Looking For Jesus In His Church

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not acomprehend it.

John 1: 1 - 5 NKJV

There is a book penned by Wayne Jacobsen titled "So you don't want to go to church anymore."  In it, pastor Jake has a few repeated interactions with a man whom he at times feels resembles the apostle John.  Of course, through his interactions with this stranger, Jake comes to a closer relationship with Christ Jesus in the process.  From the begining it is clear that Jake has becomed disillusioned with the church he serves.  I can relate to this very feeling because I have been in the middle of this feeling of disillusionment as well.  I've often wondered if Jesus Himself meant for our worship of Him to be so centered on traditions and performance.  Then, I need to take a step back and realize that Jesus never claimed in His ministry that Gods children would need to compete for that free gift which He offers to us.  Indeed, there is nothing which we can, or cannot do which will make Jesus love us more or less.  Not only is this performance based salvation, it's based on a dog and pony show and it's wrong.  It's no wonder that the modern church has been hemorhaging membership at a alarming rate in recent years.  A recent PEW research survey found that 70.6% of Americans claimed to be traditional church going christians.  This was a 7.6% drop since the last time a similar poll was taken in 2007.  What is more interesting is that of these new numbers of those leaving the church, one in five cite a distaste for organized religion.  It would seem that pastor Jake was onto something.


44Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2: 44 - 47 NKJV

I recently involved myself in a Facebook debate with a local pastor and aquaintance over this very issue.  Granted, this is not exactly the correct venue for such discussions, but his responses he gave were indeed interesting.  For he went out of his way to explain that Christs church was indeed in need of annointed leadership and heirarchy.  Not only that, but that it is Gods own desire that we instill heirarchy in his church.  What?  Wasn't  disdain for organized religion the very reason why so many are leaving the modern church?  Apparently we've learned nothing from the early church of Jesus.  For the church of the followers of Jesus had no heirarchy, no pastor nor leadership.  What they DID have was a deep desire to gather in reverence and worship of Jesus.  Can you imagine a church service with no sermon, no tithe AND no worship band?  What you're left with is almost exactly what the early believers had.  It's been called "Organic christianity" and it's catching on big time.  Those who cling to organic christianity have chosen to leave the traditions and baggage of performance based christianity behind for a life in Christ Jesus.  In organic christianity their is no heirarchy, sermons or rah rah worship services...there is only Christ.  My only thoughts on organic christianity is why it is not very popular as of yet.  I believe in time that we will indeed see a growth among these believers of Jesus.  As the modern church is losing people who are weary of heirarchy and organized religion, it is God who added to His early church daily those who were being saved.  We should never look for Jesus in the church, but in those who live in Him daily.

~Scott~