Who is in control?

Who is in control?

            Who is in control in your life? What sways you and influences you? Where do you get your direction from? This is probably going to bring me some harsh criticism, but I believe that it needs to be said. This is my general view, and it is not necessarily true of everything and all churches, but I do believe that it rings true for a lot of them.

            Some of you, have read my previous post about my view on the church and how I feel that they have become more like institutions than vessels of God’s church, well I am going to go into more detail about why I feel this way and what basis I draw my conclusions from and what scriptural merit I have for it.

            Now before you get all mad and huffy about this and say that I am wrong in my views of the church or how they are run nowadays, or that I am just a person who has had a bad experience with a church and is bitter from that time, I am going to tell you right now that you are wrong. I have a great love for the church and the people that dwell in it, I have been to many different churches of many denominational backgrounds. My problem is not the church, my problem is that people have taken over church and left God out of the picture. We preach freedom and forgiveness but we tie people down to our creeds doctrines, rules and leadership that they become spiritually bound.

            Jesus said “I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to Father except through me.” John 14:6 NIV. He did not say, seek out your elders, deacons and pastors then you find me and then I will lead you to the Father, NO! He said I AM THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE! NO ONE ELSE, NOT ONE CAN COME TO FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME!

  

            Paul told us “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17. If we are busy tying people down with our human ideas, and thoughts and doctrines how can we say that we have the Spirit of the Lord in us? There is freedom where He dwells and in with whom He dwells.

            In our churches nowadays there are 2 rulers, either the Pastor or the people.

Pastors who rule their churches rule with their creeds and doctrines, they are bullies and make people fear change and the truth, and often discourage interactions with other church communities. They preach but they have no heart or conviction about what they are preaching because they do it for one reason. It has always been this way, and the old way is the best way. They are not free, but bound by their pride and lack of humility and compassion towards others.

People who rule their church think the same way but they have their pastors living in fear of either being fired, ostracized, or thrown out from the church. They dictate what should be spoken, and how it should be said, and who should be aloud to speak or allowed into their inner circles. They live by their creeds and doctrines and refuse change with harsh criticism. They are not free and captive to their own ideals thoughts and religious views.

Jesus came to set us free from bondage, to give us new life, and set the old church free from the rule of the Sadducees and Pharisees that seem to be ever present still in today’s church. He came to set us free from religion, and tell us that we are free to worship and praise Him how he taught us to, that in humbling ourselves and giving up our doctrinal views and focusing on only His word, and His truth that we could be set free.

God gave us pastors for a reason, as well as other church leaders. Not to rule over us, but to walk beside us and teach us the truth, no matter how hard or how harsh that truth can come across. The people are meant to walk hand in hand and learn from each other what God is revealing to them and His love for all people, no matter what denomination they belong to, or how they worship.

I love the church, but I love what God wants the church to be not what we want it to be. I love the church for what it could be, not for what it is right now.

I am not in anyway saying that I have it all right, or that I am perfect in my understanding, I am just saying what I think and believe needs to be said. I welcome any comments or ideas on this subject as it has been a great weight upon my heart, and as I hope to one day become a pastor I am hoping that the church will change and the people who attend it. I am seeking out God and what He wants in my life and what He wants me to become, I don’t always have it right but I am working hard trying to discover the truth that He is revealing to me in His word.

Forgive, forget, and let God's will reign in your life!

You can now follow me on twitter @guyfromchurch
Also if you want to read a great book on this I highly suggest “Joshua” by Joseph F. Girzone. He describes things in such way that I myself cannot do yet, but it carries the same thoughts and ideas.