REBUILDING OUR SPIRITUAL DEFENCES: BROKEN INDIVIDUALS, PEW AND PULPIT

 “Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it, and whoever breaks the hedge, serpent shall bite him.” – Ecclesiastes 10:8

“For we must needs die, and are as water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person, yet, doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him.”  - II Samuel 14:14

Most times, we are the architects of our fortunes as well as our misfortunes. Breaking our spiritual hedges amounts to breaking down our individual spiritual walls. When we do, the result is usually unwanted visitors. Igbos would say that “Anyone who fetches an ant infested firewood has invited lizards to a feast in his house.” Israel had broken the hedge and the serpents of captivity and devastation bit her.

The book of Nehemiah can aptly be titled, “Diary of a Reformer and Restorer.” It tells the story of a man who was on a mission to rebuild a nation that was totally devastated. Recalling God’s warning and its attendant results, Nehemiah prayed:

“Remember the word You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations.” (Nehemiah 1:8)     

The devastation that was visited on Israel was as a result of opening themselves up to sin and disobedience of all sorts. Because Israelis had broken their spiritual walls (their defences), they were bitten by the serpent of captivity and desolation. Yes, Israel was the architect of the misfortune she suffered, but would God abandon His people? When we fall, will God abandon us?

GOD IS INTERESTED IN REBUILDING AND RESTORATION

God is God of New Beginnings. The God we serve is the God of Second Chance. He opens doors for Fresh Start. He desires to give people New Beginning, only if they would accept His offer to make them the way He wants them to be. At Jeremiah 18:1-6, God gives us a revelation of what He does with those who have lost themselves: 

“The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, ‘Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.’ Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again into another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, ‘O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter?’ saith the LORD. ‘Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in mine hand, O house of Israel.’ ” 

God is an expert in rebuilding shattered lives, shattered dreams and shattered expectations. In essence, He is the Porter and we are the Clay. He has a place where He refines and remoulds people back to usefulness. In Jesus, God recreates our past, renews our present and readies our future. When we are down, He will lift us up. When sin interferes with our lives, His grace intervenes on our behalf. When Satan shatters our lives, His grace glues us up and restores us to wholeness.   

REBUILDING BROKEN INDIVIDUALS

Sin disorganizes, defaces and destroys people, but grace rescues and restores them. Someone remarked that, “Man is born broken, he lives by mending Grace is the glue.” Galatians 6:1 enjoins us: 

“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” 

Admittedly, the Church of Jesus Christ is a spiritual hospital where all manners of sick people are admitted and treated. People are plagued by different illnesses. What ails one is not what ails the other. The twelve Apostles of Jesus aptly embody this fact: all these were suffering from one spiritual malady or the other. Some were mild while others were grave. While they were with Jesus, eleven of them were rescued from their various ailments while one (Judas Iscariot) whose ailments could not be cured was lost. At John 17:12 Jesus prayed: 

“…those You gave me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition…”

There is no gainsaying the fact that we are all plagued by one spiritual and moral ailment or the other. While we meet as Christians, God uses His Word and Spirit to address our spiritual and individual challenges. Some of us have been cured of the sicknesses we came into Christ with and are now strong and alive in the spirit while some of us are still struggling with our various ailments. What should we do to those who are still struggling? Should we “shoot our wounded” or help them to heal and be restored?   

Jesus’ encounter with a woman who was caught in adultery (John 8:1-11) shows us what to do. First, it reveals that sin is a trap set by Satan with baits on it to attract weaklings, who, in the moment of arousal of passions lose their senses, get on board and are caught.

What was Jesus’ reactions to this woman’s spiritual and moral challenge? Did He join those who were calling for her head? No! In the midst of voices of judgment, Jesus’ Voice delivered mercy. After addressing the judgementality and hypocrisy of the crowd when He asked, “Who among you is without sin? Let him cast the first stone” (John 8:7), the result was “…those who heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even to the last …” (John 8:8). Indeed, “Mercy triumphs over judgment” (James 2:13b).

We should not excuse or tolerate sin because sin is destructive (“He who sins against me hates his soul” Proverbs 8:   ). While God hates sin, He still loves the sinner. He is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (II Peter 3:9).

