The Christian Church is fragmented — splintered by doctrine and theological interpretation. Over the years the Scriptures have been read more and more through denominational filters. Doctrines have interpreted Scripture rather than vice versa. In some extreme cases Scripture has been entirely ignored or has been judged no longer relevant.
Over a year ago we received prophecy that the true Body of Christ is made up of three belief systems. Each one has been historically and traditionally represented in one of three “denominational” theologies: Liturgical, Evangelical, and Pentecostal. Any one of those theologies contains certain biblical truth, but not all biblical truth with regard to the Church.
God said the Christian Church was like a ladder leading to heaven. One side of the latter was the Liturgical, the other side was the Evangelical, and the rungs connecting the sides were the Pentecostal. For the ladder to be effective it must be held together, otherwise it would be of little use.
Let us examine the parts of this ladder. The Liturgical theology (which might represent churches such as Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Orthodox) seems to emphasize that “works” are important. James wrote that “faith without works is dead.” In other words, the law of God is important and needs to be obeyed. Further, their theology is that with God’s help, a believer can keep the law. That help would come from making periodic confessions, taking in the real body and blood of Christ on a regular basis through receiving Holy Communion or Eucharist. God does His work doing baptism whether or not the precipitant fully understands what God is doing. He or she is given a life in the church to work out that salvation. (There are some barnacles on the liturgical ship that have little to do with salvation — many superstitions and extra-biblical concepts.)
The Evangelical theology says that receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior is what is most, if not all, essential to salvation. Sanctification or living out the Gospel may be a distraction. (Luther thought that the Book of James should not have been included in the Canon of Scripture.) The great excess of this theology is: “Once saved – always saved.” This thinking cannot be supported biblically although many evangelicals pride themselves on being biblical.
Superstitions have been tossed aside, but unfortunately in many cases the supernatural has also been tossed out: “Miracles stopped with age of Apostles” and the real presence of Christ has been ruled out of the Communion Service. The Latin words — “Hoc est corpus meum” — the words of institution “this is my body” uttered by Jesus have been explained away as “hocus pocus.” During the Protestant Reformation many superstitions have been rightfully discarded. Unfortunately, the meaning of Jesus words have been tossed out as well. Thus, the Holy Communion is of little help to the believer and is not served very often. The long sermon has taken its place.
Liturgies and sermons can be dead without the Holy Spirit bringing them to life. God wants to breath life into His church. Certain churches want His life, they just do not want anything to do with that strange Pentecostal Spirit. Yet, the Pentecostal theology has breathed life into the church. It has been the agent of great revivals and life changing experiences. Nevertheless, we must examine some of the current day Pentecostal experiences carefully. Some are just not biblical. But churches will say that we have a new freedom. “We are not bound by past tradition or ritualistic services,” they say.
These separate theologies do not and cannot adequately represent the Christian faith. They are pieces of the salvation message of Jesus. They must come together to make any sense. Jesus said that I came to fulfill the law and not destroy it. The law of God cannot be set aside. Jesus came to make it possible live it out in our lives. He grants us access to the Father. He gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit. If we set aside the law we bear a very poor witness to the world and our salvation is not assured. I am sorry, but it is time that truth of the Gospel be told.
We need Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We need Him as our guide. And with His help we need to “work out our salvation with fear and trembling.” The Apostle Paul strongly emphasized that salvation was by grace through faith. But he did not disagree with James. He knew that faith must be active. He never considered himself as having arrived:
More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,
and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,
that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;
in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:8-14)
I challenge the Liturgical Churches to discover the meaning of their liturgy and to get to know the Savior that runs all through it: Jesus Christ. I challenge them to emphasize Bible study in the churches and home groups. I challenge them to open the concept of sainthood to as many people as possible. You say that you are the true church with your endless genealogies to back you up. Are you not dead? Why do you hold on to old wine skins when you too could have new wine? Repent and learn from the reformation. Allow the Spirit of God to reform you.
I challenge the Evangelical Churches to receive the Holy Com- munion as often as possible. Study the scriptures concerning this vital sacrament which Jesus told us to observe. Come to the altar of God as often as possible, realizing that we are all backsliders without the presence and power of God in our lives. Get into divine healing and spiritual deliverance. You say you are biblical and then cut out only the scripture that you like. Why not seek the whole counsel of God? Repent and believe the Gospel and quit being bound up in doctrines.
I challenge the Pentecostal Churches to get under Godly authority and bring back a balance to worship. Why rule out tried and true disciplines and in favor of anything goes? Do your spiritual mountain experiences lead to holy living and seeking out the lost? Is holy living simply a way of dressing and talking. You say you have the Holy Spirit and yet you do not glorify Christ. You only glorify yourselves. Repent and return to true worship. And if you say you sanctified then start living that way.
Am I being unfair? I think not. Are we so locked into denominational distortions and distractions? Let us worship in Spirit and in truth. Let us serve the living God who revealed Himself through the Law and Prophets, and who revealed Himself as a loving Savior who died on the cross for us. He died so that we might live and live more abundantly in Him. He did not die so that we might continue to sin.
