I love Jesus but I can't stand going to church!
God, yes! People? uhhhh ... most of them are stupid ... especially people who go to church!
Be honest - How many of the above statements do you identify with? The first one is kinda harsh but some might identify with it. 
The second is pretty common among people who don't have a good church near them and a pastor who isn't trying to play the "re-enact the past" religious game. Tradition is nice for people who want to live in the past but many times it turns others away. But the last statement ... I've found that one to be pretty common among people - especially those who haven't studied what the Bible says about who the body of Christ is and the importance for the body to work together as a healthy, functioning unit.
The second is pretty common among people who don't have a good church near them and a pastor who isn't trying to play the "re-enact the past" religious game. Tradition is nice for people who want to live in the past but many times it turns others away. But the last statement ... I've found that one to be pretty common among people - especially those who haven't studied what the Bible says about who the body of Christ is and the importance for the body to work together as a healthy, functioning unit.Most of you who have given your lives to Jesus Christ understand the biblical teaching of the body of Christ. The body of Christ in short is all living followers of Jesus. First of all, you are His - you belong to Him that you might bear fruit to God:
"... you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God ... " Romans 7:4 (read the whole chapter).
The Bible describes the body as made up of many different parts that all give glory to the Head which is Jesus Himself (Ephesians 5:23, Colossians 1:18). Your gifts that God gave you define who you are and how you are to function in the Body (1 Corinthians 12:12-26). Some parts are "out front" parts that do jobs that everyone can see. Other parts of the body are to do work that no one sees. One thing is clear in the Bible - If you are a follower of Jesus, you are part of His body. I want to be clear about what God says - check this out:"... But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be." 1 Corinthians 12:18
So what about stupid Christians? I'll get to that ... I know they are out there ...
God teaches us in His Word that since you are part of a living organism, the body of Christ or the Church, you have to work as a body. You cannot work alone. You cannot act like the body doesn't exist. There should be no division in the body of Christ.
" ... so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." 1 Corinthians 12:25-27
But what about the stupid people ??? Hold on - let's keep studying ...
Every single person in the body of Christ (every follower of Jesus) is "IN PROCESS" b
eing conformed into the image of Jesus Christ Himself (Romans 8:29, 2 Corinthians 3:18, and many other verses). Everyone is making mistakes, learning from them (hopefully), hitting brick walls as they try their "own way", etc. But when we go our own way, it only brings pain and sometimes death (Proverbs 14:12). Paul also taught that when someone is caught up in a sin that we are to restore them (Galatians 6:1). This is a normal part of "body life" marked by bucket loads of GRACE. Remember the verse above in green ... "If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. " The body cares for other parts of the body.
eing conformed into the image of Jesus Christ Himself (Romans 8:29, 2 Corinthians 3:18, and many other verses). Everyone is making mistakes, learning from them (hopefully), hitting brick walls as they try their "own way", etc. But when we go our own way, it only brings pain and sometimes death (Proverbs 14:12). Paul also taught that when someone is caught up in a sin that we are to restore them (Galatians 6:1). This is a normal part of "body life" marked by bucket loads of GRACE. Remember the verse above in green ... "If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. " The body cares for other parts of the body. So, here's the deal - If we believe the Bible is God's Word - without error - our standard for living - the Creator's owners manual - then we know that this teaching on the body of Christ is set in stone. What God says about the body of Christ is His final Word on the issue. So, when you are tempted to think you can operate (as a Christ follower) outside the rest of the body of Christ (other Christ followers) you are wrong - period.
"But God told me differently" ... aaahhhhh ... no ... the owner's manual says "no". As a follower of Jesus, if you don't love the rest of the body of Christ you need to re-evaluate if you are really part of the body - really His. Or it is very possible that you might have, in fact, bought into a wrong teaching that you can be His and not part of any other part of His body - what is commonly referred to as being a "lone ranger christian". No. That cannot exist according to the Bible.
But what about the stupid people ???
The Bible is clear. We are all stupid (Romans 3:9-18).
Let's talk more about this in PART 2.
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