God is interested in rebuilding shattered lives. No matter how low you have sunk, God is still interested in remaking you. The word, “Remission” found in Acts 2:38 is from the root word, “Re-mission.” It means to “re-commission” and to “re-launch.” In other words, in Jesus Christ, God re-commissions and re-launches us.  

At I Timothy 1:12 – 15, Apostle Paul recalls what God can do with those who are willing to change:

“…I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has enabled me because he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; who was before a blasphemer, a persecutor, and injurious, but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.”

Here, Apostle Paul says that God used him as an example for anyone who thinks he/she has sinned beyond redemption. God can change anyone. If He could change Saul, a terrorist and religious bandit who became Paul, then there is no one He cannot change. Ephesians 2:10 says,

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

In a typical carpenter’s workshop, he produces and showcases his craft. Usually, he has a showroom where he displays “his workmanship.” Here, he demonstrates how he is able to turn “useless woods” into “beautiful pieces of furniture.” In the same way, God takes “useless people” and makes them “useful” (cf. Philemon verse 11), and displays them for the world to see. At I Corinthians 6:9 – 11, Apostle Paul expresses what God can do with sinners who are willing to be reworked:

“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”

God is not interested in condemnation, but in redemption. He takes pleasure in the return of the Prodigals and their reunions with Him. 

How To Recalibrate Your Life To Serve Higher Purpose

1. Live a Self-Supervised Life

Philippians 2:12 enjoins us, 

“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”

Do not wait to be seen and monitored by fellow Christians before you live the way you should. Regulate and supervise yourself. 

2. Live A Practical Christian Life

In his book, James: Practical and Authentic Living, Chuck Swindoll asked: 

“If you say you believe like you should, then why do you behave like you shouldn’t?” 

II Timothy 2:19 says, “Nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, ‘The Lord knows those who are His. Therefore, let everyone who names the Name of Christ depart from iniquity.” Immorality is antithetical to the Christian Faith and Congregational growth. 

Moral prodigality will remain a stain on our Christian garments. At Zechariah 3:1-3, we see what moral prodigality can do to a child of God: 

“And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.  And the LORD said unto Satan, ‘The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD Who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?’ Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.” 

Let us make it a priority to beautify the Church of Christ in our local congregations with the beautiful moral lives we model.

3. Cultivate Higher Moral and Spiritual Disciplines

As Christians, our daily goals should be to “please God.” II Corinthians 5:6, 8-9 says:

“So, we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. ... We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.”

To be “present in the body” is to live the way we would have loved to while to be “absent from the body” is to live the way God wants us to.  

4. Practice God’s Presence Daily

Recognize that God is watching your every move. II Chronicles 16:9 tells us:

“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.…”

If people do not see you, God sees you. Knowing that God sees you and knows everything you do even when others do not should help you to know how you live.       

5. Live Above Spiritual Mediocrity

Going to church is not the end of it all. Learn to be completely absorbed in the Divine and to experience God personally. At Philippians 3:10 Apostle Paul wrote, “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection….”  

6. Stop Living For The Now

Remind yourself daily – time and time again of the consequences of living in the “NOW.” Esau lived for the NOW and he suffered the consequence. Hebrews 12:16 - 17 warns: 

“Let there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.”  

7. Live With Eternity In View

Live with eternity in view. Do not live for today, live for tomorrow. Do not destroy your future with your present. In his novel, The Celibates, James Kavanaugh wrote, 

“Do not destroy your beautiful soul with a piece of ass….” 

We must understand that a few moments of joy could usher in months of misery (Romans 6:21). Deuteronomy 32:29 states: 

“O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!” (KJV). 

When we live with eternity in view, life would have more meaning than the present holds. This is because there is life beyond this present life. Living for the hereafter has greater purpose and requires all the resources one has to attain to that purpose. Living for the hereafter is living for the higher purpose. This is the real life. Anything short of this is a mirage. 

STRENGTHENING THE PULPIT

While the Church is the “ground and pillar of the Truth” (I Timothy 3:15), the Pulpit is the heart and engine of a doctrinally sound congregation. A weak and compromised pulpit are threats to the continued existence of the New Testament Church.

A doctrinally weak congregation is a compromised Church. We stand to lose the Church of Christ of today to a future generation who do not know the differences between the New Testament Church and churches of men.

