We should be rooted in God not rooted in the church

By Martin Cooke

We labour hard in the Lord but we do not see much fruit for it. So what is happening?

Here are some thoughts given to the people of God in Taunton. There are some that sit in the churches who are feeling that they could lead their church but do not have the opportunity to do it. God may be stirring this desire in them to make them move out and plant churches or communities of believers. God does not want Christians to stay and cause conflict within their home church but to move out and multiply for the sake of the kingdom.

God wants us to return to intimacy with Him. WE have been joined to the Lord but it is the joining of our hearts in love that is important. In marriage it is not the ring that is all important, nor is it the ritual of marriage. God wants us to be free of all the rules that tie us down and to live in our love for Him. Some do not like the expressions of such intimacy in church. "That is not done in our church“ some would say. But the restrictions that religious people make will stifle our love for God.

We need to be rooted in God and not rooted in the church. A plant that is only planted in a pot is easily thrown over, but plants that are rooted properly in the ground cannot easily be demolished by the wind and the rain.

The manner in which we run church can be very off putting to the unsaved. The predominance and control of one man can remind us of the strict teacher we once had at school. But a church where there is a shared leadership and contribution can be a place of friendship. Leadership should express a father relationship, as the apostle Paul so ably demonstrated.

In our church teaching we need to teach the things that people need rather than the things that we think they ought to know. Why do the unsaved find the new age teachings and other philosophies so appealing? Often it is because we fail to supply the answers which can be found in Christian teaching.

Jesus rebuked the disciples for not allowing little children to run to Him. Our attitude to the world is all too often “DO NOT DISTURB THE RITUAL”. We should not make the unsaved feel as of they are approaching royalty if they come to us. We should allow them to run all over us with their problems and questions.

We have allowed the unsaved to come and watch us as important people. We are like a killer whale in a tank. The people can come in and watch us, make a donation and get a small splash. But we ourselves are not free if we swim in a tank. May God give us strategy and leaders who set us the example of Jesus.

May 2006.

© Copyright Watchmen in the West 2007