Note To The Church: The Body of Christ
(1 Peter 4:17) For the time has come for judgement to begin.
From the beginning, the Lord has had a strict and very definitive plan for His people. Although mankind continues to fall short, Jesus bridged the gap and therefore, reconciled man to God. Sadly, many of the shortcomings have derived within the Church, meaning the Body of Christ. The Church has become complacent, lethargic, self-centered, haughty and full of pride. Summed up: sloppy, just plain sloppy.
Know for certain, Christ is coming soon [no man knows the day nor the hour – so if there are any predicting a date, pick up your grace and RUN!], and judgment will begin AT the church, according to scripture.
Notice, the scripture says AT the church and not IN the church? Because the Church is NOT four walls, [a building where people meet] but a Body of people who are called by His Name and follow Christ. It has nothing to do with a church building, and as much as many would like to make it about church attendance, it spans far deeper and much further than that. Side note: if you are still having hang-ups about the importance of church attendance, please read my books beginning with Simple Truth , Simple Truth Too , More Simple Truth , and Thy Kingdom Come . It is the Truth of God’s Word, which makes us free. Those books teach truth! (Available on Amazon.com) just those four books teach you the Bible in simplistic ways, give you the opportunity to pray the prayer of salvation and accept Christ into your heart and into your life, and learn the joy of being a part of the Kingdom of God without all the religious traditions, inaccurate rituals, and unnecessary formalities. Back up with scriptural references as proof.
Please remember because of Christ’s sacrifice we are “Now therefore, you are no longer stranger and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” [Ephesians 2:19] And because of this we are held to a standard set by the Lord. A standard that “ having been built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. [Ephesians 2:20]
With that said, let’s clarify a few things, because much of what the modern day Christian Church is teaching, living, and believing, simply is not scriptural;
1. First, the Kingdom of Heaven is a real place for those of us to dwell in eternity after we leave this Earth. Revelation chapter 4 speaks of the Throne Room of Heaven. In the first, second, and third chapters of Revelation, we learn that of the Seven Churches, only the Church of Philadelphia Christ did commend as faithful and for THAT reason, those of that church (meaning those people that made up Church Body in Philadelphia) He spoke of, saying, “I know your works. See I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept MY Word, and have not denied My name.” [Revelation 3:8] The other six churches, though, He found fault and shortcomings with. To see the Kingdom of Heaven, we as the Body of Christ, must return to being faithful to the what the scriptures have commanded and instructed us.
2. Romans 8:30: Moreover whom He predestined, these he also called; whom He called, these He also justifies; and whom he justified, these He also glorified. The fourth chapter of Ephesians speaks of the spiritual gifts that to each of us was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. [Ephesians 4:7] Biblical titles are important because they carry with them the supernatural abilities required to achieve Kingdom of God work and also, engage in spiritual warfare. Therefore, the unscriptural titles the church has grown accustomed to must cease. For example, First Lady. If you are the wife of a pastor, unless you are called by the Lord, to a spiritual gift or a spiritual office [Ephesians 4:11], you’re the pastor’s wife. First lady is not scriptural nor is it a scriptural title. And a very dangerous title that is rampant in the church is Reverend. Again, unscriptural. In fact, the scriptures are clear in Psalm 111:9: He has sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant forever; Holy and reverend is His name. Now…unless you have sent redemption to God’s people, and commanded a covenant for Your people, that’s an unscriptural title for man, reserved only for God.
3. I happened upon a discussion on Twitter Social Media, not long ago [just another reason why I limit my presence on social media] and the pure ignorance [lack of knowledge] about reading the Bible had me frustrated to my very core. A renowned Jewish Christian Scholar was speaking to the subject of reading the Bible from cover to cover and why as the Body of Christ we all need to do so. And I was appalled at how many people responded that it is not necessary, and that Holy Spirit leads us to the scriptures we need to know at the moment. I knew there was no way possible to take that to task on such a platform, so my response was limited – adding nothing could be further from the truth and that you don’t know that you don’t know. The reality is, the scriptures tell a story, and most of the scriptures that people isolate and quote, have a much deeper and greater meaning tied to a precept somewhere else in the scriptures. I have read the entire Bible cover to cover twice. Once in the order in which it is written and then a second time in chronological order. Then I read the scrolls that were not Canonized (published in the King James Bible). It cannot be emphasized enough, the understanding and importance to read the totality of God’s Word from beginning to end, as well as because Isaiah 28:9-10 “whom will he teach knowledge? And who will he make to understand the message? Those just weaned from milk? Those just drawn from the breasts? For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little.” Heaven is non-denominational, the only criteria is that listed in the scriptures. It is time for the Church to “get the memo” as we metaphorically say, and get right according to scripture so that we don’t get left, when Christ returns for His Church.
Blessings, Apostle Wendy Connor
Copyright © 2020 Wendy Connor
