I am drawing the proverbial line in the sand . . . . should you consider leaving your Church? Happy there? Growing there? First and most importantly, why do you go to church at all? If your answer is mostly about your social interactions then think carefully about your salvation. Are you learning more about yourself and the outreach of your church then you are learning about the Christ who redeemed you? What does growing spiritually mean? It may be time to evaluate where you are spiritually. Just the fact that you selected this article shows that there is a concern within you that you are not a peace with yourself, and you do not know why. Some Scripture verses teach to not forsake the assembling of yourselves together, and other references say to turn away, but the Bible NEVER contradicts itself. Read on.
Many look on the buildings as proof of Christian success, but it is actually proof of Christian failure. WHY? Simply because our eyes see only the temporal and not the spiritual. The temporal has attempted to replace the center of our spiritual strength with the temporal. Man (without the Spirit of God within) cannot differentiate correctly between spiritual and temporal; thus, man too often confuses the two realms. Believe me when I write that there are many who HATE what I have written because they LOVE their buildings more than they LOVE Christ. Without their buildings they do not have a faith, they do not have a religion, they do not have salvation, because their entire empty spiritual and temporal lives revolve around church attendance, church activities, church socials, oh, and yes, church bible studies. If you are growing and you are encouraged and stimulated to develop spiritually then remain in your spiritual zone. If your spiritual surroundings are not gathered as a unity around the divine principles of God, His Word, nor centered on His Christ alone, then change your surroundings.
The proverbial line in the spiritual sands is drawn dividing the temporal from the spiritual . . . . without a church building where is your fellowship, without a church building where can you worship, without a church building can you please God, and without a church building can you still be obedient to God? Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.(Hebrews 10:25) Paul wrote this to the Hebrews in exile, while living among the Gentiles, being spiritually torn by questions and doubts. The book of Hebrews presents God to them in His Son Jesus Christ as God, as Creator, as Prophet, and King and as Priest. He assayed to ease the Hebrews by showing them the beauties and treasures within Christ Jesus the Lord. As all Scripture is relevant to all time and ages, this is also relevant to use today in the Age of the Falling Away.
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, (2nd Thessalonians 2:1) That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. (2nd Thessalonians 2:2) Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; (2nd Thessalonians 2:3)
Read these verses again especially 2:1, and by our gathering together unto him, God is gathering us together to Himself. This is the true Church of God; this is His body that we are gathered to. This is not a tangible building! For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; (2nd Timothy 4:3)
Guess what? The time will come . . . and this is the time . . . when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears. 1st Timothy 4:13 gives us direction that until Christ comes to gather us to Himself, we are to give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine . . . I do not see give attendance to attendance. This can be a scary time for you, right? Have you been uncomfortable in your church building scene? Have you seen things and heard things that have disturbed God’s Spirit within you? Are you uneasy, and cannot understand why? Do you have an inner sense of something not quite right within your social so-called fellowship of church building goers? Do you feel alone among your church building group? Have you been kept so busy that you cannot spend time in the word of God? Do you desire to know more about the Word of God, both written and Living? Have you ever said that you would give the world to know more of the Bible and more about your Christ . . . . because that is exactly what it will cost you! Do you doubt that God can keep you if you move away from your comfort anchor church building? Are you afraid of losing friends, family, and social comforts? I’ve been there! God always supplies. God always keeps. God never fails His child.
And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, (Mark 10:29)
But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. (Mark 10:30)
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. (Matthew 10:37)
And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. (Matthew 19:29)
God doesn’t set us out alone on a dark and stormy sea on a ship with holes without His presence. Beside the importance of being alone with God and in His Word, God supplies encouragement, and teaching in other ways outside of the temporal facade. Is there a cost in obeying God? Oh, yes! But the rewards are greater than the loses! Serving God in His plan and in His purpose has rewards beyond our dreams. Remember, you can lose your religion, but you cannot lose your Christ. Religion slowly strangles life out of you, while Christ gives you liberty and life. Man (without the Spirit of God within) cannot differentiate correctly between spiritual and temporal; thus, man too often confuses the two realms. Religion is of man (temporal). Christianity is of Christ (spiritual). If you have been troubled it maybe because the Spirit of God (who dwells within you) is troubled because you have confused the two realms, and you are beginning to become engulfed by the temporal. The following verses have been specifically selected to provide guidance through difficult times and in different time periods (I do not mean ‘time’ as in the measurement of time), but the Word of God guides through ages of spiritual enlightenment and through the ages of spiritual corruption. One danger in our age is that many church goers think that spiritual corruption is spiritual enlightenment. They cannot discern between these two conditions. The Word of God have given us guidelines in times of both corruption and enlightenment.
• For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20) Written specifically for those in the age of Christ’s sojourn on earth, when those who followed Christ were only two’s and three’s, as the two on the Emmaus Road. However, this also applies to all ages of the Church Body as the followers of Christ have always been in the minority.
• Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (2nd Timothy 3:5) As the corporate church grew, many true Christians were caught up into the corruption that marked this church; therefore, Paul’s epistle to Timothy encouraged Christians to turn away from all that distinguished this church from the Body of Christ. As it also encourages those of ALL ages to turn away from corruption in the visible meeting of the so-called Church.
• Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, (2nd Corinthians 6:17) Again, we have another warning and the responsibility to recognize and discern corruption within; thus, separation is not only urged, but it is commanded. Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD. (Isaiah 52:11)
• Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25) This has previously been addressed, but let me add this: in order to assemble together, ALL must be of the same mind, and heart, and worship the same Christ of the cross. This verse does not say that assembling together cannot be by two’s or three’s and it is to exhort one another, and to encourage and to stimulate those of like heart and mind. I believe that those who come on this site are assembling together, and hopefully, these articles encourage and exhort, and by your sharing these articles with others, you also, in turn, therefore, encourage and exhort. This verse does not say that assembling together must be in a formal setting, nor an organized venue.
• Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20) This is the last message to those of the Laodicean church, US. This is the last church in the Age of the Church, so therefore, wherever you are in this day, we are all in the age of the Laodicean church. The Lord’s call was and is to the individual, the one, anyone, someone, to open the door to Him, and He will sup with you. It is an individual call. It is God’s Final Call to the single individual.
There is nothing wrong with being ALONE with God.
The apostle Paul was alone in exile on the isle of Patmos when the Lord Jesus appeared to him in a vision. The prophet Elijah was alone by the brook Cherith where God spoke to him. Moses spent 40 years on the back side of the wilderness learning about God, learning about himself, and being prepared by God to serve in humility and in power. All servants of God (in the both the Old and New Testaments) were solitary individuals BECAUSE they served God. There is nothing wrong with being ALONE with God. God never leaves a child of His out in the cold alone. You say that you have faith, well, here is the opportunity to bolster your faith, to grow in your faith as a challenge to see that you place your actions where your mouth is. Before you rush out looking for another place of fellowship . . . . read the Bible. Pray. Talk to God. Patiently wait for Him to encourage you. I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. He is your fellowship. He is your Teacher. He is your Guide. He is your Lord and God, ever faithful to His children. Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Hebrews 13:5)
This article was taken from the series Men of Renown, from Balaam, Part xiii. If you would like to read the entire article, CLICK HERE.
Men of renown is a companion piece to Giants in the Earth series.
© Copyright 2021, Mary Haigh
This article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.
All Scripture references are from the King James Bible. (KJV)