It's not that the church doesn't have the desire to reconcile sinners or Christians in the modern church, the desire is there. My argument is that they are too much concerned with uniformity rather than unity. Uniformity is defined as; the quality or state of being uniform. Unity is defined as; the state of being one; oneness. There is a subtle difference in being uniform and in being in unity. Doctrinally speaking the church should be in unity, but at the same time unity of doctrine doesn't mean that you give up your free will. Uniformity, as I see it means that we all behave in the same manner, just think of an army. The soldiers are in uniformity, they all are asked to behave and are trained to behave in the same way. It can be a matter of life and death if someone steps out of line. Unity doesn't mean we all behave in the same way, it is a call for unity of heart. In the bible God makes a new testament promise in Hebrews 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people. Also another verse to consider is found in 2 Corinthians 3:6 KJV Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
This is the heart of unity in the church, it is a heart thing. The holy spirit give us the law of Christ written in our hearts, and that law is the law of love. It's not that rules become obsolete, but we are no longer under the written code of the law. Our sacramental life is one of grace, the Christian becomes a minister of reconciliation, (2 Corinthians 5:18 NIV) All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. From this position, we can bring sinners to the cross and into our churches, and we can reconcile lost Christians back into the fold, because God has given us this ministry.
I don't think the modern church is practicing this right now, they are so busy doing church that the practice of being of the spirit is being lost. They are currently more concerned with the letter of the law and unfortunately the letter kills. The church needs to change it's focus to becoming more Grace oriented, and when their orientation changes, you might see more truth and love coming from the church. My question is why has this been happening for so long, could it possibly be that there are many unsaved people running our churches? People who are just concerned with church attendance, and building up their churches financially? Whatever the reason, the focus needs to change. The state of our world is in a mess, and just addressing the problem from our pulpits and alters, puts the focus out there. It puts the focus on other people, and condemns innocent people in the church who are actually trying to live a holy life.
The church has become man centered and with that comes a lack of forgiveness which is actually necessary for anyone to be reconciled. When the church refuses to restore Christian, and lost sinners to God it becomes defiled. It still remains a church, but it is failing to give Christ to the public or to themselves in the way the new testament talks about. This goes beyond legalism into outright abuse, and there needs to be a call, and a repentance back to true restoration and reconciliation within the church.
This is the heart of unity in the church, it is a heart thing. The holy spirit give us the law of Christ written in our hearts, and that law is the law of love. It's not that rules become obsolete, but we are no longer under the written code of the law. Our sacramental life is one of grace, the Christian becomes a minister of reconciliation, (2 Corinthians 5:18 NIV) All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. From this position, we can bring sinners to the cross and into our churches, and we can reconcile lost Christians back into the fold, because God has given us this ministry.
I don't think the modern church is practicing this right now, they are so busy doing church that the practice of being of the spirit is being lost. They are currently more concerned with the letter of the law and unfortunately the letter kills. The church needs to change it's focus to becoming more Grace oriented, and when their orientation changes, you might see more truth and love coming from the church. My question is why has this been happening for so long, could it possibly be that there are many unsaved people running our churches? People who are just concerned with church attendance, and building up their churches financially? Whatever the reason, the focus needs to change. The state of our world is in a mess, and just addressing the problem from our pulpits and alters, puts the focus out there. It puts the focus on other people, and condemns innocent people in the church who are actually trying to live a holy life.
The church has become man centered and with that comes a lack of forgiveness which is actually necessary for anyone to be reconciled. When the church refuses to restore Christian, and lost sinners to God it becomes defiled. It still remains a church, but it is failing to give Christ to the public or to themselves in the way the new testament talks about. This goes beyond legalism into outright abuse, and there needs to be a call, and a repentance back to true restoration and reconciliation within the church.
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