There is no gainsaying the fact that the differences between the New Testament Church and denominations is doctrine. To strengthen the Pulpit is:

1.    To equip men to become men of Book, Chapter and Verse.

2. To equip men who would contend earnestly for the Faith once for all delivered to the saints (Jude v.3).

3.To equip men who will speak where the Bible speaks, Silent where the Bible is Silent, Call Bible Things by Bible Names and Do Bible things by Bible ways (I Peter 4:11).

4. To equip men who will not go beyond that which is written (I Corinthians 4:6).

5.To equip men who will stand to ask, “By what authority?” (Matthew 21:23).

6. To equip men who will insist, “To the Law and to the Testimony: if they do not speak account to these there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20).

7. To equip men whose allegiance is to the Lord, and to His Word (Acts 20:27). 

8.    To equip men who will insist on “Divine Pattern” (Hebrews 8:5; cf. II Samuel 6:3-10; I Chronicles 15:13-15).   

9. To equip men to detect error with Biblical laser-like precision. It was T. M. Clement, Jr. who observed, “Those who set a truth apart, have truth in part and from the Truth depart.”   

To equip men to strike a balance between Moral Purity and Doctrinal Integrity – to “watch over their lives and their doctrines” (I Timothy 4:16).

The Pulpit is where sound doctrines are promoted. It is not a place for entertainment. Preaching is not a call into the paparazzi or the razzmatazz. It is a solemn call to duty, which requires uncommon courage, commitment, can-do-spirit and Sterling-worth integrity.

Preachers are people whose sermons should be bullets, not buckle shots. We need pulpits where the Word is strongly proclaimed, where doctrinal errors are not tolerated (Galatians 2:4-5).   

Guideposts to Strengthen the Pulpit    

The mission of a minister is to bring God’s Word to the people and to bring the people to God. To strengthen his serve, he should do the following: 

1.   Implant Jesus

The greatest responsibility of a preacher is to make Jesus known; to implant Him in the hearts of those he ministers to. Apostle Paul’s heart-touching message at Galatians 4:19 remains every preacher's challenge: 

“My little children, of whom I travail in birth again UNTIL CHRIST BE FORMED IN YOU.”    

God’s ultimate desire is to see that every believer conforms to the Image of His Son (Romans 8:29b).

If a preacher succeeds in this assignment, he will have no problem in his work as a preacher because each person would be “established and rooted” in Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:6-7). When this happens, there will be less infighting, less lethargy and more commitment to the things of the Lord and to His Church.

 2.   Avoid the Pitfalls of Encomiums  

Preachers must close their ears to accolades and focus on their callings. Often, the mistakes preachers make is to allow themselves to be carried away by commendations. Some will say that you are a “powerful man of God.” Thank them, but do not let such statements get into your head. You must remember that God did not call you to be “powerful,” but to be a “faithful” man of God (II Timothy 2:2; Luke 17:10). It is this faithfulness that God rewards. 

3.   Be a Person of The Word

A preacher is God’s Mouthpiece where he is. He is called to sound the trumpet, to preach the Word. Therefore, he should “be instant in season and out of season, to rebuke and exhort with all longsuffering” (II Timothy 4:2).

A preacher is not called to “pamper people to hell, but to push them into Heaven.” How can this be accomplished? There should be no “What went wrong” sermons – every sermon must be a message.  

Preachers should remember that they are called to “feed the flock,” not to “feed on the flock.”  

4.   Magnify Your Ministry

At Romans 11:13, Apostle Paul affirmed, “For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I MAGNIFY MY MINISTRY.” What does this say to you, servant of God? – You must go about your duty with dignity! Do not make mockery of your calling and office by engaging in any kind of pettiness. You must not allow anyone to undermine your work.  Titus 2:15 says, “These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.”   How can a preacher magnify his ministry? By the way he conducts himself.     

5.   Have a Working Knowledge of Those You Minister To

Know your members. Know where they live and what they do to earn their living. Do not be standoffish. Visit them in their houses, farms, workshops and stalls. Apostle Paul’s statement at II Corinthians 11: 23-28 suggests that he had a working knowledge of the people he ministered to. 

