The Church of the Unreconciled

[ted]

From Baptist Bread November/ December, 2004.

"The Church of the Unreconciled"

"Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift" Matthew 5:24

In our day and age, we have many monikers that describe our attempts to differentiate ourselves from others. We have independent churches, unregistered churches, unaffiliated churches, un...ad nauseam... I'm not belittling nor advocating any position or stance. My concern today is with the unreconciled church and it's multitude of members.

When Brother "A" falls out with Brother "Z", or when church members get upset with their pastor or some position of the church, they get mad and leave without reconciling their differences. I'm not saying that on occasion it's not permissible to leave a church over some circumstance or situation. However, it is never right without attempting and completing the reconciliation process.

Our topic today is "The church of the reconciled". I often see pastors taking disgruntled or disaffected members from a neighboring church knowing full well that the process, let alone an attempt, at reconciliation has not been completed or initiated. We then have churches full of unreconciled people. People whose gift is not accepted and whose worship is tainted by unreconciled hearts and lives.

If you have a red letter Bible you know that Jesus Christ said, "...first be reconciled to thy brother,..." Too many are in "The church of the Unreconciled". It is high time we follow the Scriptural remedy found in Matthew 18:15-17 to restore, make right, and reconcile our relationships. --T.G. (Dr. Tim Green, Revival in Our Time, Day Heights, OH.)

I reckon this applies to message boards too.

t.

[RGR]

Ted, you are so right. We had this happen with our church a few years ago; some folks didn't like the new pastor and just packed up and started a new church!

[shammah]

Pastors are not the church;

Buildings are not the church;

Denominations are not the church;

There is one church with the head Jesus Christ; who distributes, His gifts according to His perfect will, to the rest of the Body!

Christ and His true Body is the Church; they are an invisible body of believers, who still can function in certain parts of the world according to the word !

The word gives complete instructions on how the body operates, administers to each other, oversee's each other, gives to each other, and speads the gospel, and starts new bodies of believers, called to our discrace, churches!

It isn't that the biblical model of the true body of christ can no longer function; but we have been poisoned by the theological industries that promote wealth, power, and personal recognition as a sign of success!

Lets copy Willow creak, they polled the neighborhood and gave them the entertainment they desired; just as Rick Warren, and that guy who built the crystal palace, Robert shuller! They get the respect of the world, and as Bill Hybels, became president Clintons spiritual advisor!

They are all merchandisers and comprimisers, on the broadway! If the world loves you ,you are the enemy of God !

Romans.16:18;

18For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites and base desires, and by ingratiating and flattering speech, they beguile the hearts of the unsuspecting and simpleminded [people].

They run church as people pleasers, for money and power!

I bought a tape by Rick warren who at times says it's all about God; then later by using every corrupt version except the KJV, turn it all around to what God will do for you!

I've been to so many of these pastor led so called churches, with no true gifts or spiritual order as directed in the word; that I have given up!

Will Jesus find faith on earth when He returns, as He asks, Yes but a small remnant!

Agape Ephraim.

[Anne]

I agree Ted,

I'm a firm believer that if we do wrong to our Brothers and Sisters, that we should take all steps to correct that difference.

There's nothing wrong with having a different viewpoint on a matter, however, to belittle, become hurtful and cruel to our Christian brethern, that is against God's will. It is clear that God wishes us to reconcile these differences.

Great thoughts Ted.

Your Sister in Christ Jesus

Anne

[Leonard]

My comment here is tangential to the author's article, but I was reminded by his first couple of lines of a church name I memorized when I was about 16. These people REALLY wanted to differentiate themselves! The name on the sign, and on the door of this church was:

THE JESUS-NAME HOLINESS CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST, OF THE APOSTOLIC WAY, BELIEVING AND TEACHING ACTS 2:38

Sort of made me wonder what they did with acts 2:37...................???

[Guest yod]

I would only like to add that reconciliation is not a one-time act. It is a constant attitude of humility.

I can be reconciled to those who are not reconciled to me just as the Lord has reconciled Himself to men...but not all men are reconciled to Him.

I believe this is one of the wisest posts I've ever seen here because this IS such a problem in the Body. Shammah/Ephraim seems to be proof of it. They think that the entire church is wicked just because we meet together under a denominational moniker at a building called a church.

We can disagree over the non-essentials but we are still THE body and stuck with each other no matter how embarressing it is.

We should perform the Word of God where it clearly says in Romans 12. "As much as it depends on you, be at peace with all people"

[ted]

Good points, Yod.

Initially, I was posting it to try to bring about a peace after the past week or so. It seems to me that there are some ruffled feathers concerning war threads and and other political issues, so I was hoping that this might bring us all a little closer.

While typing, I couldn't help think back to a few months ago when some people left Worthy. Then, I started thinking about a split in my own church back in July.

(I'm one of them 'freight train' thinkers).

I hadn't really thought about the verses in Matthew that are referenced in the article and when I read it, I was touched and felt the need to share it.

How easily we can see our failings when there is a Godly man preaching even a simple message.

It just got me thinking of reconciling with a few old friends.

In a broader sense, the author is correct about unreconciled people in churches. I just applied it to message boards, too.

How can a church be effective in the community or a board on the net if the body has sin issues to deal with individually.

I'm not one of those that condemns the entire church being as bad, because church is what we are supposed to do. Lifting up Christ, spreading the Gospel, true Godly fellowship, these are all fruits of good churches. God will surely weed out the unfruitful branches where needed. I can't remember the exact books or verses, but I know there examples of how God will not let a nation or a people continue without dealing with hidden sins of a few individuals.

This made me do some deep Praying as to my own walk because I am a member here, and in my home church.

Being possibly the one unreconciled sinner in a group such as this would be too much for me to carry on my shoulders.

In Him,

t.