Upon This Rock - Part. 1

I believe that within modern Christianity we have a serious problem. Because of the emphasis being placed on "the church” rather than on Christ, there are many people who have been converted to the church or institution, to a worship style, a set of precepts or doctrines, to a theological system, a denomination or to a movement or a Sunday worship experience rather than to Jesus Christ.

I was one of these for many years. Born and raised in 'the church' I was institutionalized, but not regenerate. I was safe from the “world” but not saved. I was the product of a Christian religious system but not of the new birth by the Holy Spirit.

As Tom Skinner used to say:

“The gospel is not about the church. It’s not about going to church or joining the church. The gospel is about Jesus Christ. The root of the word Christian is CHRIST. C H R I S T - ian - Christ in you, living His life through you - without any help or assistance from you!”

To quote the late Keith Green,

“Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to Mc Donald’s makes you a hamburger.”

History reveals that the early followers of Jesus did not call themselves Christians. In actuality they often referred to themselves as "the Way". They wore no religious labels and were primarily identified by their given names like, Bill, Sue, Corneleus, Nicodemas or of course, George. The term Christian was a label placed upon the early believers by the surrounding pagan culture of the first century. It was because of their radical identification with Jesus Christ, which bordered on obsession, that “they were called Christians first in Antioch”.

History illustrates that the prevailing culture always seeks to identify or vilify any new sociological phenomenon by giving it a label - so they labeled these early Christ followers as "Christians". When you read how these early believers were persecuted and even martyred, it is obvious that the term “Christian” was a derogatory label - much as we might identify followers of Sun Yung Moon as Moonies! I think it was said more with a sneer than with a smile or adoration.

Today it seems that the focus of modern christianity is on "the church: going to church, attending church, joining the church or "doing" church? However, it is not 'the church" that is the focus of our Lord's attention and teaching but it is the Kingdom of God with which He is preoccupied.

Much of our emphasis on church or our ecclesiology is based upon a single encounter with Peter in which our Lord asks him:

Peter, "Who do you say that I am?"

Peter's ultimate reply is:

“You are the Christ the Son of the Living God!"

Our Lord’s response to Peter's statement of faith was;

“Blessed are you Simeon Bar Jonah for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you but my Father who is in heaven. And I say that you are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church (ekklesia in Greek or 'called out ones') and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.”

The mistake we have made is that when we have read of our Lord's reference to "church" we have placed the emphasis on the wrong thing! We have put the emphasis on “church” rather than where it belongs! It properly belongs on the revelation (gr epignosis) of the diety of Jesus Christ. The rock or foundation upon which our Lord intends to build is the revelation of His diety: "You are the Christ the son of the living god."

Let’s look at our Lord's statement again. I will use bold and CAPS to signify where WE place emphasis and where I believe it should be!

“And upon this rock I will BUILD my CHURCH!

As opposed to “I will build MY church!"

I believe our Lord’s emphasis is on I & MY!

My church, My called out ones, My ekklesia, My congregation as opposed to someone else's. My My My!

It is true that for almost all of us the English word “church” (ekklesia in Greek) is a loaded word. It is pregnant with meaning and imagery. It is a word that immediately paints a cultural religious word picture. Be honest.

When I say the word “Church” what do you see?

Most people see a building. – a sacred space – a place set aside for the purpose of worhhip or a gathering of people to worship. When I hear the word church I think of a little rhyme I learned in Sunday school.

This is the church and this is the steeple

open the doors and see all the people!

The ekklesia or church of Jesus Christ, is not just a gathering to worship or even a place of worship. The ekklesia of God is a people, the called out ones, His family, the community of the redeemed to whom He "adds daily those who are being saved" (i.e. born again of the Spirit).

Though the church, the redeemed of the Lord, will gather or congregate, it is not the act of gathering that makes it a church - no more than gathering or congregating around the dinner table in a home makes you a family. "Church" is an organic term that describes an organic or blood relationship - a people - a family - the offspring or new creaton of God!

