Creating Simple Church

What did Jesus do? He kept it simple. What have we done? We’ve complicated everything. Created a lot of expense and work. And now we have to keep that big machine running. Is that the church Jesus started? Is that the way he lived? When Martha came to Jesus complaining of her sister, Mary, did he praise Martha and correct Mary? Martha was creating a lot of work while Mary simply enjoyed the Lord. Can it really be that simple?

What is this big money materialistic machine we call church? And how many of those people in your congregation do you really know? And I’m not talking about those you may be blood related to, as in family that happen to attend your church. Of course you know them, but what about all the others? Those you call brothers and sisters, and yet you’ve never shared a meal in their house?

The church Jesus started is born in the book of Acts. Before that book is over we see a scattered church people meeting in homes and having close fellowship. This is what the early church was for about 300 years! It wasn’t the very large church in Jerusalem, before the scattering, that turned the world upside down, but it was all those small groups scattering to the wind and speaking of Jesus everywhere they went! And how much did it cost? What was their monthly budget and pastor’s salary? How much did a concern for money influence their church service?

Jesus sent his disciples out, even the 72, and told them to take nothing with them. I send you out as lambs among wolves. Good luck! But know, God is with you. (My interpretation added.)

Even the first church of Jerusalem, before God scattered them, and yes, I believe it was God who scattered them. It was part of God’s plan and His will. But what was the emphasis of that church, as the details are given in Acts chapter two? Do you even know? The thing mentioned “first” is devotion to the teaching of God’s Word. But the thing mentioned “MOST” is fellowship, meals, and the Lord’s Supper!

The next items would be prayer, worship, and giving. They showed their love by no one lacking. They knew how to share. They showed real Christian love, which is another form of fellowship. They did not live separated little lives that only rubbed elbows when they were doing a “church thing”. And please study all this yourself, least you think these are “my” ideas. No sir, this is what Jesus did! This is what is described and written in His Book, not any book of mine. I’m just a simple teacher who has studied this word all his life, and wants to be true.

So how simple can it get, teacher? Well… so far… our fellowship has needed no money whatsoever, other than the cost of food, whether we decide to eat out, or share food in a house. We do both. And I would even dare to say, money spent eating out, in order to have “fellowship” with the brothers and sisters, God would view as money given to “ministry’. (Just my opinion. I can’t prove that. But if your only church expenses is a meal out once in a while, that’s a whole lot less than supporting a big building and all the expenses that goes with it. We could say a meal out supporting a business and a waitress somewhere, is more “frugal” than supporting a huge building, leaving more money to actually help the poor and spread the Gospel.) That is one argument that could be made.

This week our Fellowship decided to eat out. Saturday was the best option for us, this week. We chose a China Buffet. Afterwards we went to a very nice shopping area which has outdoor seating and courtyard, where people gather and walk about. It was a beautiful day to be outdoors. The spot we chose had a metal table and metal rocking chairs. It was awesome! And completely free!

I opened my Bible on the metal table, we had prayer and then got into God’s Word. We didn’t pray loud and try to impress people, but anyone could tell what we were doing. People walked about. Cars slowly passed by. A group of young people were doing some kind of photo shoot using different colored umbrellas. Other people sat about enjoying a coffee, and lovers walked about holding hands. But our little group was just there enjoying a beautiful day, a great atmosphere, God’s presence, God’s word, and fellowship!

A bonus to all that was, people saw an open Bible on a table, someone obviously teaching, a group not acting weird in any way, or locked away in a building like they don’t want to socialize. And how much did all that cost? ZERO. Go help someone in need with that money, in the name of Jesus! The New Testament does teach “love offerings”, which can include giving to your pastor, but there is no law! (Just trying to be honest here, folks. Please study and confirm for yourself. Now if you’re a Pharisee, Jesus did expect them to tithe, as still under the law.)

Another benefit not spoken of much, our simple way also adds “variety”. For 60 years I went to box churches and did the same thing over and over again. Get greeted at the door by a friendly face who really did not know me, talk to a few people before service and ask how their week was, then the singing starts and all the shish boom bah, then pass a plate, give 10% or you’re robbing God, then a prayer, then a message, then an alter call and a chance to be prayed for, then out the door, and do it again Wednesday night or next Sunday. Over and over again. Where is creativity? Where is variety? What is this rut? Do we serve a God who lacks imagination? Our Fellowship never knows for sure what I may have us doing. (Granted, that does require taking a risk. LOL.)

However, the point is, this modern church program we been doing has lost this country. Many of the unbelievers also know that what we’re doing, simply is not what Jesus did! We preach Jesus but copy the world! We have a system, a program, a box. And we ask the world to get saved and come give at least 10% to our box. We promise to do good things with it, but what percentage goes to support fancy buildings, mansions for pastors, and just plain entertainment?

And where is the fellowship? How many homes have you shared meals within? How well do you really know them? Your brother, your sister?

Yes, a proper gathering of the Lord should have God’s presence, God’s word, worship and prayer, giving, fellowship, and a man proven and called of God as a leader. But the book of Acts seems to describe a heavy emphasis of true fellowship, not some shallow performance saying we care, when we really do very little to prove it. This is what the early church emphasized, put great importance upon, which included a real Lord’s Supper, not a tiny white thing and a thimble of grape juice. That’s not much of a supper. That’s not even an appetizer.

Jesus was always good at pointing out REALITY. He had a way of forcing people to come out of living in denial, such as: Ye who are without sin cast the first stone. Every religious person there was suddenly faced with the reality of their words and actions. They slowly, one by one walked away under conviction. But did they change? Did they try to make things right?

It’s my desire for this blog site to be a place of God’s word, truth, and reality, shared with love and fellowship. I desire the same thing for our little group. I’m just a simple man trying to be true to what I have seen in God’s word, as best I can. Wouldn’t you do the same? This week, at this shopping area, I shared a word from Matthew 3:1-3, where it says: “In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was…“

We talked about the message God gave John in his day, for his time. I stated we still have that same message today, but then I asked the group to add what might also be our particular message, because of the time we live in, and the particular challenges we see in our day? God expects us to be faithful to the spiritual needs “of our time”. What is our message?

As followers of Christ, God’s word challenges us to not be “entangled” in the things of this world, to not be materialistic, and show moderation in all things. How well are we doing with these challenges? And is our chosen church motivating us in these directions? If our life doesn’t match God’s word, is it because the preacher is not an example of it himself, or we’re just not listening? Whatever the reason might be, I pray God enables all of us to see more clearly, and grow into the true image of Christ. May this message be a word of truth to all who read, Amen.

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