Last month I started an article about the possibility of a “parallel church” existing along beside the recognized conventional church.  When most people speak about “the Christian church” they mean the organized Christian churches spread across America and the world.  Generally they refer to a group of people that meet at a central location housed in buildings made of brick and mortar.  Of course we know that the true Church is not brick and mortar, nor is “the church Judaism improved and continued, the ‘Kingdom’, or a ‘denomination.’” (H.C. Thiessen)   In a universal sense, the Church consists of all those who have been born of the Spirit of God and have by that same Spirit been baptized into the body of Christ ( I Pet. 1:3, 22-25; I Cor. 12:13). In a local sense the word “church” implies a group of professed believers in any one locality.   The Greek word ekklesia is used in the New Testament and simply means a body of called-out people. Unfortunately we have become transfixed upon buildings and programs.  What was only intended to be a means, in many cases, has become an end.  Today, when we talk about “growing the church” it is a code word for erecting huge buildings, amassing large numbers of people, developing endless programs and securing unparalleled personal wealth. Physical and human status has replaced spiritual values and the net result has been huge numbers of people abandoning these established institutions. As a result of this “exodus”, a large number of people continue to “look” for their spiritual needs to be met OUTSIDE of the organized church. 

Building buildings and amassing fortunes can be tolerated but not having one of the most important needs of your life met cannot.  When you attend a church that is only interested in what it can get out of you, it will not be long before you become dissatisfied.  Churches today have totally eclipsed meeting one of the MOST important needs of man, social integration.  Churches today expect you to faithfully attend, give your money and listen to everything that is thrown to you via the overpowering modern sound systems. Little consideration, if any, is given to helping you build personal relations with those around you.  Studying the back of some ones head week after week does little to meet the growing needs of developing interpersonal relationships.  When you leave church you leave emptier than when you came.  Little wonder that more and more people have given up on church and church life as we know it. The church should exist for the purpose of the people, not the people existing for the purpose of  the church.    Having one of your greatest and most basic needs unattended is unconscionable.    When Jesus said that he would build HIS church and we would be a functioning part of that church (Matt. 16:18,19) HE did not mean that it would become an advantage for some and a disadvantage for others.  God has always had a heart for those that are in need.  Besides salvation, what greater need is there for us than to have our social interrelations met?  Far too many churches are still extracting a “toll” from those that come and is giving very little in return (i.e. it is all about the things the church wants such as money, people, influence, status, programs, etc.).  Since the “me generation” has articulated an agenda reduced to “what benefit is it to me” the modern day church has lost a real purpose for existing.  No longer is the main purpose of answering the call of God relevant.  When you come to church to be served you no longer look for ways in which to serve the Lord.  In the process, one of the things you need the most you receive the least.  Churches are NOT interested in you developing relationships with those around you in a way that bless them and you too.  When you come up with the idea of doing something without the approval of the church you run the risk of being ostracized.  When you do not have your social needs met (i.e. building relationships with others) in a church it becomes increasingly difficult to believe that your spiritual needs are being fully realized as well.  One of the first things that happens when you feel unfulfilled, you begin to question why you should be continuing with something that DOES NOT fulfill such a basic need in your life.  People are giving up on the church in ever increasing numbers each and every week.  What are they doing?  Where are they going?  What does God think? 

Next Article:  Because some people have abandoned the idea of having their needs met in an institutionalized church does not mean they have given up on having their needs met.  When we investigate the “parallel church” phenomena, we start to see that both the spiritual and the social needs of man are being met in an entirely different way.  Next month I will explain the “Parallel Church” and why God may be abandoning the organized church and turning to the “Parallel Church” in these “last days”.  .    

A Fig Tree Ministry Thought…
You can give without loving,
but you can’t love without giving. (ODB)
Please send any comments to:  Dr. Roland E. Bean at www.figtreeministry.org