The bondage of the Church - Part 1

The bondage of the Church - Part 1 - by P.K.Odendaal - June 2013 

In previous articles I have written superficially of the bondage of the Church, but now I intend to delve deeper into it. We stand at a crossroads where the Church in general is not fulfilling its calling and its obligation towards Christians anymore. It is not the first time in history that this happens and the Church history is full of this type of abuse, but we cannot have a reformation over and over each century.

I am writing this series of articles mainly for Christians in formal churches, but anybody can find inspiration to change what should be changed and to challenge which should be challenged - and of course to accept what is right in them. In the words of St. Francis of Assisi: 'Lord, grant me the strength to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.'

There are historically really only two ways we can look at this.

The one way is the Church which killed people who differed from its dogma and they stayed one Church at the cost of more than a million lives. There was one serious schism which still exists today making them two mainstream churches - The Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church.

The other way is the Reformed Church where anybody is allowed to believe anything, and there are between 12 000 and 38 000 denominations of that Church today, depending on what you regard as a denomination.

And I think both are wrong.

I will set the stage by quoting from my first articles on this subject:

I think I have come to the root of the cause of the demise of the Church by Inspiration.

We have heard of the Authority of the Church, the Rules of the Church, the Officials of the Church, the Teaching of the Church, the Church Councils and the Censure of the Church.

How can a Church have any of these? By what Scripture do they wield these powers? Why can't they just serve? Where have we as congregation given them this charter to usurp our free will and our power? Why do they think they have the authority to act on behalf of God or Christ? Who told them that God only speaks to their officials and not to the congregation?

I do not think they have any of these!

And I think that that is the reason of their demise - people have gotten fed up with the authority and power they wield. Still they need to exist. What can be done to bring them back to earth, to their duties and their function?

Will the Church be judged? No - only people will be judged.

Will the Church help me when I stand in judgement? No - only people will be allowed to testify on my behalf.

Will the Church be persecuted? No - the Church persecutes, but only persons are being persecuted and killed.

Will the Church receive an award or punishment for its worthwhile efforts or its atrocities? No - only people will receive awards.

Will the Church be held responsible for the things its members did? No - only those members will be held responsible.

So how can the Church rule when it has no obligation or responsibility and can never stand in judgement? It should not be allowed to rule.

What should the Church do then? I think five things.

1.    It should facilitate our participation in the Communion of the Blood of Christ (1 Cor.10:16)

2.    It should facilitate our participation in the Communion of the Body of Christ (1 Cor. 10:16) - Holy Communion and His Church.

3.    It should facilitate our Communion with the Holy Spirit (2 Cor.13:14)

4.    It should facilitate our ministry in terms of our obligation to spread the Gospel and to bring in the Harvest.

5.    It should facilitate our spiritual growth through bible studies, teachings and sharing testimonies with other Christian Believers. (The communion with the Saved Ones)