6.   Draw a Work Plan (Proverbs 24:27)

Plan your work and work your plan. You should have a daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly plan of work. These plans should include targeted number of conversions, restorations, teachings and projects to initiate and execute.  

STRENGHTENING THE PEW

In Political Science, people talk about the “Office of the Citizen.” In the same vein, in Christianity, the Pew are critical stakeholders in the Kingdom business. To strengthen the Pew, the Pew should do the following:

1.    Do not accept line, hook and sinker whatever the Pulpit dishes out. Be like the “Bereans who searched the Scriptures daily to ascertain the veracity of what were taught” (Acts 17:11). 

2.    Do not go to Church to listen to the musicality of the Preachers’ voices. Ezekiel 33:30-32 says, 

“… son of man, the children of your people are speaking about you by the walls and in the doors of their houses;  they say to one another, ‘Come, and hear what is the Word that comes from the LORD.’ And they come to you as people come, and sit before you as my people; they hear your words, but they will not do them because with their mouths they express love, but their hearts are after covetousness. Behold, you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: they hear your words, but they do them not.” 

The Pew can only be strengthened when they become responsive to God’s Will. 

3.   To strengthen the Pew, Brethren must appreciate the fact that Preachers and Church Leaders are not called to “minister,” but to groom the saints while it is the responsibility of the saints to do the “work of Ministry.” Ephesians 4:12 says: 

“And he gave some, apostles; some, prophets; some, evangelists; some, pastors and teachers for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”   

In Church, “every member is a Minister.” Therefore, find out what roles you can play and what areas of your congregation’s need you can meet.     

4.    The Pew must appreciate the fact that they are not called to be “entertained,” but to serve (Church is not a group of entertainers, but a group of worshippers. Late Brother Jim Massey affirmed that “Worship is an outward expression of an inward sense of praise”). One of the greatest gifts we can give to God to strengthen our respective congregations is “Availability.”   

To demonstrate the importance of availability, the Psalmist says, “In the days of His battle His army shall be volunteers” (Psalms 110:3). Again, “The Lord gave the Word, great was the company of those who proclaimed it” (Psalms 68:11). 

II Corinthians 8:1-5 underscores the importance of availability when Macedonian Christians were commended for giving themselves first and then to the Lord. Giving ourselves or making ourselves available is an all-encompassing and all-involving transaction. It involves our time, talents, treasures and our lives in general.

No one who gets busy in the Lord’s Vineyard would ever complain of inertia. 

 CONCLUSION

Rebuilding our spiritual defenses requires cultivating personal relationship with God. As a Church, we must appreciate the fact that we are called to be “our brothers’ keepers.” When any one of us falls, it is our duty to help him or her to rise. We must stop “shooting our wounded.” We must cultivate grace-attitudes rather than being Pharisees (those who are far-to-see) and Saducees (those who are sad-to-see).

 To strengthen our Pulpits, our preachers must keep improving themselves to improve their serve. At I Timothy 4:13, 15 Apostle Paul told Timothy, “Until I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. ... Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.”

 Our Pews should be more “service-oriented.” We are happier and more productive when we serve than when we are not.

 Thank you.     

Hilary Johnson Chukwuma Chukwurah

TRACING THE TRUE CHURCH FROM THE BIBLE

 “Now I beg you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it has been declared to me of you, my brethren, by those who are of the household of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now, this I say, that every one of you says, ‘I belong to Paul; I belong to Apollos; I belong to Peter and I belong to Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius, lest anybody should say that I had baptized him in my own name.” – I Corinthians 1:10-14 

Imagine this scenario in the First Century Christianity using Jesus’ twelve Apostles:

1.Paul – Church of Christ.

2.Peter - a Catholic.

3.Matthew - an Anglican.

4.Andrew - a Methodist.

5.John - a Presbyterian.

6.Judas - a Cherubim and Seraphim.

7.Philip - a Pentecostal (father of all Pentecostals).

8.Thomas - a Jehovah’s Witness.

9.James (Son of Zebedee) - a Latter Day Saints.

10.Bartholomew – an Adventist.

11.Simon the Zealot – a Neo Pentecostal.

12.James (Son of Alphaeus) – a Baptist.

 

We all know that this was not true because God is not the “author of confusion” (I Corinthians 14:33). 

