Small churches of the few Christadelphians

The big difficulty we do encounter in Belgium is that when people do ask where we meet with how many, they hesitate to come to our meetings because we are not with enough people attending a service.
they all prefer to come to a church where they can hide in the massa's of people. When there are many people they can just be an unnoticed onlooker; but when there are just a handful of people present they shall be noticed by the others, and that is something what they do not like so much.

Today we also do hear about the empty Roman Catholic Churches but the growing attendance in the Pentecostal churches. On television people also can find many mega churches where enough entertainment is given to enjoy the show.

Most people have their instinctive opinions about “big church.”  Some may prefer to be a nobody in the amount of people present at a service, others may not like the feeling to be swallowed up in such a congregation.

We wonder if there are enough people who have a dislike for “big church,” because it seems so impersonal and also perhaps because in those churches the accent is not always on the right things. It is not the amount of people , the quantity in church, but should be more of the quality in church.

Those who do not want to come to our services because we are not with enough people should reconsider what they like to see in church and what would be that "Big church".

Don’t critique or judge getting big. Look the “bigness” right in the face. And ask, “What does big really mean?”

English: Jesus, followed by Simon Peter and Andrew (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Matthew 16:16-18 (NIV) says, “Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”"

Well, if you are wanting to see a "Big Church" or going to go big, go really big!
When you accept that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God … you better also look at him as the one building his church!

Church of the Primacy of St. Peter on the Sea of Galilee. Traditional site where Jesus Christ appeared to his disciples after his resurrection and, according to Catholic tradition, established Peter's supreme jurisdiction over the Christian church. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Jesus is the one who makes church. Jesus is the church. Church is not a specific 'church-building' with a tower and a cross shape directed to the east.

It is also not the construction of people. Though we would like it, it is not us building the church. It’s not the pastor on the stage or the priest in the pulpit.  It is Jesus, the Son of the living God, who is building His Church.

The Church is a big idea. Because Jesus is a big idea. And because Jesus gives his disciples a big task.

All those who call themselves Christians, should be followers of Christ. they should not only be name Christians, but doers of the Word. In Acts, Jesus describes how big of a task he is giving the disciples.  Acts 1:7-8 (MSG) states,

 “He told them, “You don’t get to know the time. Timing is the Father’s business. What you’ll get is the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world.”

Imagine if Jesus came to us and said,

 “…you will be my witness in Leefdaal, all over Flemish Brabant and the Low countries, even to the ends of the world.”

 Yeah, that’s pretty big too.   The church is a big idea, and it will expand. It started with 12 disciples and it has grown across the world to nations with more than 100 different languages.

In Acts 2:21 (NIV), it says, ”Everyone who calls on the name of The Lord will be saved.”

That saving should we proclaim and we should bring the hearts into fire for the name of Jesus. Christians should bring forwards the Gospel of the Good News of the coming Kingdom of God.  Every person coming to believe in Jesus as the saviour send by the Most High Saviour Jehovah God, would have to become partaker of the body of Christ and as such being a member of the Church of God, which has Christ Jesus as its High priest.

All those believing individuals in their own houses, who believe in the offer Jesus made and accept him as their saviour, willing to become part of that Body of Christ, are part of the church.

Here is another example of ‘big church’ in the Bible.
  In Acts 2:41-47 is the story of the 3,000 who were baptized… imagine that in present day. How many kids rooms would we need from one week to the next? How many new greeters? How many overflow rooms? How many extra chairs? The Church basically went from meeting in a living room to needing a stadium! And that was just one day.

Now to transition just a little bit, it is one thing to agree and say, yes, we agree with you, Jesus that the church should probably be big. But what does is truly mean to be a disciple? Great question.
In John 13:34-35 (MSG) Jesus states,

 ““Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples — when they see the love you have for each other.”

Well, that sounds pretty simple doesn’t it? Love one another, cool! I’ve got it. But what does it really mean to live out your love for each other?

