Christians and Daily Interaction

One of the more vital elements of Christ and His people that we need a revelation of is what it means for Christians to interact with one another. I don't mean in some general, surfacy communication, but sharing life together on a daily basis.

This is what has been the underlying impetus behind those who are calling for a change in the practices of Christianity, while maintaining the sound doctrines associated with it.

Many have become heretical in their understanding and communication, as they don't have a revelation of changing the practices of Christianity while maintaining the truths about Christ.

Even so, that doesn't mean we should abandon the pursuit of body life outside the institutional church system, as there is still a driving force that comes from the Holy Spirit that pushes us toward being "one to another," as the Holy Scriptures mention many times.

The key thing is we must first see the value of sharing life together outside of the walls of a building. It's not like some people think, where it is assumed it removes any type of responsibility and accountability for and to one another. Rather it is more demanding in practical outworking, as our Christian faith is challenged to become a reality amongst believers.

Anyone can go to a building and hide or get lost among people they no little about or fellowship with seldom, if ever. But to share the life of Christ together consistently is much harder, but also provides the environment where God can do what He wants with His people - both individually and corporately.

If there is no interaction between believers, how do we watch over one another, how do we build up one another, how do we practically love one another, taking it past very limited and potentially deceptive sentimentality, and bringing it into a love that is giving of Christ to one another.

This is a major problem today with those that have seen a glimpse of what Christ is after, but get bogged down in feelings and emotions, rather than the type of love that can cost everything. That's why there is so much heresy among those that have left the institutional church. They build their lives and doctrine around a sentimental acceptance which has nothing to do with the love of Christ, but everything to do with creating God in their own image. Much of the so-called emergent church is built on that shifting foundation, which will eventually crumble, as it isn't a foundation at all, but a humanistic, liberal, progressive infiltration of what God desires.

That is of course the methodology of the god of this world, who always offers an alternative to what it is God is trying to do in order to stop it or confuse those wanting to enter into something deeper in Christ.

God isn't after new, hip doctrine in order to create a new "Christianity," He is after what He has always been after: a people that embrace and show forth who Jesus Christ is to many in the world that long to see and know Him. It is of course also to show invisible powers who Jesus Christ is as well.

The point is in order to participate in the people of God in the way the Scriptures reveal, there must be a sharing of Christ through consistent, daily interaction. It is there we must seek wisdom from God on the best and most efficient way to work that out.

Why Church Practices Must Change

In this article I want to look at the church as it is today, contrasting it to a legacy system. When talking about a legacy system, I'm referring to what most people consider with computers or technology, where an old system is maintained and/or kept in service beyond its usefulness. That is what has happened in regard to the majority of the way we practice church and Christianity today.

Jesus mentioned this to the Jews He ministered to while He was on the earth, saying new wine required new wineskins. While this referred to the outward types and shadows associated with the Old Testament, it also refers to the same during the New Testament times, where we've largely gravitated towards an outward and ineffective practice of Christianity because we've focused on outward rituals and forms which have little, if any use today.

Before we get into that, let me say from the beginning that I'm not talking about the foundational truths of Christianity which many have abandoned.

Many adherents of the so-called "Emergent church" have done that to the degree that they embrace outright heretics and sin which are clearly forbidden in the Holy Scriptures.

So while there is always a move of Satan to counterfeit the real, we can't retreat to past practices even though there are those that abuse the insights Christ is giving us. There will always be the ignorant and unlearned among us who distort the scriptures. We don't stop reading and believing in the scriptures because of that. In other words, even though the wine never changes, meaning the life of Christ Himself, the wineskins are always changing and adapting as new life is revealed and
made to be understood in the Scriptures. We may see it within, but it will never conflict with what the Scriptures reveal concerning Christ and His people. Never!

Some of the reasons most believers retain the practices of modern Christianity, even though it can't be found in the scriptures, is it's all they have ever known, and it is assumed by most that this is simply the way it should be done. Very few know the history of current church and Christian practices, so simply go along as if this is how it was from the beginning. The majority are unaware that there are alternatives, and that many throughout church history have taken steps to explore them.

Another reason for not wanting or looking to change is the embeddedness of the existing church system in the fabric of society, which makes it very difficult to change it, as it can appear it is an attack upon Christianity, when in fact its an attempt to release the followers of Jesus Christ into a deeper walk; one that isn't hindered by outward forms, which can deceive people into believing they're following Christ just because they participate in some meetings at a building wrongly identified as a church.

The idea of relying upon outward systems is a substitute for Christ and an inward walk with Him. It also gets in the way of walking together in Christ daily with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

When the letter to the Hebrews in the New Testament refers to Christ shaking all things so that which can't be shaken remains, it is a reference to those who continue to rely on things that are institutional and outward, rather than eternal and based upon Jesus Christ.

Even though it was an obvious nod towards the upcoming destruction of Jerusalem and the old wineskin of Judaism, the principle remains in place, which is Christ is done with types and shadows and institutionalism, and now is forming the reality of Himself in people through real, daily fellowship with Himself and one another.

