A cell, A church, The Church - Disciples Path Ministry

Disciples Path Ministry
Go to content
Articles
A cell, A church, and The Church

A cell
The word “cell” in this writing is referring to a small gathering of people who understand they are not saved…but are in the process of being saved. The small gathering is preferably 6 to 8 people but no more than 12 — coming together to Love God, intensely study God’s word without all the man-made traditions and rituals, and to peacefully enjoy true Christian fellowship. That is too shallow of a description so hopefully, without overly expounding, I will simply unpack it for a clearer understanding.

In a cell, we have several people, each with a different gift (strength), present to share their understanding, knowledge, and wisdom. Everyone is the minister with a Pastor or Elder generally leading. With the cell, consisting of 12 or fewer people all may share in the many benefits. With a small group of people, learning to a greater degree is made possible. With a small group, all resources brought forward are more easily shared. With a small group of people, every voice will be heard. The list of benefits goes on and on but I believe you have an understanding of the idea so I will stop.

All cells have Spiritual discipline. In Ephesians 6:17, we are told by the Apostle Paul, the sword of the Spirit is the word of God. Christ Jesus bested Satan in the desert when being tempted — by quoting Scripture, the Word of God. Christ Jesus knew precisely what to quote because of His absolute and unquestionable understanding of Scripture. With a cell, people will always find, have, and be able to keep Christ Jesus’ example of Spiritual discipline. Before long in the cell, relying on His Spirit and practicing His disciplines, it will become quite evident to all that by pursuing His example of obedience to the Father, everyone’s character is gradually becoming like His. Praise God!

Most house churches are considered cells. They have a great example to go by because our first “churches” were cells or house churches. There were no big, fancy, technologically advanced resources provided to create greater creature comfort. Games, gizmos, and gadgets were not needed to entertain those present or used to attract more to the group. A small group gathered — wherever — to Commune with God. We read in the Book of James to draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Just so we are on the same page let me use this definition of Commune with God. It is to focus on God, converse, talk, often with profound intensity, intimate communication, or rapport as sharing your heart and mind with God in prayer (wikihow). With no established “leader” to force and/or enforce a particular man-made “religion” on others, an open dialog can take place guided by the Holy Spirit. People are free, and encouraged, to ask…why, where, when, and how? People are free and encouraged to seek, find, and share the Word — the TRUTH.
A church
The TRUTH is not being preached. The Bible is not being made relevant to people’s lives. Scripture is being twisted to fit personal wants and desires. People are leaving their church, church hopping, and/or just giving up on their relationship with the Father. Supposedly, we as Americans, have the ability to change the direction of the country by using our opportunity to vote for governing “leaders.” This is not so with regard to a church. Here is my principle issue with regard to a church. It starts with the Pastor. Here is a person responsible to God - leading others, but generally leading others falsely. A Pastor is a person one should be able to trust they are going to get truth and honesty from. What appears to be the rule and not the exception is the Pastor at a church is being held accountable to a governing body which has the authority to force the Pastor to bend his gift of sharing the Word and shepherding his flock to the governing authority’s wants, needs, and desires. These wants, needs, and desires are generally motivated by the number one idol - money! This is akin to what we see in society. Behind the scene individuals or groups — holding the moneybags, directing their “puppet(s).” A church is where one should be able to expect truth and honesty! Pastors and ministers are responsible for, among other things, teaching people how to cope spiritually in a secular world. This is impossible for any Pastor or minister to do if the governing body is censoring them. In case you are reading this and you ARE a church leader let me share with you from the Book of Isaiah., “Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? And knoweth us” (Isaiah 29:15, KJV)? However, compassion for the Pastor should be brought forward as one takes into account that he has to consider his personal life, i.e., his wife and children. He must succumb to the will of the elders or — be replaced by someone who agrees to play by their rules. Just as we see in our government or even society as a whole, there is no shortage of people who — sacrificing to their false god MONEY are more than willing to trade today with a man for their eternity with God! As a sidebar, that is most of the reason I refuse to Pastor a brick and mortar church. God has chosen me to lead people to the truth, but I cannot do that if I am being told what I can and cannot say by anyone other than God the Father, Creator of all we see and all we do not see.