The first part of loving one another is building relationships with one another.  The church is not just based out of a building or a temple, it is based out of homes. Faith is centered on two places: temple and homes.
To love one another in the old church knew they needed to meet and know each other in their homes. Meeting at the temple was important, but they had to eat with each other and know each other in order to love each other like Jesus loved.  This is such a critical part of today’s church as well! That is also the reason why we meet in houses, cafetaria's, parks, have something to eat or drink with each other and not sit on benches or ordered chairs in a row.

We need our small groups and relationships to truly know each other and love each other.

It’s a great first step to agree with Jesus. But how do we actually Do what Jesus said? How do we love one another despite the chaos of life? Despite our differences?
 Jesus directs us to do the following:

Submit to one another. Honor one another. Bear with one another. Forgive one another. Accept one another. Care for one another. Encourage one another. Restore one another. Love one another.

Most of this cannot happen on Sunday morning. We have to be in each other’s lives daily.

“We, the church family, want to get bigger for the sake of eternity and smaller for the value of each individual.”

We all should feel like brothers and sisters in Christ.

As brethren and sisters we do have to help each other to grow spiritually. It is by sharing ideas that we can help each other to see other things or to think about other things or to think in another way. As such we can grow and get more strength, because others share their messes, and we share our messes, yet we are still there for each other, serving one another and loving one another despite the chaos of life.

“Let’s share our messes so that we can see grace move in each other as light is shed on our mess.”

“Is big church healthy?

Size doesn’t have anything to do with health. Health has everything to do with our relationships.”

When we want to become good Christians, this shall not only become by becoming 'churchgoers'. We do need to make church, but making church happens in the own heart. It is the willingness to become part of the Body of Christ and willing to share that feeling with others, in love, by taking their bad and good elements, overlooking their peculiarities. Willing to take every person like he or she is, and considering him or her as your brother or sister.

This brotherly love is what makes the church, not the building or the presence of just material bodies in one specific place.

The Christadelphians may gather with not so many people, but the love of those people for each other and their love for God is what binds them all over the world. In one specific place they are perhaps not with many, but they do feel connected with others in many different countries, speaking many different languages, which we even not always understand. But we understand each other in the love of God, and that is what binds us forever.

Next time when you are looking for a church, question what you are looking for. Are you looking to find a place where you can find some nice entertainment? Are you looking for some enjoyable socialising? Or are you looking for the genuine love Christ has given mankind?

Are you submitting to one another? Are you letting others go first? Are we honoring one another in how we speak to each other? Are we caring for one another? 

When was the last time we went out of our way to appreciate and love on someone else? How are you loving each other as Jesus loves?

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(With respect to a sermon and writing by Beau Johnson)

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Rebirth and belonging to a church

In continuation of  Quit griping about your church and  A Bible Falling Apart Belongs to Someone who isn't

Continuing our thoughts about the belonging to a Church we are looking after what comes really in the first place. Should we stick to standard ways of thinking and hold to the "commonplace of Christian thought"? Can we just get baptized in every community and then be reconciled with God? Whether is it important that we first make some choices and then we submit to a baptism in full compliance with the autonomy of God?
Some assume that the rebirth lies in the membership of a church, a denomination or community, an ecclesia. Jesus had a different idea about the rebirth.

SOMETHING TO CHEW ON

“There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: the same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that you do, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a man be born again (“from above”), he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:1-3.

  The new birth is the only way to salvation: “Except a man be born again,” he cannot see, much less enter, the kingdom of God. Everyone should be interested in this question, because there is normally in man a desire to be saved, at least from physical death; and this should be manifested in a desire to be saved from eternal death.

  Now Nicodemus wanted to discuss the Messiahship with Jesus. He acknowledged that he believed Jesus to be a teacher sent from God; for, he said, “no man can do these miracles that you do, unless God is with him.” But Jesus waved this all aside, and directed his attention to the greatest of miracles, the new birth. “You must be born again,” Jesus said.

