Paul's Passing Thoughts

Lately, I have been convicted about my failure as a leader in the home fellowship movement. About 13 years ago, knowing that God wants us to be clear about truth, asked for his guidance while doing a word by word study in the book of Romans. Many of you who read this blog know the results of that study. Susan and I are presently focused on reorganizing our life in order to refocus our life on home fellowship. I am posting this morning to ask for your prayers accordingly.

I stumbled onto a post that follows, which has further fanned the flames of what I am feeling. My response to the writer of the post follows. It all looks like the ministry I am longing for.

If you’ve been following me lately, you know that I talked about being Jesus-curious after Charlie Kirk’s memorial. I never expected almost 2 million people to see that. Shawn and I are going to try church tomorrow.

But how do you pick a church? People said to pick a good church. I don’t even know what that means. I always thought that “church” was inherently good.

Charlie’s memorial wasn’t even a week ago and it feels like ages ago at the same time. I want to feel what I felt during the music again. I want to hear someone talk about Jesus, not shame people like me for not knowing Jesus. I’m honest enough to admit that I’m afraid, I won’t even lie. This is absolutely terrifying because I have avoided it for years.

So how do we pick? What do we look for? How do you know you’re not going to get sucked down the wrong path? What I do know is that I feel compelled to be a part of this.

My reply follows:

You don’t need church to have a relationship with God and his son, Jesus Christ. And don’t long to be part of a movement. Salvation is being born again. If you want to be saved, you ask God to be born into his family as one of his children. This transaction is described in Romans chapter 6. Spiritually, you die with Christ, and the old you is put to death, and you are resurrected as a new person walking in new life. All things are new. Salvation is a family-of-God affair. You are a literal child of God when you are born again. You cannot be unborn.

Along with that comes a promise: if you love the truth and seek it, God will make sure you find it. In addition, as a born again child of God, you are indwelt with the Holy Spirit who will guide you; that’s a promise from God. He will NEVER leave or forsake you.

Secondly, you are the final arbiter of truth for your life and walk with God according to YOUR understanding of his word. Yes, you may consider what others say as an aide to learning, but the ONLY mediator between God and mankind is Jesus Christ. When you stand before God, YOU ALONE will be responsible for the sum and substance of your life and what others told you to do will not be an excuse. You are not obligated to believe anyone but your Father.

Ask God for new life, read and study his word, and fellowship with other seekers. You can also start your own home fellowship. I would avoid church. If you are born again, your whole life is worship, not a church service. I am a nurse. When I go to work, that is just as much church as anything else. If you go to church, DO NOT JOIN IN MEMBERSHIP. If you do, you are agreeing to let them control you. Church is an authoritative institution, not a family. Church, as we know it today, didn’t show up in history until AD 350. Church, as we know it today, has no doctrinal or historical connection to the 1st century ekklesia.

Be patient and walk with God…you have a lot to learn.

paul