The Body of Christ – the Christian Unknown

How can we, as Christians in America, look at what has been established as the church and call it anything but broken? A broken system developed by man to praise, honor, and glorify men. Where are the examples that we should be following after as they follow Christ?Where are the mature fathers of the faith that live as examples before us, showing us what the Christian life is and should be like for all of us? Where are the humble men of God who have cast off the indignity of pride and instead have wrapped themselves in humility, no longer seeking their own benefit but God's? Where are the believers that have developed and grown into maturity, filled with the power of God and walking as Jesus did, just as scripture has commanded us to do? Where are the believers that read the bible and do not just read it or listen to it but are actual doers of the Word of God? Where, oh nation, is the power of Christ in our lives? Where is the grace and humility that comes from intimacy with God the Father?Many of our examples have gone the way of Balaam and have wandered from the path leading to righteousness and instead, pursue wealth and fame. We have been deceived into thinking that if we have position, if we have success, if we look the part and have worldly things we will be more attractive to the world and rescue more people from the flames of hell. We have fooled ourselves into believing the lies we told ourselves and have been warned against in scripture. If we think we have it right, show me those believers that revel in their persecution and suffering, that bear up under hard times and persevere knowing their faith is being perfected. Show me the power of these men who proclaim Jesus and yet deny the power of Christ by what they teach and are, themselves, powerless. How have they deceived you, pulling you back into the worldly ways and worldly thinking? Are you running after success, title, or power? Are you filled with pride because your pastor knows you? Are you arrogant because you currently attend church and do better than some other Christians you know? Are you chasing after praise from man and justifying yourself before God? How foolish! Do not be blinded by this world, its ways, and it's systems! Do not be deceived by natural wisdom that sounds good and tickles the ears. There are natural laws that God set in place at the creation of the world and they are still effective today but that does not mean that we should run after them or teach them as spiritual or honoring to God. Tithe, leaders and mentors, worldly success, wealth, all these things are natural in this world and produce benefits in different ways but we dare not teach them and call them spiritual or call them Godly. God specifically teaches against following these things and pursuing them, how have we been convinced to think otherwise? Tithe is law and a taxation system in the Old Testament and in the New Testament, we have been set free from the law and are told not to return to its ways or traditions. We mistakenly think and are taught that by our action of tithing we are pleasing God. God does not care if you give 10% of your income, He doesn't need it! God only cares if you are led by His Spirit and are obedient to Him in every area of your life. Giving ten percent is a natural principle taught by all the great wealth gurus of the past century because even those in the world have seen and recognize the law of sowing and reaping and see that it works. However if we teach and command people tithe, they are now, once again, under the law and therefore slaves once again to the old law and traditions of man. Teaching that we must pay tithe and that God's blessing is contingent upon our tithing is wrong, unbiblical, and just plain greedy. There is grace for those that do not know better but for those that teach wrongly will be judged by God most severely. God loves a cheerful giver and desires His people to be generous, not in law and obligation, but in joy, gratitude, and having been led by the Spirit to give and offer up their sacrifice of money.When I look in the bible and read about the people of Israel in a state of wandering and then see the church of today wandering in that same state, I can't help but to compare the two, and think of how can we learn from their example. How can we be a holy people that honor God? I think back to the days when God declared that He will be their King and He will go before them and that they will follow after Him, he will be their God they will be His people. That was how God wanted it. But the people's hearts rebelled and instead of wanting God as their King, they desired after a flesh and blood king that they could follow after and who would lead them, so...God gave them what they asked for and warned them that it would come at a cost. A king will take all the best land, a portion of all your money, and your sons and daughters to serve him. A king will take your cattle and grain and use them for their own benefit. You will be subject to the king and to their word, yet all the people agreed, wanting a king to follow after, refusing God as their king any longer. Read 1st Samuel 8 and see how the people were warned and yet desired a worldly king, even with all its costs, more than they desired the heart of God and to follow after Him.Now compare Israel and the time of Kings to the churches in America today. Pastors of churches are very comparable to what the bible says kings are, doing what the bible says kings will do. Taking a portion of everything within their kingdom, they teach and command continued support for the building of their programs, their structures, and their followers. They take our sons and daughters and have them serving, cleaning and caring for the pastor's kingdom. They ask for and command allegiance and obedience, always taking the best for themselves and their staff. Willfully we have submitted to this kingship of pastors, following it, pursuing it, and even defending it, thinking this is what God has intended for us. Even now, in the midst of it all of this happening, even if we see it we think it too late, that change is impossible or maybe even wrong. Why are you struggling and doing all you can to serve and to give yet feel empty inside? Why aren't you seeing the benefits in your life you were told would come? And why don't the pastor's set the example for the people instead of being the exception? Are pastors the exception? Do they practice what they preach? Or are they too busy enjoying the fruits of their kingdoms labor? Perhaps, occasionally, they praise someone for their good work or their loyalty, yet... why are all the workers hollow and dying on the inside while the pastors are living it up, usually in a lifestyle that most will never achieve? So what is a person to do? Some decide to leave, thinking God and HIs church are full of greedy hypocrites, others stick it out because they really do want to please God with their lives but have just been taught wrong. And then others, recognize what is happening and decide to break away from their current church or kingdom and decide to build their own. You decide you want what the pastor has and so you become like them, replicating what they did. You start your own small kingdom and become a pastor/king because you wish to have what you saw they had and reap the benefits you have seen other kings enjoying. Perhaps it works and you become a good pastor/king with a good church/kingdom, but you teach only that what you know and experienced previously so the cycle just begins all over again, and nothing really changes. Or perhaps, your kingdom doesn't succeed and it gets gobbled up by a larger kingdom and you struggle and strive thinking you are honoring God and are a martyr. But really you are just upset you didn't get what you want and hiding it under the guise of Christianity. Yet all the while you are pursuing building your own church/kingdom and asking God to bless the work because it is all being done for Him and His people. And of course, we are unable to do the work God has called us too unless we have a kingdom like everyone else, right? Kings justify and excuse saying they are selfless and are doing the work of God for His people, brilliantly hiding their ambitions and their reasons for doing, acting and behaving as they do behind noble purposes. However, if you look at their lifestyle, what they do, and what they value, not just what they say, you will be able to judge and see for yourself if your pastor is a king is a true shepherd of God.For a true shepherd is one that exists to honor God and serve the flock he has been given, not to be served by it. A shepherd speaks calmly to his flock, leading and guiding them to green pastures and still waters. A shepherd runs after the missing ones of the flock and pursues them till found and rejoices when it is returned to the flock. A shepherd protects the flock with their life and does all it can for his flock, caring and sacrificing for their flock, eager to see growth and maturity within their flock that they would reproduce and grow. A shepherd is known by his sheep and knows those sheep who are his and a good shepherd thinks about the flock first and himself second.Seek to follow after a shepherd, not a king. A shepherd will protect you and see you grow and increase and are well established, assuring you are taken care of and healthy. A king, however, will care only for what you can give or offer in service to them, taking for himself whatever you have, leaving you with only the scraps.