restoring our biblical and constitutional foundations
As Long As
As long as there is a strong emphasis on church membership rather than on Christian witness and sacrifice
As long as the book of Acts is ignored in favor of books on church growth and mission strategy
As long as worship is something we attend rather than something we do
As long as the focus is on missionaries rather than on the whole people of God
As long as the gathered church refuses to be the scattered church
As long as Christians believe that church is a place of solace rather than a place of work
As long as planning and decision-making is entrusted solely to the leadership
As long as interest in humanity and the world is replaced by self-interest
As long as we identify minister with clergy status
As long as the pastor remains the answer man
As long as we refuse to acknowledge that the Old Testament distinction between priest and people has come to an end
As long as we love our churches and our organizations more than we love Jesus
As long as we go to church in the mood of a spectator and not a participant
…the church will never be a freed and freeing Body, equipping all believers to be agents of the kingdom of God.
June 26, 2008
David Alan Black is the editor of www.daveblackonline.com.