What does the word fusion mean? Whatever it is, we at Gospel Globe want to have fusion amongst members of the church. We need to come together, live together, work together and succeed together!
State of the Church
If we were to attempt to write about the state of the church today, we would probably have to visit quite a few churches, and get a varied response by many. While doing our investigations we would hear differing opinions of all others, in some cases even reasons why another ministry may not be doing as well as others.
I remember meeting with one church leader who almost immediately began speaking at length about why I should leave my own church. The person launched a serious attack on the leadership of my church, and spoke of their own personal “knowledge” of a variety of things that (they believed) should have swayed me from fellowship in that place.
I was shocked, and never expected such words to come from someone I had only just met. I was even more shocked that the office held by that person should be used in this case to bring another person down.
I’ve been confronted by the declaration that once my pastor did not call me personally after having missed church two weeks in a row, that this was errant leadership. I should engage in no new venture, whether business or otherwise unless my “man of God” gave me his blessing. Without this blessing, I was doomed to failure.
This person then told me what church they belonged to, where it could be found, and the name of their pastor. I already knew that name however, because his discourse was filled with “Pastor *** say...”, just before most of the declarations.
I am calling on these examples to illustrate some of the types division in the church, and possible causes, not to condemn any person or ministry. Many of you may have had similar experiences and should know what I mean.
Paul however, when he spoke to those in the church at Corinth encountered a similar situation. The church was highly fragmented. This is what he said:
1 Corinthians 1: 10 – 17 (NIV)10 I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.
11My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you.
12 What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ."
13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?
14 I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius,
15 so no one can say that you were baptized into my name.
16 (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else.)
17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
Read the entire chapter
When Jesus saved us, He did so, to bring us into the church. The Only church. The Body of Christ. Everything else is just a title for a place of worship, and nothing else.
Doctrinal differences appear to be the major determinant at times, and the body becomes body parts.
I stick to the knowledge that we are one body of Christ, and remind you of the words of the Bible which says:
1Corinthians 12: 12,13 (NIV)12The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
knows that when he is reviled or made to suffer that he should not retaliate but should commit himself to the Father who judges righteously.(1 Peter 2).
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