♥While studying at Bethany school of mission years ago, one of my classes dealt with church diseases. Churches being organic can have diseases too. Here I want to share some of these.
No you won´t find this word in the dictionary but koinonia – Christian fellowship or communion with God or with fellow Christians.
Christian fellowship is very important but when out of balance a group can become only inward looking even creating clicks, only wanting to fellowship with the original group. A healthy church must fellowship but keep hearts open to growing inviting new folks to be a part of the church.
The church is called to fish for men, evangelize the community, country and nations, but when that´s all it does it can become critical of those that aren´t blazing fires of evangelist. Again we need times of healing through the Word taught, fellowship lived and God worshiped.
I love to worship God, enter into His presence through songs of praise and adoration, I have had times of worship alone and with other believers that I thought I would go right then and there into heaven. Chicken bumps and my hair standing straight up. Experiencing God´s presence is super, but He is always with me.
Once in a Christian concert we had already found our seats when a lady came down to the front and demanded a seat on the front row she was upset and fighting with somebody and got loud the musician came down to calm the situation before the concert began and finally she got a seat. The minute the music began she turned into an angel with hands raised. Our worship in the church must be done in humility and fellowship with others.
I believe there are some important doctrines that we must be dogmatic about, we can´t give any tolerance and we must stand strong in our faith. But some doctrines can be held with an open hand. Some differences on how to dress, if you speak in tongues or not, pet doctrines should never stop us from worshiping God together.
I believe you get the Idea! We the church must live balanced lives if we want to have a healthy church.
Doctrine is very important,
How we see God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.
Understanding what God has done for us through Jesus Christ.
Who and how we see ourselves as Christians, God´s children.
How we see the Church.
And what is my gifting and calling in the church is super important so that I grow as a member and follower of Jesus Christ.
Church is about relationships
First to Jesus Christ
Second to my brothers and sisters in Christ
Third to a lost world of people in need of a Savior.
Our relationship with God as with people must be two way.
Listening is always good.
The church is called to love, to go, to worship to learn to grow.