Ephesians 1:22-23 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
During walk 1807 a resounding theme kept appearing, “I was just playing at church.”
We didn’t go into detail during the walk about what that meant, and the focus was that they were now on board. Praise God for that. This is one important aspect of the Emmaus experience, getting honest with yourself. Yet the question remains, why were they “playing church”?
From my viewpoint, mind you MY viewpoint, it comes down to a failure within mainstream churches to operate in discipleship. It isn’t taught, it isn’t followed and perhaps that is because it isn’t understood. In most cases it is assumed that once a believer says the sinner’s prayer they belong to Jesus and under His head.
Just because a man confesses Christ at the age of 40 does not change the fact that he has become a babe in Christ, who doesn’t know how to feed himself, talk, understand, walk or defend himself. Yet most of the churches leave these babes alone with their new worst enemy, Satan.
But if you take that same new born and set them up with a discipleship program which will examine them for every aspect of personal growth and keep with them during the process, you get a better result. You train up a disciple to disciple others. In this the main church has failed new believers.
Do all babes stay babes? No, and the assumption is that if they do not grow, they have not done the work. I say we have failed them.
Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:
All things; do you think perhaps we left out a few?
Another needed message. Brings to mind 2 Timothy 2:2.
Keep rolling, loved brother .
I have been praying about this post before commenting on it. I agree with you, but am going to add another dimension. The Fellowship that we attend has at least 10 ministries that are aimed at Spiritual growth. On Sunday morning service, we see hands go up, men and women go forward for prayer, but do NOT show up for any Spiritual growth meetings, so I see another aspect of “playing church” as a lack of personal zeal (possible unreality) in individuals. The biggest challenge in the Church today is apathy…….a lack of FIRE in our souls. (I am including myself here). Thank you for the opportunity to share my heart, dear brother.
Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord. Psa 35:23
How can we teach people to stir themselves? I do not know of any program that can absolutely result in that effort.