HOW SHALL WE GATHER?

I believe that most of these religious institutions, though appearing divided and competitive, taken together are one unbiblical system, and thus not what God wants–it is all a human construct and centred on control, power over people, money, competition and industry. The system is sick and reflects the systems of control and apostasy which Jesus identified in his first coming and recorded in the Gospels. He came began to bring in His whole new concept of the Kingdom of God in a new covenant ‘in his blood’. Every act he did, every word he taught was bristling with new life and the soon-coming end of the old system, the old wineskin. He told the religious elite that they were dead and needed life which only he could give (John  5:40).

God has clearly shown us the model for our behaviour as we relate to one another: in Jesus. HE is the way, truth, life. ‘It shall not be so among you . . . love one another as I HAVE LOVED YOU’. Jesus is the model–the image of the Father, for us to see and manifest in our lives.

Any other way, idea and mode of gathering is bound to be scattering, divisive, arrogant, exclusive, and not ‘abounding in the work of God’.

We are his bride, getting ready for the wedding and the bridegroom is with us. He is WITH US! He calls us to Himself. To gather around Him.

We are a family who eat together and share our lives with one another around Jesus. This is a spiritual kingdom only entered into as a little child and by invitation of the Master through a tumultuous experience of being born all over again.

Either we obey Him or we don’t.

Instead of top heavy, mono-ministry and a sleepy compliant laity He has given us gifts, manifestations of the Spirit to bless and upbuild the whole body wherever it may be gathered—whether together in the New Jerusalem above or in the humble get-together of His friends and brothers.  Together we are a ‘chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: 10 who in time past were no people, but now are God’s people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.