"My thoughts" by Erlend Hovdhaugen

The Church Has Left The Building

It has been a while since my last blog..
Anyway I'm back, and I got something I want to share with you ..

What is Church?
We are the body of Christ. His people.
We are the ones that chose to follow Him and what He stands for, we are people like the Apostles in the book of Acts, just ordinary people serving God.
We are His body, and we get together and meet at a Church-building worshipping and praising Jesus, at least once a week.
The Church is not the building, the Church is the people inside the building - the body of Christ Jesus.

I have seen different ways of "doing" Church,
and I don't believe that we have come up with one definitive answer to what Church is suppose to be today.
I want to get to my point as soon as possible today. Because if I don't, I will be writing about another subject on this matter.. haha ..

My question is this ; Where is the Church today, and what is she doing?

Me as a believer in Jesus, who walk with Him and talk with Him daily, has a responsibility as a Christian.
What is a Christian?
The Greek word for "Christian," is Christianos. This means "follower of Christ."
That means that if you are a Christian, you follow Him and want to follow Him.

Well, one of the things I believe lies in this responsibility of being a Christian is to represent Him in the best way.
That sounds fair, don't you think?
And for some reason, Church is not too good at that.
I have seen different ways, the ones that sticks to a tradition and old habits, and those who try to be more and more like what the Bible call "the world".

You know, you don't represent Jesus by going "Hallelujah!" and "Amen!" 50/100 times in a meeting,
and speaking in tongues so that people can see how spiritual you are.
And I believe that I don't have to go deeper into that. The apostle Paul was talking about this problem too in :

1 Corinthians 14:6
Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction?

or in verse 19 ;
But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.


I know what the Bible says about tongues, and I know that it is good for me in my private prayer-life .. But not in public..

This is just one of the strange things the Church is doing ..
And since I can go to the Bible and find it there too, it must be a "old problem".. but it still is a problem.

Please don't get me wrong.. I don't mind if you go of-speaking in tongues, it's that whoever comes in the building and wants too meet Jesus.
He might never come back to that Church because of things like that. And what is most important?
To remind the other members of the Church that you are still "in the spirit", or to represent Jesus in the best possible way?
Todays Church minister inside the building too much. It is time to move out and meet un-reached people, who are in need of their Creator. They will recognize Him if we represent Him the way He is.

This is just one of the strange things we do as Christians...
Can you imagine Jesus going around like that? I bet He known more tongues than anyone, in any language ever made..
But He didn't have to show off, He was already brilliant in Himself.



But when the Church tries to be more and more like the rest of the world, I get confused .. What is that all about?
Who are we trying to reach, and for what reason? And who's team are we working for, really?


I believe that its time for us as Church to spend our time right. Get to know God, get filled with His Holy Spirit. And to get an understanding of who He really is.
Get a hold of His unfailing Love for every person walking on this planet !
Anything else is a lie, because Jesus died for every person in this world over 2000 years ago.
He misses them, and He loves them as much as He loves you and me !

God has a big investment in us, lets go out and brag about how Great He is !
Lets see people get changed, and filled with His Love !
Lets make a different in this world by giving them Jesus, who is the answer to any question we will ever ask !

Lets BE Church, and follow Him !



May God Bless you beyond your imagination, so that you can bring His Life out to a people in need !


In Christ,
Erlend

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