There is no gainsaying the fact that we live in an era of multiplicity of Churches. In Nigeria alone there are more than ten thousand independent churches. Conscientious and concerned believers in Christ have had causes to ask: 

1.   Is this this way things were in the First Century during the days of Jesus Christ, His Apostles and Disciples?

2.   What is the Church of the Bible and how can I identify her? 

In the days of the Apostles, the CHURCH was ONE. What we have today is foreign to what obtained then. There were no multiplicity of churches, only a plurality of congregations (Romans 16:16). All the apostles and early Christians stood for “One Faith, One Baptism, One Lord, One Body, One Hope and Father” (Ephesians 4:3-6). They were all enjoined to “Mark and avoid anyone who would seek to cause divisions contrary to the doctrines they had received and to avoid them” (Romans 16:17). They were also enjoined to “contend earnestly for the Faith once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude v.3). 

Understanding the New Testament Church is central to understanding true Christianity. In New Testament Scripture, Church was not an-all-comers affair.    

When Jesus promised to establish His Church, He did not mince words when He said, “I will build my Church” (not “Churches).” Matthew 16:13-18 says: 

“When Jesus came to the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, ‘Who do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, ‘Some say that You are John the Baptist: some, Elijah and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ And Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God. And Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon, Son of John because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you, ‘You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.’” 

The first time the word, “Church” ever occurred in the Bible is in Matthew 16:18. When Jesus spoke, He did not refer to Church in plural sense (“I will build my Churches”), but in singular (“I will build my Church”). This Church started on the Day of Pentecost and has remained so till date. 

In tracing the Church, the Bible speaks of the Church in three forms:

1.   The Church in Prophecy.

2.   The Church in Preparation.

3.   The Church in Existence. 

THE CHURCH IN PROPHECY

The Church in Prophecy was when prophets spoke of the coming kingdom. For instance, Isaiah 2:2 – 3 says: 

“And it shall come to pass in the latter days, that the mountain of Jehovah’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many peoples shall go and say, ‘Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Jehovah from Jerusalem.” 

In his prophetic declaration, Isaiah said that Jehovah’s House would be built on top of the mountains. God’s House refers to the Church, the “Ground and Pillar of the Truth” (I Timothy 3:15). He further indicated that the Word of Jehovah would spring from Zion (Jerusalem). At Luke 24:46 – 47, we read: 

“And said unto them, ‘Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”   

 

 

Jerusalem was the birthplace of the Church (Acts 1:8; Acts 2:1-5). Not Rome. Not England. Not Nigeria or anywhere in Africa, Europe or Asia. 

THE CHURCH IN PREPARATION

While the Church was in Preparation, Jesus spoke of the coming kingdom. At Mark 9:1, He told some of His disciples who were with Him: 

“…Verily I say to you: some of you who are standing here with me shall not taste of death until you have seen the Kingdom of God come with power.” 

In New Testament, the terms, “Kingdom” and “Church” are used interchangeably. Colossians 1:13 says: 

“Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.” 

In Acts 1:8, Jesus told His Disciples: 

“You shall receive power when the Holy Ghost comes upon you, and you shall be witnesses of me both in Jerusalem, in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” 

The Church was to start in Jerusalem, and in Jerusalem it started. 

THE CHURCH IN EXISTENCE

The Church in Existence speaks of the Church in Reality. On the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Ghost came to inaugurate the Church. Acts 2:1-47 regales us with evidence of what transpired and how, in fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophetic declaration that, “…all nations shall flow unto it” (Isaiah 2:2), sixteen nations were in attendance. Acts 2:41 says that about three thousand souls were saved and became members. In fact, Acts 2:47 says, “Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” 

From Acts 2, the Church has remained in existence till today. However, certain challenges had bedeviled her. There were internal squabbles as well as external interferences (especially persecutions and doctrinal corruptions), which greatly affected her existence and spread.    

BASTARDIZATION OF NEW TESTAMENT CHRISTIANITY

The bastardization of New Testament Christianity began with the persecution orchestrated by Emperor Nero, who, in his quest to rebuild the City of Rome had set it on fire. Rather than accept responsibility, he decided to accuse Christians of doing so. This precipitated mass persecution of Christians and Christianity. Several Emperors sustained this policy until Emperor Constantine whose mother was a Christian, but himself was not. It was said that during his military campaign to become the Roman emperor, he saw a sign of the Cross in the sky on his way to Rome under which it was written, “By this conquer.” 

