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GLORIOUS ZION CHURCH
What is a Spiritual Church?
New believers are usually told in follow-up talks to attend a "spiritual" church. What the preacher means and what the people understand may be quite different from each other. If the evangelistic programme is an united effort of various Churches, the preachers would be apprehensive of clearly explaining how to identify a "spiritual" church. This delicate issue should however be addressed.
Churches can be broadly divided as Pentecostal and non-Pentecostal. The main difference is on how one understands the experience of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit. It is wrong to say that the Pentecostal churches are all "spiritual" and others are not. In the Biblical sense, the word "spiritual" is the opposite of "carnal" or "natural." It is not the style of worship, the form of government, the mode of baptism or the method of breadbreaking that decides whether or not a church is "spiritual." The deciding factor is its character as a group and the lifestyle of its members. The Corinthian church was Pentecostal in every sense. It had all the gifts of the Holy Spirit in operation (1 Cor 1:7; 14:12a). But according to apostle Paul it was not a "spiritual" church but "carnal" (1 Cor 3:1-3).
If we honestly analyse today’s situation, an unbiased assessment would be that no church is 100% spiritual or 100% carnal. There is always a mixture of spirituality and carnality. The percentage of course varies. Some Pentecostal churches are more carnal than non-Pentecostal churches; and some non-Pentecostal churches are more spiritual than Pentecostal churches. I might upset some of my Pentecostal friends here, but truth must be faced (Gal 4:16). I have also observed that some of the so-called "spiritual" churches have more unscriptural traditions than some of the so-called "traditional" Churches.
After rebirth one should choose a local church where he can really "grow" into maturity. That’s God’s desire concerning each of His children. Ask the following questions before choosing a church—
1. Does it believe the Bible as the Word of God ? Our growth depends on the intake of the "milk" of God’s Word (1 Pet 2:2). Members of churches where there’s solid Bible teaching grow fast and strong. Though minor doctrinal differences may be tolerated, there can be no compromise on major issues (Eph 4:4-6). Go to a church where the pastor makes you fall in love with the Bible and does not misuse the pulpit.
2. Is true worship encouraged there ? According to Jesus, "true" worship is what’s offered in "spirit and truth" (Jn 4:23,24). Some churches are rich in the "truth" content of their worship, whereas others are jubilant and enthusiastic in "spirit" while worshipping. There must be a balance (1 Cor 14:15).
3. Is there real fellowship ? There’s no "fellowship" in many of our fellowships. People come to the services simply to be ministered unto and not to minister to one another. Singing "to the Lord" is there; but speaking "to one another" in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs is absent (Eph 5:19). There’s nothing more than a formal greeting or a handshake. Smaller churches seem to be stronger in this horizontal dimension. Sharing material blessings with the needy was the most attractive feature of the early church (Acts 4:32,33). Christianity is charity! (Js 1:27).
4. Do its leaders equip the believers for ministry ? One cannot expect to grow in a church where the pastor is the main actor and the members are simply an audience. Feeling of insecurity cripples many pastors and they would not trust others with responsibilities. The fivefold ministry in the church is chiefly to "equip the saints for the work of the ministry" (Eph 4:11,12). In other words, the ministry of each minister is to make every believer a minister. Though ideal conditions may not exist, look for a church where all the members function as "kings and priests" unto God (1 Pet 2:5,9). Also it is safe to be part of an assembly where there’s shared leadership.
5. Does it reach out to the lost ? Dr. Oswald J. Smith (1890-1986) the founder pastor of the People’s Church, Canada, used to say, "The church that does not evangelize shall fossilize!" Make sure that the church you choose keeps missions and evangelism its top priority. You will suffocate if you are in a church which does not send out and support missionaries or if the pastor speaks against parachurch missionary organisations (Acts 13:1-3). Members should have the freedom to associate themselves with evangelistic agencies of their choice. The Church must not become a clutch.
There are several other characteristics one should look for in a spiritual church, but these five are the basic. Aim for the ideal but accept and work with the actual and optimize your expectations. Because no single local church has it all, do visit other churches for enlarging your vision and expanding your knowledge. One’s strength will help the other in his weakness.
