PASTOR RYAN LADEN – DEVOTIONALS
IF YOU LIKE THIS POST PLEASE FOLLOW US, SHARE WITH OTHERS AND PLEASE LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS AND GIVE US A LIKE.
Translate this site into your preferred language, look for our Google translator in our home page: diningwithjesus.net
Traduce este sitio en tu idioma preferido, busca nuestro traductor de Google en nuestra página de inicio ve a: diningwithjesus.net
“I believe in Jesus, but I just don’t want to be a part of the church.” I have heard this statement more times than I can count. I understand where this idea comes from. The people of the church (at large) can be a difficult lot. I certainly have scars left by the people of the “church” that I would not wish on my enemies. But we cannot dismiss the idea of being included in the church of Jesus Christ just because someone was mean to us. There is a lot more going on here.
In the passage that follows we are given a glimpse into the necessity of being included in the people of faith known to us as the church.
12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free —and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
(1 Corinthians 12:12-14 NIV11)
If you are someone who professes faith in the Lordship of Jesus Christ…
If you have called on the name of Christ for your salvation…
If you have followed the command of the Lord and been baptized…
If you have received the gift of new life as seen in the work of the Holy Spirit…
Then you are a part of the Body of Christ.
It is not an optional extra that the follower of Jesus can opt in or out of, if you are a part of Jesus, then you are a part of the Body of Christ. As a result of this connection, you are by definition a part of the church of Jesus Christ.
This truth is made clear in another teaching from the Apostle Paul as found in the passage that follows:
2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours: 3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
(1 Corinthians 1:2-3 NIV11)
Local / Worldwide
The Christians who were living in the town of Corinth were a part of the local Body of Christ, the local church. They were connected to one another because of their shared identity as followers of Jesus and they were connected to one another because of the love that the holy Spirit had placed in each of them for the other believers in Jesus.
The church is both the local representation of the Body of Christ as well as the worldwide family of faith.
Whether you are ready to own this truth or not, if you are identified as being in Christ, in faith, a part of the redemptive work of Jesus on the cross, and connected to the gift of eternal life found in the empty tomb, then you are an important part of the church.
Embrace it
If you are one of the many who feel that they can grow in maturity and strength as followers of Jesus but not be a part of his Body, the church, then you need to spend some time reading the message of the Bible.
When we embrace our place in the church, we are made stronger, better, more connected to Christ. When we are missing from the Body of Christ, the church, we harm the church and ourselves.
We need to connect with other Christians as we learn to commit to the gift of the church.
Try again
If it has been a while since you have been in community with other Bible believing, Jesus-loving, Spirit-filled Christ followers, maybe it is time to get connected. Find a local church that teaches the message of the Bible and encourages you to follow the commands and example of the Lord Jesus.
If that church does not treat you right, move on to the next one. Don’t let the weirdness and sinfulness of others deny you the gift waiting for you as you become a part of a local church.
In Christ,
Ryan Laden
PASTOR RYAN LADEN
Senior Pastor at PARK HILL BAPTIST CHURCH
Worked at MTN. CHURCH
Former Senior pastor at Warnbro Community Church
Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
Studied at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
Studied at Baylor University
Studied at Texas Tech University
Went to Castle Hills First Baptist
Get new content delivered directly to your inbox. Please Enter your email address in the box below.
Copyright © 2024 Ryan Laden – All Rights Reserved.
DINING WITH JESUS PRODUCTIONS 
You must be logged in to post a comment.