Since the Cross is a symbol of the Christian Faith, he pledged that should he succeed, he would make Christianity a State Religion. He succeeded. As he had pledged, he made Christianity a State religion. By this act, Hell was let loose and Christianity became an all-comers affair. This gave way to State-controlled church, in this case, Roman State-controlled Church. This led to the emergence of Roman Catholicism. Because Rome was the political and military powerhouse of the world then, the empire promoted her own brand of Christianity as against the God-ordained Christianity. In Romish Christianity, the streams of Christianity and Roman paganism flowed together to form a confluence - Catholicism. 

There is no gainsaying the fact that Catholicism is a confluence of Christianity and Paganism. In Catholicism, you find elements of Christianity and paganism. 

While these were happening, True Christians left and continued the practice of New Testament Christianity, albeit in their few numbers. They could not compete with State-sponsored and promoted Catholicism and with the passage of time, continued to dwindle. They were found in various countries and continents across the world. As Jesus had promised, “The Gates of Hades shall not prevail against the Church” (Matthew 16:18c). 

From around 400AD till early 16^th Century, there was spiritual and religious darkness, which permeated the global landscape. Several efforts were made by individuals and groups to cause a renaissance, but were stifled by Romanism. These continued until Protestantism sprang up led by the like of Martin Luther. 

Protestantism opened the space for questions and robust debates. These gave way to the emergence of the Restoration Movement, which sought and seeks to restore the New Testament Church to what she was in the Bible. 

RESTORATION MOVEMENT AND THE CALL FOR NEW TESTAMENT CHRISTIANITY

At Jeremiah 6:16, we read: 

“Thus says the LORD, ‘Stand in the ways, see and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.…” 

Going back to the “Old Path” to ask for the “Good way” and to “Walk in it” is God’s call for people to back to how things were.   

Reformation Movement is different from Restoration Movement. The mantra of the Restoration Movement has remained:

1.   “Let the Bible speak.”

2.   “Let us go back to the Bible.”

3.   “Speak where the Bible speaks, and silent where the Bible is silent; call Bible by Bible names and do Bible things by Bible ways.”  (I Pet. 4:11; Isaiah 8:20).

4.   “No creed, but Christ.” 

Restoration of the New Testament Church implies going back to:

1.   Organizational structures.

2.   Doctrinal practices.

3.   Worship patterns.    

God is pattern-oriented. Everything He does is done according to pattern and requires same from those who are to do His Will (Hebrews 8:5). Because the Ark of the Covenant was not carried according to God’s established pattern, but a “New cart” was invented to carry it, God struck Uzzah and he died (II Samuel 6:3-8). The Nation of Israel had to go back to the Scripture to discover the pattern and was able to carry the Ark of the Covenant successfully. I Chronicles 15:13-15 tells us: 

“Because we did not carry it the way the LORD had prescribed at the first time, He was angry at us because we did not seek Him accordingly after the due order. So, the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel.  And the Levites bore the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded according to the word of the LORD.”        

If you really want to serve God, serve Him as He commands (cf. Exodus 8:27), not as you wish or as someone else has arranged.   

ORGANIZATION

The New Testament Church is non-denominational. Each congregation is autonomous. There is no central government with an overall human head (No “General Overseer”). No physical headquarter. The Headquarter of the Church is where the Head of the Church is (Philippians 3:20; John 14:3). Jesus Christ is Head of the Church (Ephesians 5:23). 

Each Congregation of the Church of the Bible is led by a plurality of Bishops (Pastors, Presbyters, Overseers, Elders, Shepherds (Philippians 1:1; Acts 14:23). 

DOCTRINAL PRACTICES

The doctrinal stance of the New Testament Church is anchored on the Doctrines of Jesus Christ. II John 9 – 11 says: 

“Whosoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ, does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. Therefore, if anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house, neither bid him Godspeed because anyone who bids him Godspeed is partaker of his evil deeds.” 

