Pathways Press.com

Written by John Hey, a contemporary medical doctor and writer.

Many Christians stay in trouble, grow little, or even go astray and ruin their lives. This is often because they are lone “free lance” Christians and not closely connected to a real church. The church is God’s means of taking care of His children in this age—the church age.  A wolf will destroy a sheep that is off alone in the wilderness, so Satan has to find Christians that aren’t under the care, authority, and discipline of a local church. We must get rid of the idea that the church is a building or an address to hold meetings. Nor is the church a “preaching point” or performance that an audience attends for information or worse, for entertainment. All churches claim great doctrinal truths on paper but do they make the Lord Jesus Christ the head by first upholding the truth of God’s Word? Is the Word of God being taught in depth and power? Are Christians caring for one another? Is sin dealt with or just tolerated and ignored? Is there time for worship and praise to the Lord or just meaningless rounds of activity? Such a church might not be the largest or fastest growing, or most prestigious, but it won’t necessarily be small or stagnant either. It will be one where the Lord and His Word are taken seriously and His sheep are cared for and care for one another.

So that if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth.  [1 Timothy 3:15]