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.