The Church is not guided by the teachings of Moses, Old Testament Prophets, the Psalmist, etcetera because those people are no longer speaking for God today. Hebrews 1:1 says: 

“God, who in sundry times and in divers manners spoke in time past to the fathers through the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us through His Son, Whom He has appointed heir of all things and through Whom He also made the worlds.” 

That Jesus is the only One Who speaks for God and whose teachings the Church is guided by today is further reinforced by what transpired at the Mount of Transfiguration. Matthew 17:1-5 tells us:     

“After six days, Jesus took Peter, James, and John, his brother, and brought them up into a high mountain and was transfigured before them. As He was being transfigured, His face shone like the sun, and his clothe became as white as the light. Then Moses and Elijah appeared to them and talked with him. While they were talking, Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here: if you want, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them and a Voice out of the cloud, said, ‘This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.’” 

Any doctrine that was not taught by Jesus and His Apostles are not subscribed to by the New Testament Church. For instance, payment of tithes, and the use of musical instruments in worship were not taught by Jesus and His Apostles. 

Tithe Payment

Tithe payment is not a Christian practice, and so the Church does not subscribe to it (Numbers 18:24-26; cf. Hebrews 7:5, 11-12, 16). 

Does the church you attend practice Tithe payment? If she does, then it is not doing God’s Will. 

Musical Instruments

Musical instruments was never God’s idea in worship. He had accused King David of their inventions (Amos 5:23; cf. 6:5), which David accepted he did (I Chron. 15:16; I Chron. 23:5). Acapella (singing without accompaniment of instruments) is the New Testament practice (Matthew 26:30; I Cor. 14:15; Eph. 5:19; Hebrews 13:15). 

Does the church you attend employ the use of musical instruments in her worship? If she does, then it is not doing God’s Will. 

Plan of Salvation

To be saved, the Church follows the Biblical pattern of salvation: Hear the Gospel, Believe the Gospel, Repent of your sins, Confess faith in Jesus Christ and be Baptized into Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and then added to the Church (Acts 2:47). 

Does the church you attend teach Bible’s Plan of Salvation? If it does not, then she is not doing the Will of God. 

WORSHIP

Worship is the outward expression of an inward sense of praise. Worship is central to the Church’s activities on Earth. The New Testament Church worshipped God daily. Acts 2:42, 46 tell us: 

“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. ... And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.”   

Elements of the corporate worship life of the New Testament Church include: 

1. Prayer. 2. Teaching. 3. Preaching. 4. Singing. 5. Weekly Observance of the Lord’s Supper. 6. Giving voluntarily to support God’s Work.    

Does the church you attend worship God according to New Testament pattern? If she does not, then she is not doing the Will of God. 

DOES THE NAME OF THE CHURCH YOU ARE A MEMBER MATTER?

What was the first century church called? How were the early disciples designated? Was she called:

1.   Pentecostal even though she started on the Day of Pentecost?

2.   Methodist even though she follows Biblical methods?

3.   Baptist even though she practices Biblical baptism?

4.   Catholic even though she is Catholic (universal) in scope?

5.   Jehovah’s Witness even though she witnesses for Jesus?

6.   Deeper Life even though she encourages people to live deeper Christian life?

7.   Assemblies of God even though she assembles regularly? 

Because Jesus established His Church (Matthew 16:16-18), Purchased Her with His Own Blood (Acts 20:28), and is Head over Her (Colossians 1:18), the Church is not called after the name of a person or a group of persons; the Church is not named after a concept. She practices what He commands and answers the Name of Her Owner. Romans 16:16 says: 

“Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.”  

Why would men set aside Jesus’ Name, and designate themselves by human heroes (example, Lutheran)? Or name themselves after some form of organization (example, Presbyterian)? Or adopt titles according to some individual point of doctrine they espouse (example, Baptist)? 

MY APPEAL TO YOU

Would you not want to be member of the Church of the Bible? Is it not possible today to be a part of the original church without any affiliation to a church organism that has adopted merely some of the elements of Christianity? 

You may be zealous for God, but if your zeal is not backed by knowledge, you are zealously mistaken. Romans 10:1-3 says: 

“Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” 

Let us go back to Jerusalem where true Christianity began and can be found (Luke 24:47). True Christianity is not found in the church that started in Rome, Germany, America, England, Africa or Nigeria but in Jerusalem!   

God bless you as you make the most important decision of your life today!