Other than the fact many Christians are unaware of the various believers outside the institutional Church who are living in a daily walk together, the other major reason for remaining in the institutional church is the time and energy it'll take to make the shift out of it.

Let's make it clear. There is no reforming of the existing church system. The outward practices have become a weight on believers seeking Christ rather than helping them. It's a weight because it gets in the way of the God-given passion to share life in Christ together on a daily basis.

Since it is almost impossible to see the alternative while participating in the existing structures of Christianity, it is imperative that we share and communicate the realities of what Christ is desires and is doing outside the walls of the buildings and services featuring a main speaker and a few gifted musicians. After all, if this really worked, we wouldn't see Christianity in the state it is today, and even the call and prayer for revival is a worthless and meaningless one if all that is desired is for people to fill up these buildings and continue on as before.

That's not to say just because people leave church buildings and weekly services they are more spiritual if they meet in homes, because many times all that happens is people move from a building to a home and continue things on as they were before.

This is a radical, surgical cut that needs to excise the existing mentality of institutional Christianity into one that brings us into a daily walk with Christ and one another.

Only those willing to embrace the cross and die to themselves can successfully navigate these waters, as it is more demanding, but also more rewarding, than the type of Christianity practiced by most today.

We must allow God to do whatever He wants with us. We must continue to hold onto the foundations of the faith that have been handed down to us in the Holy Scriptures, while at the same time living them out daily, while also looking for more insight and light concerning who Christ really is.

Just because the practices of Christianity have been around for centuries doesn't mean that's how they started, or that it's how God wants things to continue.

All we can do is ask Him to open our hearts to see Him and what He wants, and seek for those who have a similar passion to see Christ and His people released from the confines of outward religion to a real and living fellowship together.

The Church and Christianity without Christ

There is an almost unbelievable and incredible growing compromise within "Christianity" of allowing unbelievers to be accepted in the Churches as if they're Christians in order to fill up pews with people for the purpose of collecting offerings to feed the religious machine.

Sound cynical? Not at all. It's simply a fact. Even the hideous and offensive practice of homosexuality is accepted by many well-known "preachers." Whatever happened to people visiting the people of God and falling on their faces, acknowledging God was in them?

Now the churches and pastors are bowing and scraping before the foul practitioners of sin in order to curry favor with them, while appearing to be showing the love of Jesus towards them.

But how does showing the love of Jesus via compromise, which makes people feel good and comfortable in their sin, actually become the love of Jesus.

It's a fake love, not one from Christ, which demands and orders that men everywhere should repent because the kingdom of God has arrived in the person of Jesus Christ.

This is why so many alleged conversions aren't conversions at all. Some leading evangelists have even admitted that many that come up in response to a summons to pray the "sinners prayer," are really at the stage of seeking rather than making a true decision for Christ.

When you really think of it, if the numbers proffered by churches and organizations were to be believed, the world would probably have been saved a couple of times over; at least those outside of Christ in America and other parts of the West.

There is no way that the true church of Jesus Christ should ever allow an unbeliever to be considered part of the people of God until there is true repentance and regeneration. Until there is, they must remain and be considered as visitors until that transformation occurs. Jesus said they must be born again, or born from above. That's a total change of life for those truly experiencing. In fact, it's a total change into a new humanity, as the scriptures teach us.

The idea that Christians and non-Christians can live life together in a pseudo fellowship is an abomination. There is absolutely no connection point between those in the world and those of us not of this world. It's impossible to bridge the gap unless someone crosses the line into the person of Jesus Christ and is born again.

Of course most of you that think Christianity and the church of Jesus Christ is something you attend probably can't even relate to what I'm talking about here.

You're thinking something like "what's wrong with someone visiting the church?" by which you mean the building or edifice you show up on Sunday to sit and listen to some member of the "clergy" talk to you.

But since the Church is in reality a sharing of everyday life with Christ together on a daily basis, the thought of someone other than those of the faith participating makes absolutely no sense at all to us living in that reality.

What's especially terrible about is in concerning young people that profess Christ in institutional Christianity, as they assume because people are accepted as part of the Church that they're Christians, and all sorts of problems arise because of this unbiblical blending of young believers and non-believers as if there was no difference.

It's a disaster, and yet many concerned and good men of God can't see what their practices have led to for the people of God.

Yet because they have their buildings, land and ministries to prop up, they allow unbelievers in as if they believers, not protecting the flock from wolves in sheep's clothing.

So what is a real Christian? It's only one thing, as mentioned earlier: a person truly born of the Spirit and whom has repented and accepted Jesus Christ by real faith as their Savior.

We need to throw away the idea that because someone repeated a prayer after someone that they are in fact saved. Repetition of words means absolutely nothing in regard to real salvation unless it's accompanied by faith. Period!

How do we know if someone is truly saved then? Within the context of the existing institutional church, it's almost impossible. You must see and interact with people on a daily basis to see the type of fruit in their lives. You can't do that in an attendance-based assembly. And you can't do it by the secondary means of cell groups or other attempts to make the church more relational and fellowship related.