  The new birth is indeed a miracle, greater than the miracles of healing, cleansing lepers, opening blind eyes, and opening deaf ears. The new birth is a new creation: “Wherefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17.

   

The Bible teaches that the agencies that work to accomplish the new birth are the same that worked in the creation of the world. In the original creation there were the Spirit (Genesis 1:2), the water (verse 2), and the word (verse 3; Psalm 33:6, 9: Hebrews 11:3). In the new birth there are the Spirit (John 3:5), the water (verse 5), and the word 1 Peter 1:23).

  Since the new birth is the only way to salvation, it is man’s greatest need. Though Nicodemus wanted to discuss the theories and doctrines regarding the coming Messiah, he actually laid bare his greatest need. Jesus emphasized that theories, doctrines, and ritualism were not his need. He needed a change of heart. “You must be born again.”

  Nicodemus was startled to think that he was not already saved. I am a Pharisee, he probably said in his heart. I am a member of the true church of God. I pay tithe, and keep all of God’s commandments. I am not an idolater. I am a moralist, and am in no need of regeneration. These words might be appropriate if spoken to a Herod, a Magdalene, a Judas, or a Zacchaeus; but not to me a Pharisee. But Jesus pressed the truth upon him, “You must be born again.”

 No, church membership is not the new birth; for no one will dispute the fact that there are many members of churches who give no evidence of changed lives, many who have no hope of eternal life. Judas was a church member, but he betrayed his Lord. To the church has been committed the proclamation of the gospel of salvation; still no church can save anyone. To be saved, one must be born again. It is rather sad that some churches do not teach the new birth for salvation; it is no part of their creed. They teach that men are saved by being initiated into the church through the church’s ritualism.

  Some seem to believe that they have been born again because they have been baptized. But while baptism is important for salvation, it is plain that many have been baptized in water, but have not experienced the new birth and have not renewed their minds and hearts to live and think for the Lord as a new creation. It is for this reason that there are always two classes to be found in the church - the wheat and the tares.

  The new birth does not consist in mere outward conformity to the law of God; it does not consist in merely making good resolutions; it does not consist in being merely a good moral person. A moralist needs the new birth for salvation as much as the worst sinner.

  What is it then? It is a new life from above. It is a transformation of heart and life by the direct work of the Word inspired by the Holy Spirit. It is a new creation. It is a new being created spiritually in the image of God. It is the impartation of the nature of God by the regenerating power of the Spirit. Jesus said further in explaining the new birth: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto you, you must be born again.” John 3:5-7. The new birth is the essence of the kingdom of God implanted in the heart. It is not an improvement on the old sinful nature through education or refinement, but the implanting of a new nature in man, the divine nature.

  What are the results in a man’s life when the new birth is experienced? He leaves the life of sin for the life of righteousness. Romans 6:2, 12, 13. He passes from death to life (1 John 3:14), from the reign of the flesh to the reign of the Spirit (John 3:6; Romans 8:8, 9). He leaves behind the domination of the carnal mind which “is enmity against God” and “is not subject to the law of God,” and takes up the rulership of the spiritual mind, the mind of Christ. Verses 5-7; 1 Corinthians 2:16. He passes from the rule of the flesh in which one “cannot please God” (Romans 8:8) to living in the Spirit and walking in the Spirit (Galatians 5:25).

 The Corinthians, to whom the Apostle Paul preached the gospel, were guilty of the grossest sins - adultery, fornication, drunkenness, and sodomy; but when they were born again, they were delivered from these sins. Paul, writing to them and naming these hideous sins, says: “And such were some of you: but you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus.” 1 Corinthians 5:17.

  The results of the new birth are the same today as they were in the days of Paul. Through his first birth a man inherits a nature wholly incompatible with the nature of God. To enter the kingdom of God, one must be born again.

 - John Aldersley

Dutch translation / Nederlandse vertaling > Wedergeboorte en lidmaatschap tot een kerk