Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:15-21
What does the ekklesia (body of Christ – called the ‘church’) really supposed to look like? Does the current ‘church system’ look anything like the The Way (the body of Christ in the first century)? Or does it look more like the old Hebrew Pharisee way of doing things with all the rituals and weekly observances and buildings? Or is like the apostle Paul’s and Polycarp’s time where EVERYONE who was a real follower of Jesus had to follow and listen to the Holy Spirit’s instructions for just day to day life?
What are some disturbing modern day religious developments seeping within the Church? Guilt drives behavior. All your activity in the local Church, your giving, your attendance is all fueled by shame instead of love. And it actually feels like manipulation. Questions aren’t welcome. Inquiry is treated like rebellion and insubordination. Grace is preached but performance is expected. You hear about God’s unconditional love on Sunday – but feel like you have to earn it and prove it the other six days of the week through service and works to the church. So basically … acceptance is by works not Christ’s love. If you walk away from any activity in the local church you are attending you are seen as backslidden or rebellious. (Healthy communities SEND people OUT.) Christ culture does not create anxiety, but many ‘church cultures’ do.
Are you encouraged to learn church doctrine and theology without ever learning to hear the Voice of the Holy Spirit? Is scriptural information equal to revelation and Holy Spirit conviction and inspiration? How can you be inspired by the Holy Spirit without ever learning how to discern His voice or whisper? Do you have to have your spiritual decisions backed up by committee? There is wisdom in counsel, but if you need permission from “your” local spiritual leadership (pastor) to follow what God is showing you – then the Church has become your ‘mediator’ and lord rather than Jesus.
Does your ‘peace’ only come from being in church activities? Do you often seek more church activity, attending, serving, giving, and participating hoping to find more ‘peace’? If you strip away all that activity, do you feel disconnected from God? <- Not a good sign if the Holy Spirit is supposed to be dwelling within you. The fruit of the Holy Spirit IS peace (along with 8 others). Equating small groups, programs, and studies as ‘spiritual relationship’ rather than real intimacy with the Holy Spirit, Jesus, and the Father is also dangerous. Is your Church teaching you to rely on the Holy Spirit or on services, programs, small groups, and service? What actually changes a person? Self-improvement or spiritual transformation through the Holy Spirit? Which one does Jesus require?
A spiritually mature follower of Christ sees all these potholes in the road and path He has the believer walking down. They’ve learned to go beyond the third-grade sermons and dig deep into the scriptures and at the same time delving deep into intimacy with the Holy Spirit. They learned to follow the ‘whisper’ of the Holy Spirit within them and trust Him. The obey quickly the promptings from the Holy Spirit – for they have learned how to discern His voice quickly and clearly after years of practice and discipline of walking with Him.
Is this the path you are on? Do you see potholes in the path? Do you see the snares of the enemy set to entrap you? Can you hear His immediate instructions and warnings in your mind and spirit?