Will the Church Grow Up?

Over the past few Sundays I have been fortunate enough to preach about freedom in Christ. I told the church body this past Sunday that if we ever get a firm grasp of grace that we will see revival in the church. It's with that understanding that I ask the simple question: Will the Church Grow Up? Let me explain...

"Accept Christians who are weak in faith, and don't argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. For instance, one person believes it is all right to eat anything. But another believers who has a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. Those who think it is all right to eat anything must not look down on those who won't. And those who won't eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. Who are you to condemn God's servants? They are responsible to the Lord, so let Him tell them whether they are right or wrong. The Lord's power will help them do as they should...Each person should have a personal conviction about this mater...Christ died and rose again for this very purpose, so that he might be Lord of those who are alive and those who have died. So why do you condemn another Christian? Why do you look down on another Christian? Remember, each of us will stand personally before the judgment seat of God...Yes, each of us will have to give a personal account to God. So don't condemn each other anymore. Decide to live in such a way that you will not put an obstacle in another Christian's path..." Romans 14 (various verses)

In other translations verse 1 teaches us to not argue over disputable matters. These matters are what I like to call the "gray" areas. Areas that the Bible does not give us a clear teaching about. On Sunday I shared a story of a lady who called into Charles Swindoll's radio ministry asking his position on a particular gray area. It is not the policy of his ministry to make public statements about these topics and the lady who called was more than irritated. "What should we believe if 'Chuck' doesn't tell us what to believe?" Sound scary? But that is the way many people live out their faith. The best question to ask is: What does the Lord say about this issue? How is the Holy Spirit leading you to believe in this area? Don't leave it up to the church or another individual to shape your convictions. Spend time with the Lord and He will teach you.

That advice isn't just useful for an individual but the church needs to pay attention to Romans 14. It was written for the church. Too often all the world hears from the church is what not to do. And the message is mixed. Please understand that there is plenty of clear teaching from the Word of God that the church can stand upon. There is clarity when it comes to marriage between one man and one woman, clarity on divorce, clarity on abortion, clarity about salvation, etc. The Word of God provides for the church clear teaching on things that really matter. As far as "gray" areas are concerned when will the church grow up and understand that Christians have the capability within them (we call Him the Holy Spirit) to make decisions on their own? It's actually a part of spiritual maturity. Far too often we have stunted the growth of individuals within the church because they have never been able to make up their own minds. They have never been able to seek the Lord's direction for themselves which leads to immature Christians running around telling all their friends "that's not right the church says so!" even though certain activities may (in and of themselves) be o.k.

I remember serving as a youth pastor trying to help teens grow into adult believers. I would impress upon them the helpfulness of listening to Christian music, reading from translations of the Bible that were easier to understand, etc. All the while serving in a church that thought KJV was the only way to go when it came to the Bible and that Contemporary Christian Music was worldly. Needless to say, it was a constant problem. As far as church "policy" was concerned when it came to how I performed my ministry within the body I respected their position. I taught only out of the KJV. Why? I didn't want to be a stumbling block to those within the church. I didn't fight or argue. But I did try to get these kids in their personal lives to seek the Lord about these matters. Most of them found that Contemporary Christian Music was a help to them in their walk with the Lord and that reading from a different translation of the Bible enabled them to learn more about God's Word.

The point I'm trying to make here is that we have to find a way within the church to focus on essentials and living in harmony when it comes to non-essentials. Unity and uniformity are not the same thing. God has placed each member into the body individually so that we can work collectively for the Kingdom. But the body will not be able to work effectively if we change everyone into the same person. We must allow people to live out their convictions while not imposing our own. While I have been reading the "First Century Diaries" by Gene Edwards I came across an interesting quote. Paul was speaking to a group of young preachers about a day when he believed the Gentile churches would be ministering to those who would flee Jerusalem. He said, "They have not asked you to be circumcised as a part of their beliefs. Don't ask them to be circumcised as a part of yours."

God's Word is clear - love God, love others, and serve both. If we would follow this path then we won't spend so much time bickering over things that don't matter. It's important because all the world is hearing from the church is that we often disagree over matters that don't matter. What the world needs to hear is that we are unified with this one message: Jesus was crucified for the sins of the world. It's not the job of the church to decide whether or not a person should smoke, drink wine with a meal, listen to Christian music only (by the way music isn't Christian/non-Christian - the artists are), read only the King James Version of the Bible, etc. We must allow people to make up their own convictions based upon God's Word and the work of the Holy Spirit. The Bible does condemn certain things: drunkenness, idolatry, lying, stealing, adultery, homosexuality, covetousness, blasphemy, gossip, etc. If you want to be a church that stands against things there is plenty out things out there to get on your soap box about. But the average believer is simply looking for a group of believers that they can congregate with for the purpose of worship and spiritual growth.

Grow Up Church! Stand for the things that matter. Stand for the preaching of the cross. Stand for salvation in Jesus alone. Stand for the protection of marriage and family. Stand for things that guard Christian freedoms and liberty. Stand for the ministry of the Holy Spirit within the body. And while you are standing for these things STOP criticizing believers for their personal convictions! Allow GRACE to rule in the ecclesia and you will be amazed at the freedom within the Body of Christ.

Now I understand that some of you who read this blog may question some of this. I will be glad to answer any of your questions. Post you comments here - you can remain anonymous - and I will share with you. Just understand that I don't want to be the one who shapes your personal convictions. However, if the Lord can use me along with the Holy Spirit to help you live a life of GRACE then I'm all for it!

May you be blessed as you seek Him.