By Sister Shirley Tarpley
NDG Staff Writer
The “Church” is called by God to impact the world. “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (KJV). “And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.” Leviticus 26:8 (KJV).
What most people need to realize is that the biblical definition “Church” is not an institution or building, but rather it is made up of individuals, more specific, Christians, individuals that believe in the virgin birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus also said that wherever two or more get together for His name sake He would be in the midst of them.
In the Greek language the biblical word (Church) translated has the meaning of “the people of God.” However, in the New Testament this word is used in two different ways. At times it refers to people of God gathered together in congregations, which is our traditional idea of the local church. It also means believers in general, wherever they might find themselves.
God calls the “Church” to be transformers of society through their collective influence. Jesus prayed that His “Church” would be unified in order for the world to respond to Him. “I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me; and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” John 17:23. (KJV)
The enemy of the Church is secularism, a religion that says there is no God. When local congregations fail to come together as a collective voice and operate instead as an individual working alone in their community, society is given over to the evils created as a result of an unbelieving society. Conversely, when the Body of Christ – the “Church” puts its collective resources together to solve societal issues, our enemies; crime, poverty, sexual perversion, etc. will fall by the sword of a unified church.
God is giving birth to city coalitions of His “Church” among congregations in the city in order to fulfill John 17:23. Christians should pray to be a catalyst in their communities for God to help take back His “Church” in all cities around the world.
One main way to be an effective “Church” is to study the scriptures to give the true meaning of Christianity rather than studying the scriptures to know them just for yourself. “And ye have not His word abiding in you: for whom He hath sent, Him ye believe not. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And you will not come to me, that you might have life.” John 5:38-40 (KJV)
At times some Christians will think that the trinity is Father, Son and “Holy Scriptures” instead of the Holy Spirit. There can be a tendency in Christianity to give so much focus upon the Holy Scriptures that some Christians fail to walk in them and acknowledge the role of the Holy Spirit in their daily life; remember Saints, He is the comforter that was sent by Jesus to dwell in Christians to help them live victoriously for Him.
There is also a second danger. Christians must be careful in studying the scriptures for the sake of giving to others instead of desiring more of God for themselves. This is particularly dangerous for the professional Christian worker who is under continued pressure to feed and teach His people. If Christians are not careful, this process becomes a religious exercise of production, instead of a time of seeking, learning and experiencing God’s presence.
Jesus said, “These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:25 & 26 (KJV)
However, Christians must remember that they must study the Scriptures to give the true meaning of Christianity rather than studying the scriptures to know them just for themselves.
