Beyond The Church

Churches are wonderful places to assemble with other believers in worship and prayer. They are also great sources of support, community, and education. The Church is similar to grade school for believers. We learn the foundational basics in grade school, which are very important to our growth, future development, and livelihood. In Church, we learn and set the foundational principles of Christianity, setting us up to begin building our personal relationship with God. Unfortunately, most believers are stuck in grade school. The Church sets the foundation, but they are not teaching people how to build their temple for God. Instead, the foundation is fortified with rules, closemindedness, outdated curriculums, and often dumbed-down teachings that stagnate, conform, and imprison our souls, hindering our relationship with God. Believers are stuck in grade school, forgetting to continue to grow and elevate up to where God is. The Church is not the middle man or the way to God. The Church is simply the foundation. If we as believers never go beyond the Church and develop our relationship with God, it is like building a foundation for a house and never building the house. The foundation sits in the dirt as weeds grow up and overtake it. It is also like never leaving the immature mentality of grade school preventing you from experiencing life in new and exciting ways in its totality. As Christians, it is our responsibility to go beyond Church open-mindedly, allowing the Word to come alive. It is called the Living Word. Our job is to dig deeper than the surface, seeing it with fresh eyes to discern its direction for our own lives. We must develop our own personal relationship with God. This relationship allows Him to be our teacher. It allows Him to reveal himself to us more and more as He leads us through the journey of healing our souls. This Divine relationship helps us awaken to our truth, heal our inner darkness and elevate our consciousness on our way to becoming Love. It is not enough to call ourselves Christians and do works in Jesus’s name. Take what Jesus says in Mathew 7:21-24 to heart. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²² Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ ²³ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ ²⁴  “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. Does Jesus know you? Do you know Him? Most Christians, if they are being honest, will say no. They might believe, worship, and follow His teachings. However, most have never experienced Him intimately because they have not gone beyond the Church. They have not sought after him from within. They have been lazy in Spirit, content with going through the motions at Church on Sundays. It may seem harsh when Jesus calls these Christians evildoers, but not being willing to go beyond Church creates a hypocritical people. Those who inadvertently sin against others and themselves. They sit in judgment of others instead of looking upon them with compassion and Love. They imprison themselves with rigorous controls and rules, wreaking havoc upon their lives. They have settled for a life less than their heart’s desires because of feeling unworthy. They are suffering from anxiety, addiction, depression, illness, and a myriad of personal/relational problems because of the unholy attack. It’s no wonder churches are struggling with low numbers. Most Christians are not leading much different lives than the masses. However, take heart! You are a child of the Most High! There is a seat for you at His table! His table is not found in a church. Go beyond Church, where the focus is mainly on external things. Mark 8:36, ESV: “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” Go within; you are the Church, you are the temple that holds the Spirit of Jesus. You are made in His image and likeness. Allow His Spirit to resurrect within your heart and soul, overtaking your whole being. Then Love and righteousness will become a reflex. Then the fruits of the Spirit will be your constant companions. Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit  is Love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. What a way to live. No more striving, just being who God created you to be! It all starts with a personal relationship with Him, your Creator. The urgency is real!