Christianity not Churchianity

     FUNDAMENTAL CHRISTIANITY 

There is an ever present danger, especially in times of rank church divisions, such as exists in these modern times, to present the truth of Christ in a sectarian way, thus diminishing the keen edge of Christian doctrine.  Such an approach does not enhance the message which is most important from any viewpoint, and has the effect of stagnation in a world which does not seek God.  There must be a return to the radical message of the early church, which turned the world upside down, traversing the globe in just 30 short years.  The gospel(God's good news to the world) transcends petty differences to establish bedrock principles on which lost people can place their trust for eternity.  This is the purpose of this series, to uncover fundamental truth that can be absorbed by all for the better of the individual, and the society where they live, and the world as a whole.

The Church, which ought to be an oasis in the desert, a haven of rest for its members, and an attraction to a needy world, is often mired in dispute and selfish interest, to the detriment of all and the dishonour of the One whom they profess to represent.  The early Church was characterised by Unity, inspired by the Spirit(Ephesians 4v3-4), and forged by the one faith in Christ(Ephesians 4v13).  Jesus linked this essential unity to success in evangelism in His prayer in John 17v21 "That they all may be one, as thou Father art in me, and I in thee, that they also might be one in us, that the world may believe that thou hast sent me."  This unity was evident throughout the book of the Acts-1v14; 2v1; 2v44; 2v46; 4v24; 4v32; 5v12; 8v6; 15v25.  The results were amazing with the words, added, increased, and multiplied, in common use to report their success- Acts 2v41; 2v47; 4v4; 5v14; 6v7; 9v31; 11v21; 11v24; 12v24; 16v5; 19v20; 28v30-31.   Perhaps it is our disunity which fails to attract people, as the present time is characterised by subtraction, and division.  There is another possibility, that the message has been so diluted as to cease to be radical.  People are not attracted to half-hearted sermons and lukewarm preachers.  Perhaps we have sought to be too like the world in our approach, failing to learn the lesson of basic physics that hold this material world together, which is; in terms of electromagnetism, like poles repel, and unlike poles attract.  This is the fundamental principle of thermodynamics. The trend to appeal to a world alienated from God by becoming more like them or using their methods, no more works in spiritual things than it does in the physical.  In any case we should be asking why we seem to be so powerless an influence on the world around us.  "The Lord's hand is not shortened that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy that it cannot hear."  Is the answer He gives to those challenging questions the reason for our apparent ineffectiveness today-refer Isaiah 59v2-4?

We need to return to basic Christianity, we need to be united in Christ.  However this is not a spurious unity that compromises the truth of God, for that saves nobody.  We need to seek true unity, within the bounds of fundamental Christianity, and avoid, indeed separate from, those who would corrupt and compromise the precious deposit given to us.  If you are reading this and are persuaded of it, tell your brethren, spread the word, so that it circles the globe, to endeavour to guard, with all our might the unity of the Spirit in the uniting bond of peace.  It is high time we began to walk worthy of our high calling.

Next   The unity of the faith...