Recently,a woman shared with me that she was disallusioned with organized religion. She had been deeply hurt by a spiritually abusive pastor. She said that walking in a park gave her greater spiritual fulfillment than the church. We live in times of great stress and it seems that there are more cases of pastoral abuse, neglect and greed than ever before.
Jesus said that he would "build His church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it". The writer of the book of Hebrews declares, "Let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do . . ." God called us individually to Himself, but he called us into a community of faith to learn to care for one another.
1. We need biblical instruction from humble and gifted teachers and preachers.
2. We need to encourage one another to live a Christ honoring life.
3. We need to partake together in the Lord's Table to remember his suffering for us.
4. We need to unite in prayer for one another and for the needs of all people.
5. We need each others help to grow in love and in good ministries.
6. We need to remind each other that Jesus could return at any moment.
7. We need to remember that some Christians are hurting the church but not participating and using their spiritual gifts.
8. We need to remember that worshipping together, we are the body of Christ.
9. We need to beware that Satan wants to scatter the flock, when we are alone we are easy prey.
10. We need a church in the middle of the village to build a healthy community.
Don't allow unhealthy pastors and immature believers keep you from effective, fulfilling ministry in a local church.
Biblical Texts: Matt.16:18;18:17; Acts 2:42-47;20:28; Col.1:24;Heb.10:23-25.
