The true Church of God is not revealed by those declaring to represent it. Neither is it revealed through flamboyancy or charisma. As belonging to God, that Church is revealed to those having become God’s children. The rest remain committed to the founders of their respective denominations.
At its formation, Jesus affirmed its establishment by stating that the gates of hell would not prevail against it. Throughout the ages, Christian churches have been formed but sustained by individual characters, identified as leaders.
The publicity and endorsement of those human leaders, clearly shows that such Church groupings cannot represent God’s Church. Others maintain that the establishment of order in structural leadership portrays God’s governance. However, nothing else reveals God’s Church, except its secrecy.
After its formation, Jesus instructed His disciples not to tell anyone, concerning the revelation that He was the Christ. Therein, remains the key, unlocking the mystery. It is impossible for those of this world to identify God’s children, just as Jesus could not be identified as God’s Son.
“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” (John 14:15-21 NIV).
Two things are consistently shown as would reveal the composition of God’s Church. Number one: It has to be those loving Jesus and keeping His commandments. Number two: They would have received the Spirit of truth, which the world cannot accept because it neither sees Him nor knows him.
From that angle, a truthful observer realizes that God’s Church cannot be found among denominational groupings. After His physical departure, the world would not see Jesus. Only those who were truly His would not miss him, as also loved by His Father.
Denominational church groupings are sustained by human leaders, superintending over religious conducts. However, the composition of God’s true Church is sustained by the Holy Spirit. It is not identified by individual charismatic leaders, but by that which cannot be seen physically.
God’s children are initially sustained by keeping His commandments, and later, by the Holy Spirit, unrecognized by those of this world. This is what has made God’s Church enigmatic, since the First Century. What currently prevails are proud Christians, belonging to their respective political denominations.
Seventh-Day Adventists assume being the only true representatives of God’s Church. The same applies to other groupings. Structures are similar, as governed according to human abilities, and not necessarily according to God’s directions.
Those of this world cannot differentiate between personalities and God’s children. Imagine Jesus, with a documented miraculous birth, yet even His own kinsmen could not appreciate Him as God’s Son. His knowledge was not comparable to anyone in this world. But most of those people remained unbelieving.
When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offence at him (Mark 6:2-3 NIV).
There is nothing amiss about those people getting offended by Jesus’ knowledge. They were not supposed to recognize the secretive Son of God. That knowledge alone would put them in danger. It is impossible to see God and live unless one becomes God’s child.
Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” (Exodus 33:18-20 NIV).
Death is required before anyone can see God. God’s Children, in their physical identities, live with humanity. But those of this world cannot recognize them. Their identity, as God’s children, is secretive. What is in them, physical humans cannot perceive and live.
“Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires, but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:5-8 NIV).
Paul is highlighting the most important aspect, enabling those of truthful disposition to appreciate. “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires, but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.” This describes the conditions, separating the dichotomous identities.
When living according to the flesh, it is impossible to appreciate Spiritual matters. Therefore, anyone fascinated by physical things, or miracles, cannot appreciate Spiritual matters. We have to diagnose what causes failure to understand the secrecy of God’s Kingdom.
Most people get blinded by their judgmental views of personalities. There are people assumed as deserving of respect, ahead of others. Yet there are others, appearing as not deserving respect. This is understandable when considering that Jesus was assumed as not fit to be the Christ.
Truth is not found in physical appearances, educational background, or charisma. As known, some people reject the truth, even with clear evidence. They consider what comes from “authorities” in their respective denominations. They invalidate everything coming from outsiders.
Poor congregants assume that God expects them to submit to such human authorities. But a baptized person is in direct communion with Christ. It was to such people that Jesus stated:
“Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” (John 14:21 NIV).
The above statement precludes the consideration of authorities from one’s religious establishment. The term “whoever” implies personal conviction, as excluding other people. But, logically, it appears foolhardy, for anyone to assume authority over God’s children. Those are answerable to God, as to not require a mediator.
