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Has Christianity Forgotten Its Purpose?
Dear Brother Ron
I was thinking today, on how, not too many centuries ago, Christians met in
silence in the woods to worship without making a sound. They did so out of
fear of being killed. Nobody stopped to ask who was or wasn't in order.
Nobody stopped to ask who was or wasnt living in open sin. They simply met
and worshipped.
Has the church, made a business of pointing the finger at others, instead of
remembering the actual purpose of the church? Should the church be standing
in judgment or be judged? Should the church be running the "laws" or
worshipping quietly in spite of the laws? When you think about the history
of the church, how do you answer this?
Mom
Dear Mom
The people you are talking about were members of a true "church". The word
translated in the Bible as "church" is the Greek word "ekklesia", which is a
coming together of people. These people came together and formed a church,
even though there was no building or organizational structure.
Fast forward two thousand years. We now have churches which are so concerned
with budgets, buildings and dogma that the original message of Jesus has
gotten lost in the organizational machinery. Churches are so busy trying to
win converts, they have lost sight of the message which was so successful in
winning the original converts.
I am reminded of the story of the adulteress who was brought before Jesus.
You can find it at John 8:3-11. If Jesus did not condemn others, who are we
to think we are good enough to do so. That would make us better than Jesus.
I'm not that good and I'm not that conceited.
That goes for churches as well as individuals.
Best always
Brother Ron