What is a Spiritual Church?
New believers are usually told in follow-up talks to attend a "spiritual" church. What the preacher means and what the people understand may be quite different from each other. If the evangelistic programme is an united effort of various Churches, the preachers would be apprehensive of clearly explaining how to identify a "spiritual" church. This delicate issue should however be addressed.
Churches can be broadly divided as Pentecostal and non-Pentecostal. The main difference is on how one understands the experience of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit. It is wrong to say that the Pentecostal churches are all "spiritual" and others are not. In the Biblical sense, the word "spiritual" is the opposite of "carnal" or "natural." It is not the style of worship, the form of government, the mode of baptism or the method of breadbreaking that decides whether or not a church is "spiritual." The deciding factor is its character as a group and the lifestyle of its members. The Corinthian church was Pentecostal in every sense. It had all the gifts of the Holy Spirit in operation (1 Cor 1:7; 14:12a). But according to apostle Paul it was not a "spiritual" church but "carnal" (1 Cor 3:1-3).
If we honestly analyse today’s situation, an unbiased assessment would be that no church is 100% spiritual or 100% carnal. There is always a mixture of spirituality and carnality. The percentage of course varies. Some Pentecostal churches are more carnal than non-Pentecostal churches; and some non-Pentecostal churches are more spiritual than Pentecostal churches. I might upset some of my Pentecostal friends here, but truth must be faced (Gal 4:16). I have also observed that some of the so-called "spiritual" churches have more unscriptural traditions than some of the so-called "traditional" Churches.
After rebirth one should choose a local church where he can really "grow" into maturity. That’s God’s desire concerning each of His children. Ask the following questions before choosing a church—
1. Does it believe the Bible as the Word of God ? Our growth depends on the intake of the "milk" of God’s Word (1 Pet 2:2). Members of churches where there’s solid Bible teaching grow fast and strong. Though minor doctrinal differences may be tolerated, there can be no compromise on major issues (Eph 4:4-6). Go to a church where the pastor makes you fall in love with the Bible and does not misuse the pulpit.
2. Is true worship encouraged there ? According to Jesus, "true" worship is what’s offered in "spirit and truth" (Jn 4:23,24). Some churches are rich in the "truth" content of their worship, whereas others are jubilant and enthusiastic in "spirit" while worshipping. There must be a balance (1 Cor 14:15).
3. Is there real fellowship ? There’s no "fellowship" in many of our fellowships. People come to the services simply to be ministered unto and not to minister to one another. Singing "to the Lord" is there; but speaking "to one another" in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs is absent (Eph 5:19). There’s nothing more than a formal greeting or a handshake. Smaller churches seem to be stronger in this horizontal dimension. Sharing material blessings with the needy was the most attractive feature of the early church (Acts 4:32,33). Christianity is charity! (Js 1:27).
4. Do its leaders equip the believers for ministry ? One cannot expect to grow in a church where the pastor is the main actor and the members are simply an audience. Feeling of insecurity cripples many pastors and they would not trust others with responsibilities. The fivefold ministry in the church is chiefly to "equip the saints for the work of the ministry" (Eph 4:11,12). In other words, the ministry of each minister is to make every believer a minister. Though ideal conditions may not exist, look for a church where all the members function as "kings and priests" unto God (1 Pet 2:5,9). Also it is safe to be part of an assembly where there’s shared leadership.
5. Does it reach out to the lost ? Dr. Oswald J. Smith (1890-1986) the founder pastor of the People’s Church, Canada, used to say, "The church that does not evangelize shall fossilize!" Make sure that the church you choose keeps missions and evangelism its top priority. You will suffocate if you are in a church which does not send out and support missionaries or if the pastor speaks against parachurch missionary organisations (Acts 13:1-3). Members should have the freedom to associate themselves with evangelistic agencies of their choice. The Church must not become a clutch.
There are several other characteristics one should look for in a spiritual church, but these five are the basic. Aim for the ideal but accept and work with the actual and optimize your expectations. Because no single local church has it all, do visit other churches for enlarging your vision and expanding your knowledge. One’s strength will help the other in his weakness.