It is a fact, that within western Christendom there are millions of believers who are leaving or have left the institutional church. Despite the phenomenon of the mega-church, statistically, church attendance and membership in America and in the Western world are in serious decline! As George Barna points out, this current exodus from the institutional church cannot be attributed solely to rugged American individualism or the "just me and Jesus" or 'Lone Ranger' mentality! This 'going out or exodus is not just because people are disgruntled or desiring a less restrictive environment or because they are apostate. It is not necessarily because they are rebellious against authority or not willing to "be accountable". It is not because they are no longer desirous of "fellowship" or closeness with our Lord and each other; IT IS BECAUSE THEY ARE!!

I believe that for many, this exodus from traditional 'church' structures is the result of a deep desire for something more! It is an expression of a desire to know Christ - not only individually but also within the context of corporate community life.

Although the perception of many is that people are “dropping out”, quitting God or “backsliding”, this is not necessarily the case. Leaving the institutional, organized or denominational church is not running away FROM something but running TO something! For many "defectors" it is a breaking free from the religious performance trap. It represents a reaching out for a deeper and more intimate relationship with God and with brothers and sisters in Christ.

The one word which I think sums it all up is INTIMACY.

It is about the pursuit of intimate loving relationship for which there is no satisfying substitute.

My own personal exodus from organized religion has made it possible for me to "grow up" and learn to function as something more than just a Sunday spectator. It has allowed me to grow in intimate fellowship with the Lord and with His people. I have grown into a discovery of my unique personhood in Christ and my place of service (ministry). i am learning to take my place and function within the family of God. I have begun to mature and learn to be an instrument of His love to others. Instead of being a 'Christian consumer' I am becoming a giver, a builder and a channel of God’s grace and love to others. Instead of doing for Jesus, I am learning to become like Jesus! Instead of being on the sidelines, sitting on the bench or pew, I have become an active participant in the ongoing advancement of His Kingdom. Instead of being a perpetual spiritual infant needing to be fed, I am growing up in the Lord, maturing and learning to feed myself and others. Instead of being a child I am becoming a son!

I must admit it has not been an easy road to travel. Much of the journey has been spent in isolation wandering in the wilderness. It has often been a lonely, difficult and painful journey. But "Through it all" as the song goes, "I have learned to trust in Jesus - I have learned to trust in God" and where I learned the reality of the saying "lonely but never alone" and gained strength for the journey.

Modern Christianity often refers to the need to reach 'the unchurched', as though integrating everyone into 'the institutional church' or 'building the church' organization is God’s ultimate purpose. I do not find the concept of the churched or unchurched in the New Testament. The two groups I see are the saved or redeemed and the unsaved or lost. We desperately need to acknowledge that "the church" or building the church is not the reason d'etre or end all and be all of the plans and purposes of God. God is not building an institution, a denomination, organization, or a new religious system. He is calling out a people unto Himself, pouring Himself into that people and putting them on display in a fallen world. These redeemed ones are the visible evidence of the invisible God. The truth of scripture is that not we but:

Jesus IS building His church, His ekklesia, His “called out” ones, His body!

The scriptures attest that what our Lord is building, He is building out of living stones! It is His Church (ekklesia), a spiritual house which He 'edifies' (builds up) to the praise of His glory. It is His and not OURS and I don’t think He needs our help half as much as we think He does!

It is imperative we understand that Jesus did not come to create or herald a new religious system to replace Judaism or Paganism.

God’s ultimate purpose has always been to have a people for Himself - children, offspring, sons and daughters – a family! God’s new creation is His body which is a living breathing expression of Himself - an extension of the life and order of heaven.

It is not an organization but an organism!

It is not about "building" a house for the Lord as did Solomon; for we are told that "our God does not dwell in temples made with hands".

"Know you not that YOU are the temple of the Holy Spirit!"

It is not a divine institution or organization but Christ in you (and I) that is the hope of glory.