God’s children, proclaimed as brothers of Jesus, are not left as orphans. Jesus communicates directly with them. Of course, this cannot be saleable to those excited about rabbinical titles, more than appreciating God’s word. They, actually, suppose those not submitting to their authority are rebels. Although Jesus denounced their viewpoint:
“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:8-12 NIV).
Just to prove how arrogant those denominational leaders are; Approach any of them with this Scripture. If not labelled a Satanist, you might be forbidden to preach in their congregations. They assume being gate-keepers in God’s Kingdom, doing so with authoritative vigour and vitality.
They may not even want to discuss the contents of that Scripture with you. However, Jesus was so crude, castigating such people:
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are” (Matthew 23:13-15 NIV).
Of course, God employs some people to exercise the function of guiding others towards Christ. However, such people are facilitators, showing, Christ’s teachings, minus opinions. The imposters can be noticed by their refusal to clarify points pertaining to Christ’s teachings.
They prefer advancing their own narrative, expecting converts to take those as coming from Jesus. The first authoritarian Christian organization was the Roman Catholic Church, remaining in that condition, even today. The only thing likeable about Catholics is that they do not pretend when being selective on Christ’s teachings.
The authority of the Pope is treated as if that of God; contradicting that aspect where the baptized are in direct communion with Christ. Ritualistic observances are considered ahead of the Holy Spirit. But, each of the denominational organizations carries its own peculiar strength and weaknesses. It seems advisable to select strong points from each of those groupings.
However, that is not necessary, as long as one is in communion with Jesus. The relationship between God’s child and Jesus is not a matter of hit and miss. Those are God’s children, regardless of opinions entertained by most people, like what they did concerning Jesus (Mathew 16:13-20). Nothing can be more important, than this information, to a truthful believer. Another clue was given by the apostle Paul:
“Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are” (1 Corinthians 1:26-28 NIV).
This Scripture is not suggesting that all despised people are of God, necessarily. A careful observer notices that God disregards human opinions. Everything needs evaluation according to Christ’s teachings, rather than according to personalities.
This is exactly what caused the Jews to reject Jesus, who appeared as not carrying the dignity to match their warped standards. God, Himself is not a respecter of personalities (Acts 10:34). There is truth in that death is required, before seeing God.
God’s Children, in their physical identities, exist among ordinary people. But those of this world cannot know them unless converted. Their identities are secretive, as not to be recognized by ordinary people. What is in them is that which physical humans cannot see and live.
“Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires, but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:5-8 NIV).
Paul is highlighting the most important aspect, enabling those of truthful disposition to appreciate. “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires, but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.” This describes conditions distinguishing dissimilar entities.
When living according to the flesh, it is impossible to appreciate Spiritual matters. Therefore, anyone fascinated by what is observed physically, as miraculous, cannot appreciate Spiritual matters. We have to diagnose reasons for failure to appreciate the secrecy of God’s Kingdom.
Most people get blinded by their view of personalities. Some people are respected ahead of others. Yet others appear as not deserving respect. This is understandable when considering that Jesus could not be considered fitting to be the Christ. The profound datum remains in that, no physical human can see God and live.
“For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been set free from sin” (Romans 6:5-7 NIV).
The significance of Baptism is death. However, not all baptisms represent death. Truthful repentance is required, before baptism. God’s children are no longer bound by the laws of this world. They live only to serve God, at all times.
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilization, laying down standards for uplifting Zimbabwe from the current state of economic depression into a model for other nations worldwide. A decaying tree provides an opportunity for a blossoming sprout. Written from a Christian perspective, the book is a product of inspiration, bringing relief to those having witnessed the strings of unworkable solutions––leading to the current economic and social decay. In a simple conversational tone, most Zimbabweans should find the book as a long-awaited providential oasis of hope.
The Print copy is now available at Amazon.com for $13.99
Also available as an e-copy at Lulu.com for $6.99
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