Christian Living

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Are you part of The Church?

One of my earliest memories as a child that I still remember of the part of Africa where am from is of a spiritual revival movement that swept across the entire continent. The group was called Scripture Union and popularly referred to as 'SU'.

All I can remember now is the non - denominational nature of the group, their oneness (membership to a particular church wasn't the focus) and the very visible result of people converting to a new life in Christ in droves. Of course as a child, I had no idea what the buzz was about but the excitement was palpable. I vividly can remember my relatives(young and old) singing gospel songs and dancing in a line on the streets on their way to crusades.

Today, however it's a different scenario in Christianity.

Today it is more important that you belong to a particular church than to be a part of the Church(the body of Christ on earth). Emphasis is now on my church and not on the Church. Church members are ready to defend their churches and leaders to death, they're willing to argue with other christians about how they're the ones upholding the truth. Evangelism and reach out programmes are more about church advertisement and membership drive. Behind most gospel tracts is a bold stamp of a church's contact details even where the vendor church had no input in the tract's publication. I am not suggesting that it is wrong to invite people to your church but my point is that emphasis should be on Christ and the new life He gives and not on membership to a particular church.

As a result of this clamouring and individuality what we now have is a disintegrated body, a proliferation of splinter groups(even worse than as in the commercial sector and political parties), wranglings, accusations and counter - accusations, and a loss of focus both among the leadership and the led. Any wonder spurious deadly satanic agents have infiltrated Christianity with their 'Signs and Wonders' 'ministries'? Any wonder then that even those genuinely called are now dabbling in occultism so as to remain competitive in the 'market'? Any wonder then there are so many church members but just a few christians?

If you profess christianity the challenge for you is to be certain of your membership of the body of Christ except you are satisfied with just membership of a 'local' church but that alone wouldn't help you. Who is your shepherd - Jesus or pastor? Whose voice do you obey - God's or man's?

John 10:27 KJV
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Who leads you in your daily living?

Romans 8:14 KJV
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

You can belong to a church, you can be a dedicated worker or member, in fact you might even have founded the church but the simple truth is if you ain't being led by the Holy Spirit you're not a child of God and therefore not a part of the Church.

So are you just a member of a church or are you a part of the body of Christ? Your answer will determine whether you'll still be left standing after the great shaking that's coming and whether you'd be sent to the right or the left on Judgement Day.

Get to know Jesus and follow Him all the way - Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

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