Date: May 19, 2003
Sean just did a great job in a commentary at http://www.isrp.org/commentary051903.htm and I would like to add my two cents worth. There is no doubt the institutional church in America is falling away and it shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone. There is also no question how well the modern “church,” in the form in which we see it today, in no way resembles the simple “body life” of the early church. Rather than a body of believers where all are functioning, all participating, all interacting as equals with one another, we have a layer of professionals putting on a show for the crowd of spectators.
I am as convinced as Sean that the entity we think of as the “church” today is hopelessly lost, but there are two problems: first, that still happens to be where most Christians are and second, if they are to leave, where do they go? I am not so sure that all should just up and leave – maybe so, depending on how the Lord leads you. The problem is, we have a responsibility to warn our brothers and sisters about the peril they are in. Perhaps guerilla warfare is best now – gathering as many as possible together who have the same mind. Eventually, if you stand for the truth, you will be kicked out of the apostate church.
In the letters to the seven churches, there are overcomers in each church. But as we enter into “the final hour” and the church continues to fall away, we need to be very careful that we are not caught up in that apostasy, but rather get out and bring as many with us as possible. Where do you go? Where do you take people? Or do you stay for a while and try and pluck as many as possible out of the flame? Only you can make that call. If you stay in an apostate church, the “leaven” may change you – the Bible tells us it will. If you look at it as just a place where Christians happen to be, you can reach out to brothers and sisters and start to establish a relationship with them and share the message of what is happening.
The biggest problem is, we have been so ruined by the clergy/laity system, that most “lay” people don’t have a clue what to do on their own. If we leave, we cut off ties with people and have no contact with them. We become isolated and have no fellowship at all, unless we were lucky enough to bring some folks with us. The other problem is that we don’t really see what the “Church” really is. It is not a building, or even a meeting. It is relationships with other Christians that should go far beyond meetings and into our practical every day living with one another.
So we come back to the question “reform or revolution?” Sean is absolutely correct in pointing out that you can’t “pour new wine in old wineskins.” The old wineskin happens to contain real Christians who do need to be called to meet him “outside the camp.” (Hebrews 13:13). The question is, when do we leave and where do we go? I am convinced personally that the typical megachurch with all of their programs, worship groups, pastoral staff, accountability groups, etc. bears no resemblance to the true church where saints just simply edify one another. The problem is we have replaced functions and gifts members of the body should have with “positions” that separate the professionals from the rest of the body. The pros do the work (much to their dismay) while the non-professionals just complain they aren’t being better taken care of. Actually the situation isn’t good for either. We have replaced the dynamic “life flow” of the Holy Spirit from one saint to another with programs and more and more meetings.
So do you just leave now or try and take as many with you as possible? This is high risk because a person who stays behind for a while runs the grave risk of being influenced by personal relationships and apostate teachings. Once the establishment realizes you are not “with the program”, they will accuse you of being rebellious to God’s authority and following heretical doctrines. You have to be strong in your relationship with the Lord and the convictions He has given you.
You also need to guard your heart against elitism, thinking that somehow you are better than others because you see things they don’t. You have to always remember that we all were once deceived (and may still be in some areas), and but for the grace of God, we see what we see today. God was gracious enough to show us some of these things and you have to believe that He can do the same for others. We didn’t do anything to deserve His unmerited favor, so don’t get a big head. Instead, get a big heart to love others and patiently, lovingly deal with them, realizing that only God can truly give revelation.
We often become like ex-smokers – ten times harder on those who smoke than those who never have. I for one have attended (not just once but for several years) a “Word-Faith” Church, a “latter rain” Church, a Vineyard – not to mention over ten years in the “Local Church” and just as God was faithful to bring me through these things, He will do the same for you and your friends. Revelation about the true state of the world and the “Church” is ultimately the work of God, not your work. He may use you to communicate information, but only God changes hearts and minds. So just because a person doesn’t listen to you the first time you share with them, don’t give up on them. At least pray for them. And whatever you do, don’t think you’re better than they are just because you see something they don’t!
God is raising up His true Church which encompasses Christians in all kinds of situations. You aren’t God and you don’t know it all, so be careful not to be too judgmental. He has called us to be “watchmen on the wall.” Our job is to get out the word. His job is to speak to hearts and convince them. It is just like coming to the Lord in the first place. It is a matter of revelation, of the working of the Spirit in their hearts to convince and convict them. Ultimately, it is an individual matter.
Yes, I agree with Sean, the institutional Church cannot be reformed (please see my book on Apostasy and the Last Days Church). It is broken in many ways and can’t be fixed. Yet, let us not forget that many of our brothers and sisters in Christ are still there. We can come across to them as pompous knows it alls, or as humble watchman who diligently stands for the truth. All of us Christians are about to discover that we have been “left behind” to experience the greatest tribulation the world has ever seen. That Tribulation will separate the “sheep from the goats.” You have to be faithful with the message to your brothers and sisters, and open as the Lord sends you “outside the camp” with other Christians that a new wineskin may contain His life and love. There will be a glorious church and a corporate expression – not in the buildings we call Churches, but in the trenches of Tribulation.
Dene McGriff
Sacramento, CA
P.S. Don’t forget to come and visit “Letters from Babylon” – letters from that dastardly demon DRACMA (http://www.the-tribulation-network.com/Babylon.htm ) and get a whole new perspective!!! This is a spoof in the tradition of C.S. Lewis “Screwtape Letters,” so please don’t freak out!!!!