CHURCHISM OR CHURCH

Today I want us to talk about The Church, like so many other people are already doing.

Some say good things when talking about The Church, others say some bad things when speaking of it.

Many believe they have a good idea of what The Church is and isn’t.

Truth is, many really don’t know, What the Church is? Where it is?  Or Why it is?

Thats because most people’s ideas have been formed by religion, history, hurts, tradition, and society.

Some think the church is a special building or place where Christians go to worship God on Sundays.

Others think the church is an organization of people who are brainwashed by the teachings of a mythical Jesus.

And still yet others think it’s just an event hall to do charitable works to get into heaven, host politicians and have bingo night.

At lastly, there are those who believe the Church is a daytime nightclub for hypocrites. Condemning people everywhere to hell, while yet themselves being some of the biggest hellions and chief sinners that have ever existed.

Some might be talking about “a church”, but certainly not “The Church”. Most folks are more familiar with Churchism.

To really understand what The Church is, we need to go to God to see what he says about The Church.

Afterall it is His Church that everyone wants to talk about.

Biblically speaking the Church is not a building at all. Long before there ever was a building, followers of God had Church in a tent or out in the open air somewhere, or in tiny houses. God didn’t sanction a huge edifice that men could boast about and inflict classism.

The actual first Church was the Garden of Eden, where everyone gathered. No labels. No dress codes. Just come as you are.

The Greek word for Church is ekklesia, which means the gathering.

Adam was the 1st preacher, Eve the 1st lady, and the animals were the 1st congregants.

The honored member and head of The Church was God. God and his gathering are what make up The Church.

The purpose for The Gathering/ The Church is to honor God.

Not the man, not the band, not to grandstand. Just God.

As we honor God, he loves on us, blesses us, and cares for us. That’s what the gathering is for.

When we go for the other stuff, it’s called Churchism not Church.

God’s Word speaks of those who reflect a form of godliness and power, while yet denying the authority behind the power. Churchism!

Churchism occurs when people come for the show at the gathering, rather than to spend time with the God/Head of the gathering.

Churchism seeks to separate people into a religious subculture, otherwise known as a denomination, that’s’ associated with dogmatic emphasis on one thing or another.

Denominate means to divide, to place a value on one thing over another thing. One group over another group. One person over another person.

Here we sprinkle, well we dunk em, no women preachers allowed, whoever God calls can preach here, we wear makeup here, we think make up is of the devil, we only use the Kings version of the Bible, well we use all versions of God’s word. Well, we this, Well we that, blah, blah, blah, blah!

These are all various examples of denominations that Churchism uses to divide us.

Some people look at church as either or, all or nothing, perfect or hypocritical.

Question, how can ANY group of humans be perfect?

Answer, we can’t be! That’s why we need to be in the presence of a Holy God, who will help us overcome our issues and truly love one another and ourselves.

We can reject that subculture and love the honored member and Head of The Church, Our Heavenly Father.

Why don’t we abandon the dogma, fear, and shaming.  Reject the pious meetings, money grabbing, and mask wearing. Leave the theatrics, gloating, and condemning behind us.

I’m not advocating leaving The Church, I’m saying we leave the foolishness of man. The way of Churchism.

God is the only pure truth there is in life. No one love us more than God does. Why would we ever think about leaving him!

If the pandemic has taught us anything, it has taught us ALL that we need to have our own personal relationship with God.

We need The Church. We need The Gathering with God, and his angels. WE NEED MORE GOD IN OUR LIFE!

Don’t let a man turn you against God! Don’t buy into all the shenanigans surrounding the things of God.

So let us gather as one, two, or a few, always allowing God to be the head of our meetings, as well as at the head of our lives.

Granted this message won’t make people stop talking about The Church, but at least WE will know the truth. God is The Church.

So, the next time someone asks, who’s church do you attend, just smile and say God’s.

                                                               This is a Thompson Truth