A short history lesson
How does this apply to the church?
The impression I always received from this nursery rhyme, when I was a child, was that Humpty was broken and shattered into so many pieces that he just couldn’t be repaired. Although I found the above interesting, I think I’m going to fall back to my childish understanding which then allows me to more clearly contrast it with the state we find our churches in--broken and shattered in terms of unity. Although I think the terms “fat” and “a broken cannon” are also apt descriptions. I hope we can all agree by now that she’s broken, but thank God (unlike all the king’s horses and all the king’s men) there is one who can put Her back together again and that someone is the Holy Spirit.
But before the Holy Spirit can use us to put her back together again we need to know what the church looked like when it was whole.
What is the "biblical" foundation upon which
the early New Testament church rested?
- Jesus Christ himself is to be the chief corner stone (Eph 2:19-20 NKJV)
- The foundation is to rest upon the apostles and prophets teachings (Eph 2:19-20 NKJV)
- The whole (spiritual) building, being fitted together, is to grow into a holy temple in the Lord (Eph 2:21 NKJV)
- We the temple are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit (Eph 2:22 NKJV)
- We are the precious living stones that make up this temple (1 Pet 2:4 NKJV)
- We, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (1Pet 2:5 NKJV).
We beloved, along with others in Christ, make up the the Church -- not some corporate institution!
It should be fairly clear from the above that the church is not a building. The true church is essentially invisible and Spirit-led. There is a very real difference between corporate church structure and biblical church order. God doesn't need clever organizers or overlords masquerading as biblical pastors. What God wants is what He originally established in the New Testament patterns for oversight and guidance in the church. It is as follows:
"And He Himself (Jesus) gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Eph 4:10-14 NKJV).
Elders were the overseers of the church
"The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away" (1 Pet 5:1-4 NKJV).
Position in the church was not an occupation nor was it something to grasp at. The church didn't need a superman who could do and be everything that the church needed -- that was to be the Holy Spirit's position. On the contrary, biblical "elders" humbly took responsibility to serve and to see that the church remained in order as it worshiped collectively in the Spirit.
The church is to be self ministering
The church is to feed itself as each one, in unity, shares their gifts from the Holy Spirit -- the choreographer and orchestrator being the Holy Spirit himself. In this way the church shares a diet of spiritual food with each other and each is allowed to fully mature in Christ (1 Cor chapters 12-14).
Can you see how different this is from what we typically call "church"? This was the biblical pattern for church life, growth and unity all across the Body of Christ. The Holy Spirit led his church in the earth and turned the entire known world upside down with the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ s' good news of salvation.
When and where did they fellowship?
Whenever they could and wherever they could. For the most part they met very naturally in homes as was the Jewish custom. They would break bread together and celebrate Messiah Jesus with prayer, song, and worship. They occasionally met in larger collective gatherings.
We do well to remember that for the first sixty years there would be no New Testament writings to study. These writings weren't yet written down. Just think, no New Testament at all! Jewish men who were brought up in the scriptures from childhood referenced the Old Testament writings in the context of the New Covenant of grace. They did so as they were led by their new-found guide, the Holy Spirit.
These types of spontaneous meetings continued for a few hundred years until Emperor Constantine put a stop to them (approx. A.D. 325) and altered the face of Christianity forever -- or at least up until now.
Well, here we are in 2010 and the church remains very much Constantinian in its structure. The question is are we ready to pay the price in order to change the landscape we now call Christianity? Do we have the courage to return to biblical patterns such that unity can once again emerge and thrive in a Spirit-led atmosphere ... ?
A Note of Caution
About institutional pastors
Institutional Pastors are unknowingly Satan's pawns
Pastors that have been preconditioned in Bible colleges and seminaries etc. are so programmed that they never even think to question their denominational, doctrinal foundations. For the most part they have swallowed it all, hook, line and sinker -- and sink the church did!
It's as though they were given a set of church blinders at graduation. Since then they haven't bothered taking them off to look at New testament church patterns -- the true roots of Christianity.
What I'm opposed to is the institutional church model. This model sets up a false "Office of Pastor" in the church. This is clearly not biblical, but permeates nearly all of Christianity.
Allow me to sum it up:
A Note of Caution
Bible patterns are to be our frame of reference, but to be applied effectively we must be led by the Holy Spirit. To build according to any pattern (even a biblical one) without the Holy Spirit's leading will only produce another subtle form of religion. Let's become wise master builders and be led by God.
For now just to grasp the truth about what the church has become, in contrast to God's plan for it will suffice -- that is until the Holy Spirit makes his move in the earth once again ...
About institutional pastors
If you've been following this Blog for awhile you may have gotten the impression that I don't like pastors very much. I want you to know that this is absolutely untrue. I've never had a bad pastor; all of them were special people and unique in different ways. I honestly believe that each and every one of them loved the Lord with all their hearts and were, and still are, laying down their lives for Christ.
These pastors are being faithful to what their mentors taught them and theirs were faithful in turn to theirs. Unfortunately the problem goes back well over one thousand years -- back once again to the Emperor Constantine. There is way too much information to cover here, but briefly, Constantine established a class distinction between the priesthood and the laity (us common folk) and set up a structured setting for formal worship.
These pastors are being faithful to what their mentors taught them and theirs were faithful in turn to theirs. Unfortunately the problem goes back well over one thousand years -- back once again to the Emperor Constantine. There is way too much information to cover here, but briefly, Constantine established a class distinction between the priesthood and the laity (us common folk) and set up a structured setting for formal worship.
Institutional Pastors are unknowingly Satan's pawns
It's as though they were given a set of church blinders at graduation. Since then they haven't bothered taking them off to look at New testament church patterns -- the true roots of Christianity.
What I'm opposed to is the institutional church model. This model sets up a false "Office of Pastor" in the church. This is clearly not biblical, but permeates nearly all of Christianity.
So please don't think for one moment that I have a personal vendetta against pastors -- I don't. What I have is a personal vendetta against Satan for what he's done to our church (the Body of Christ).
The only way to undo Satan's handiwork is to speak out against the institution as it is, and to try and bring folks back to their New Testament roots ... This is what this "New Wineskin" Blog has been all about. I suppose I could sugar-coat it, but that never works.
The only way to undo Satan's handiwork is to speak out against the institution as it is, and to try and bring folks back to their New Testament roots ... This is what this "New Wineskin" Blog has been all about. I suppose I could sugar-coat it, but that never works.
Allow me to sum it up:
What we call church is not God's definition of church. Really folks, you cannot have church without the presence of the Holy Spirit. All you can do without Him is act out another dry form of religion seasoned with psychological manipulation and or emotionalism.
As long as man holds the reigns and gets all the attention the Holy Spirit will continue to distance himself .
It's time we say goodbye to the Humpty Dumpty Church and begin afresh and anew. The way to begin is to learn about and be faithful to biblical patterns of church life and to pray for a fresh visitation and outpouring of the Holy Spirit. And remember ...
As long as man holds the reigns and gets all the attention the Holy Spirit will continue to distance himself .
It's time we say goodbye to the Humpty Dumpty Church and begin afresh and anew. The way to begin is to learn about and be faithful to biblical patterns of church life and to pray for a fresh visitation and outpouring of the Holy Spirit. And remember ...
God does not share His glory with men ...
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