I will openly tell you that as a Pastor, Satan frequently tries me. When I became Ordained it seemed to me that Satan and his ministers took an even greater interest in me. I am careful to always share with others the fact - the closer you get to God, the harder Satan, and his ministers will work to weaken, and hopefully destroy your relationship with God. Consider this: when Christ Jesus began His ministry in the desert, the first thing He is reported to have said to Satan was, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Of course, the word bread being presented there is bread  - meaning food. But on a deeper level we understand the word bread to mean the Word of God. Let me ask — are you being fed the Word of God from the Pastor of your church? Or are you being fed “Scripture Lite” a watered-down version of Scripture? That is a nice way of saying your Pastor is providing his followers only half of the truth for whatever reason(s). I would like to submit for your reflection this question. If you are only being fed a partial truth…are you not being lied to? Let me ask you these questions: Have you been saved? Are you born-again? If you answered yes to those questions — you need to keep studying the word of God found in the Scriptures. The odds of you finding out the truth to those questions will, most likely not be found or answered in a church! Are you being fed “entertainment” at church or are you being fed the Word of God? I deem entertainment as anything from the “Christian rock-bands” which is being sold as worship to perpetuating the customs and traditions devised by man — well-meaning or not! Allow me to go a little farther and ask you to reflect on the following:
If you are only being fed a partial truth…are you not being lied to? If your Pastor advocates PAGAN celebrations, i.e., Christmas, New Years, Easter, Valentine’s Day, Halloween, etc. — where does his lying end and the truth begin? How can anyone — not simply your Pastor but a mother or father of a child, teach that which is pagan and clearly contrary to the Word of God?

When you leave your church are you feeling bathed in God’s Word or are you feeling somewhat “fed” but primarily just entertained — only to return next week to receive more entertainment and more milk, rather than meat? Yes, there is a need for most at THE BEGINNING of their spiritual journey to receive the milk rather than the meat. Our problem, which significantly adds to the vast number of people leaving their church or church hopping, is the Pastor must know when and how, and be allowed to “feed” God’s people the meat when it is time. Otherwise, people will leave because all they receive is the same old stuff; followed by more of the same old stuff.

How deep do the lies taught from the pulpit go into your life?

If you are a Pastor, I feel strongly to share the following for your reflection. To knowingly teach false doctrine is willful sin my brother.
       
Consider these words, (20)“ Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (21) Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight” (Isaiah 5:20-21, KJV)!
“When a well-packaged web of lies has been sold gradually to the masses over generations, the truth will seem utterly preposterous and its speaker a raving lunatic” (Dresden James).

I have been called a lunatic (or other names) by friends, acquaintances, so-called believers, and family alike. I will not bend! As difficult as it appears many times to most people, the TRUTH shall set you free, not the convenient truth that is a disguised version of the truth. To drink a delicious drink that contains a poison that you are unaware of is still going to kill you even though it is pleasing to the taste!
The Church
The Church is the Word of God. Nothing added and nothing is taken away. Our Holy Bible is living and active. Everything about the Word is as relevant now as it was when it was originally spoken and/or written long ago. As individuals, we must be able to discern the difference between what is a good and what is not so good a stepping-stone leading to The Church.

In closing, I want to share something I read by Ken Sande. In the article Getting to the Heart of Conflict he wrote, “ Any time we long for something apart from God, fear something more than God, or trust in something other than God to make us happy, fulfilled, or secure, we are engaged in the worship of false gods.
                                                                                             
Disciples Path Ministry - St. Augustine, Florida
                                                                                                                                      U.S.A.
 
 
Back to content