Whatever happened to the Church?

"They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people and the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved."

- Acts 2:42-47

Whatever happened to the church? Whatever happened to the fellowship, and the continuous prayers, and the selfless giving? Whatever happened to the commitment to the Word of God? Whatever happened to the church having favor with all people and the LORD adding to their number daily?

Today the church is described as a building, not as a people. It is seen to be a Sunday tradition, not a continuous fellowship. It is split into nearly 38,000 denominations, definitely not "continuing with one mind". And why don't you just ask people in the community whether or not the church is finding favor with men?

When I see the church today, people are more concerned about getting home in time to watch football than they are in discovering the application of God's Word. They are more concerned about music conforming to their interests than they are about the words that are being sung. They are more concerned about getting the same seat every Sunday than they are about seeing new people reached. And then we wonder why the LORD isn't adding to our number daily!?

I have met some incredible men and women of God in the church, but I find it sad when they are labeled as "radical" or "super Christians". When you compare these people to Scripture, they aren't radical at all; they are simply just following in the footsteps of their Savior and following the model of this first church.

The members of the Church were first called Christian in Acts 11:26. When studying the commentary of this passage, it explains that "Christian" literally means "partisans of Christ." The commentary goes on to explain that the Christian label was given to individuals who evangelized and taught the Gospel and who "demonstrated orthopraxy (meaning: correct action) by meeting physical needs."

Is this the church today? Are we committed to evangelism like the early church was? Are we committed to meeting physical needs like the early church was? One has to only open their eyes to find people who are in need of physical help and who are in need of hearing the Gospel. Many would claim that they don't feel called to do this, but let me correct you: you just haven't heard your call to do it. Just put your ear to the Bible and you will hear over and over again, God calling you to "preach good news to the poor, bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners" (Isaiah 61). To be honest, you could probably turn to just about any page in Scripture and find a call similar to this. When we don't answer these calls, it is no wonder why we are called hypocrites.

As a Church, it is about time that we wake up! The world is in desperate need of a Savior and if we don't help them, who will? Just turn on the news and you can see that the world, and our country, are in a downward spiral. But while this is going on, we are keeping our mouths closed because we don't want to suffer any persecution or be labeled as "politically incorrect". We complain so much about the government and other organizations taking too much control, but that is only because the Church is not stepping in and helping. Imagine what the world would be like today if we would continue to spread the love of God as fervently as that first church.

Why is it that a commission by a king is considered an honor, but a commission by God is considered a sacrifice? It is time to step up, Church. It is time to put on the full armor of God and to advance His Kingdom like we have been given such an honor of doing. It is time to get back to the basics of Christianity and to become one again. We often sing, "They'll know we are Christians by our love", but I will be the first to confess that's not true. The only difference today between Christians and non-Christians is that Christians go to church occasionally.

As Francis Chan often asks, "If you were to read Scripture, is this what you would picture the Church to look like?" I want to encourage you to re-read the book of Acts. As I have been studying it over the past month, I have been amazed at some of the truths that God has shown me. But simple head knowledge isn't enough. It is time to put these truths to action. Men and women, let's start being the Church.

I feel that there is no better way than to close with a segment of the Jesus's prayer for us in John 17:

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."

Amen.