiting other possibilities?

Everywhere we read about the need to serve one another, to build up one another in Christ, to love one another. Nowhere are we encouraged to always gather together around one man or woman to hear only what one individual has to say. In Paul’s writings it was always about everyone having a gift from God by which others can be served. He even describes a gathering where everyone could take his or her turn at sharing what God has given to them.

The greater danger is in placing too much control in the hands of a few individuals. It is true, some are more experienced than others, but we are all a part of His Royal Priesthood, called out of darkness into His marvelous light. These days, many are learning about other valid expressions of Christian community. They are finding the freedom to serve in the gifts that the Holy Spirit has placed within them, without rejecting the true call to unity in Christ.

They are meeting in parks, restaurants, in their own homes, or anywhere that serves His purpose for them. They do not need the support of an ancient denomination or their bank accounts to “plant a church.” They are the church, the community of born-again believers in Christ. They know who they are in Him, and do not need a name or someone with a title to approve of them.

More importantly they need to understand their total and utter dependence upon their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Only by humbling themselves before Him can anyone find true fellowship as His body, the fulness of Him Who fills all in all!