Category: Acts

Splits, Divisions, and other Church math…

In my recent article on Examiner.com, I ended with a question and you’ll just have to read the article….

So, to answer the question… ABSOLUTELY NOT! There is no difference in those to reasons!  It all boils down to selfish pride.  “You’re wrong.  I’m right.”  At least, I’m more right than you!

Here’s the thing… truth is truth, whether I believe it to be truth or not.   What happens it that I, in my prideful arrogance, automatically assume that I cannot possibly be wrong, because I clearly hear God better than you.

In my opinion… this is EXACTLY how churches divide!  This is EXACTLY how we have gone from 1 faith to well more than 10,000 various denominations of the same faith (supposedly) in the last 1000 years!

How do we get it back?  How do we get back to Acts 2:42-47

42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.

46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. The New King James Version. 1982 (Ac 2:42-47). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

I don’t really know.  My guess is that it would start with the very thing that started the church in the beginning… just a few verses earlier…

Acts 2:38-39
38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”  The New King James Version. 1982 (Ac 2:38-39). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

What do you think?  Jesus called it pretty clearly in when he spoke to the woman at the well…

John 4:21-24 21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.22 You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” The New King James Version. 1982 (Jn 4:21-24). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Leave me your comments…

Running After Papa…

God's Glory – The End Game

(I posted this from my blackberry, hence the brevity the first post – now from my laptop, I will expound)

Acts 7:5-7
5 “But God gave him no inheritance here, not even one square foot of land. God did promise, however, that eventually the whole land would belong to Abraham and his descendants—even though he had no children yet. 6 God also told him that his descendants would live in a foreign land, where they would be oppressed as slaves for 400 years. 7 ‘But I will punish the nation that enslaves them,’ God said, ‘and in the end they will come out and worship me here in this place.’*

This is the recounting of Israel’s history by Stephen before the Council. This is what God says … “… In the end they will come out and worship me here in this place.”

Isn’t that what it is all about? Worshiping Him? Spreading His glory and renown? It has to be because He says that’s what it’s all about.

There is a cycle I see here of God performing a miracle (starting with Abraham) and Israel worshiping God. Most of the miracles were some sort of freedom. Issac freed from the sacrifice, the 12 patriarchs saved from the famine (Joseph), Israelites saved from Egypt (Moses – Exodus, Moses – Red Sea), Israel saved from God’s wrath (10 commandments), Israel saved from wandering (Joshua), and so on and so on.

Each “saving” resulted in a time of worship and glory to His name. Each time, humanity ended back up in bondage. Each time, God had to set us free.

Where does the cycle end? Jesus. “Whom the Son has set free, is free indeed.” Thank you Lord! So if we have been set free, why do so many people choose to go back to bondage?

His Glory, His Worship, His Renown. It’s hard to do any of those when we are bound in or bound to something other than Him.

Whom the Son has set free, is free indeed…