Only walking, sharing and interacting with one another on a consistent basis allows for the recognizing and living out of the true Christian life. The scriptures are filled with this practice and reality, while buildings called "churches" don't exist in the Holy Scriptures, and neither do what are identified as pastors in our modern church practices.

Without getting too much into that in this post, the point is we must be sure people are truly born again from above, as anything less than that means they are still poised to an eternity without Christ, to be tormented forever and ever for rejecting Him.

For them that's the ultimate failure and disaster, as it is for the people of Jesus Christ, who aren't to have fellowship with those who aren't believers. As a matter of fact, it's impossible to have fellowship with non-Christians, as it is based upon the common connection we all have with Jesus Christ.

This isn't to say we shouldn't allow those who are truly seeking Christ into our meetings when we have them, but we must recognize them for what they are at this time: unbelievers.

The point is we must be sure they truly see Jesus Christ as the only way to getting their sins forgiven and getting right with God, as well as effectively and accurately letting them know that they must repent and believe, not just repeat a predetermined set of words that may or may not be mixed with faith.

Another thing to consider is our spirit will testify with another spirit that they are also sons of God. I know that's a little tricky because of our emotions and tendency to believe what people say, but we must get beyond the soul realm and allow the Spirit of God within us to confirm that we are interacting with a fellow citizen of Heaven.

Again, we have to be mature in this, not allowing the idea that we are judging someone deter us from seeking God about these matters.

The Scriptures tell us that those are spiritual will indeed judge all things, and that applies to those making a profession of faith.

In the end, the church of Jesus Christ is meant to only have believers in it, and from the point of view of Christ, that is all that is in it. To treat others as if they're part of the brethren is an injustice to them, making them feel comfortable in their sin and non-acceptance of Christ, and it's terrible for new and weak believers, who don't have the capabilities to discern the difference.

It doesn't matter what anyone says or has done, we will know them by their fruits, and the fruits of modern-day evangelism is among the worst in history, largely because of the failed methodology of pressuring people to repeat a prayer as if that's the means of salvation.

This isn't much different than the idea children are saved because they're sprinkled with water.

What is inevitably asked at this point is if this is creating expectations too high for anyone to meet. The answer is absolutely not.

I'm not talking about people becoming perfect the moment after salvation or soon after, but of the reality they know within themselves that they have been forgiven of sins by the implementation of the new birth by the Holy Spirit which indwells every new believer.

While they will still sin and make mistakes, there is no question as to the validity of their new birth because they will have taken a stand against the world, the devil, and their very own selves.

They may not know how to express this reality, but their lives will reflect that, as well as a sincere hunger for Jesus Christ and being changed into His image.

Salvation is an experience, on that no one could ever forget. Some children born into Christian families experience this because of the presence of Jesus Christ abiding in the home throughout their young lives, and so may not remember a huge moment, but they will have at one time placed their faith in Jesus Christ.

I say this because some real Christians will at times express the idea that they can't remember when they haven't believed. The point is some time in their younger lives they did place their faith in Jesus, and they simply can't remember the exact moment because of their youth.

Either way, we still will know them by their fruit, and we should, in a kind manner, talk to people not showing the fruits of their alleged faith and ask them to reconsider their position.

This must be done in the right way and timing, but it definitely needs to be done when considering someone's eternal future is at stakes, as the visible church's is.

If we allow non-Christians to be part of our lives, we aren't living in the way Jesus Christ has commanded us to as the Church.

This is why Paul said those that are "worldly" and are allowed to be part of the people of God should be removed from fellowship if it is found their lives do not reflect a born again experience.

Again, I'm not talking about perfection, but willingness to receive input and correction in order to live a more godly live.

Those that refuse to respond over a period of time, must be considered suspect as to being truly saved.

Exceptions to this are those who are Christians but may get involved with sin that must be dealt with in an immediate manner. But even here if they repent, they can remain in the assembly of believers. For those that don't they must be disfellowshipped so others may have a deep respect for who Jesus Christ is, and also so the one being sent away will be ashamed and seek to enter back into fellowship with God's people through true repentance.

Not all those who proclaim they are Christians are Christians. I would even say the majority who say they've made a decision for Christ have only repeated a sinner's prayer and from that act assume they have been born again.

Of course it doesn't help that you have someone on a stage or platform confirming that assumption.

This is the only answer to why the so-called church has worst statistics concerning marriage than the world has: it has become the world by allowing mixture, based upon false conversions.

As for those of us outside the institutional church, we must not fall into that error. And because we live life daily with one another, it's much easier to spot the unrepentant and those not living the life we've been called to live.

Calling them alongside of us, we can then lovingly point out these things and help them see their need for Christ; whether for salvation or for a change of heart concerning matters they need to conform to Christ in.

People who have had a real experience with Jesus Christ will be broken from the revelation they are sinners before God, and only by turning from their lifestyle and world, while relying upon Jesus Christ to make them right with God.

It isn't something they've done, but the gift of eternal life from Jesus Christ that makes them whole and saved. It's not a method or thought pattern, but a real and actual experience they will never forget.

Thus brokenness is a real fruit of true repentance and regeneration. Those that have been born from above will know they are not, and can no longer be the same person they were before.