What is beyond the relationships in the Church? How do you go beyond these sub-standard relationships? How do you engage with the Church that the Lord Jesus Christ is building today? You have been pumped full of bible verses, cute worship songs and sermons but the final product does not resemble the King. Two things come to mind.
- In the first Exodus the Lord speaks to Joshua before the people cross the Jordan that they are to be very careful “for you have not passed this way before.”
- A quotation from the American television science fiction series *Star Trek. The mission of the *Starship Enterprise, was ‘to boldly go where no man has gone before’
Probably all our relationships in Church have been sub-standard. How does the Body of Christ go where you have never been? How do you wade through the Tsunami of “spiritual” misinformation with hidden agendas coming through the media and social channels? How do you overcome and filter out years of religious indoctrination and methodologies with no Godly foundation but the traditions of men?
Here is your landmark in just three words The Person of THE HOLY SPIRIT.
John 14:16-18
16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever — 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
Unlike the first Christians who could not read and write and had no bibles, we know everything, but we do not know Him. We can’t learn to love like Christ if we do not know how to hear His Voice without a middleman.
Darkness has dawned over America, and I fear for the outcome of what today is called the Church. We have not seen shaking like what is coming. Our number one need in this hour is for the same proven relationships and loving selfless community that grew and prospered amid the Roman Governmental abuses, the Jewish Religious jealousies, and the general poverty of the times.
Can we, do it? My Faith is in Christ. My faith is in His love for His Bride. My Faith is in the Benevolent Loving Father that took the Prodigal son back in and restored all back to Him.
A Word to Myself
I have never seen real love manifested in a corporate setting. I can speak about principles and theories for hours. I recognize that when it comes to loving like Christ, experientially I fall short. I am still get affected when my love is not responded to in kind.
Change must start with me. I cannot teach what I haven’t lived. The world doesn’t need another know-it-all even if I am speaking for the Lord. The offices, the schools, the marketplace, and the streets are searching for the authentic and the genuine in this twisted world. Humility, sincerity, transparency, and empathy are rarer than gold and diamonds today.
When you fall……and you will, get up and try again. It’s a lifelong journey not a race.
A Word to the People Concerning Relationships in the Church
This 21st century church world is like a child who just got back from the Magic Kingdom thinking they have seen it all only to one day grow up and realize that it was only a make-believe park. Not only is church today not relevant but at its best it’s no better than a make-believe park. When a bar or a pub provide a better atmosphere for honest wholesome relationships than the Body of Christ you know we are in trouble.
The test came (and is still coming) and the Church was exposed for its empty rituals, Hollywood theatrics, loveless spirituality, and bottom-line business practices. Iron shavings don’t need to know what a magnet is but if it comes near them, they will be pulled in and attracted to it. Likewise, when you tried it all and nothing has changed you run away. That is why people like yourself are leaving the religious church system in droves!
- You switched to the New Mega Church Brand and Flavor in the city, but you are still nagged by the same pervasive sins.
- You gave the tithe, the offerings, and even made those financial pacts to prosper but you are still having trouble making ends meet after so many years.
- You thought you were putting your kids in a good environment, but your 15-year-old still got pregnant and the “boy from church” doesn’t want to marry her.
- You always volunteered and helped in the church but when you got sick the only calls that came in were from scammers. What happened to all those people that you thought were your friends?
- Your greatest pain is you thought you were in the Pastors inner circle but now that you can’t do all you were doing nobody will even return your calls. I guess your gifts are no longer making room for you!
A Word to the Pastors & Priests
How do we reach all those who have left? Do you really think what we need is just a new buzz word or strategy?? You cannot legislate loving relationships in the church. Your problem is not the people! Your problem is with the Head of the Church, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Blessed Holy Spirit which you have replaced with your man-made liturgy and programs. The King wants His Church back! It was always His flock. It was never your people or you’re your brand. Listen carefully! the day if the religious system is dead. They will never return to what they left. The Exodus is God ordained to separate the wheat from the chaff. And if all you are interested in are the numbers to pay for buildings, budgets, and salaries you will definitely never see them again. Sell the building before the market glut and get you a new day job! When the normal life in the 21st century has more fear related with it than your sermons on Hell you are just yelling in the wind. Finally, there is no hate here. I once walked in your shoes and by His grace He led me out.
A Word to the Rebuilders
You have come out as by fire and now the Lord is calling you back to return and save the wounded. Your heart is broken, and you feel so inadequate. Is there enough time Lord? How can I feed so many with this little meal? The Lord has dismantled your life and not much remains. The only thing you are sure of is in the God who flung the stars in the sky. You know His love and you have felt His embrace. Your driven by something so deep within you but you can’t explain it. You know that all you thought was important no longer pulls on you with the same power. People think you are crazy, but you appreciate and consider it an honor to abide in His purifying fire. Your body is here but your spirit is seated with him in heavenly places. There is where your power will come from. Do Nothing unless you see your Father doing it! Do not try to build anything but let Father lead you to a few who like yourself have come to the end of themselves. His love with satisfy every need among you. Count on it!
A Word about the Times
These are Perilous Times but perfectly suited for a Peculiar People
We need to Go Beyond prayer meetings and times of prayer and begin to live an unceasing prayer life.
We need to Go Beyond services. Our Lord Jesus performed the last service on the Cross. Our life is our worship and need to be ready to move in and use our gifts 24/7 anywhere and anytime.
We need to give it up and let American Nationalism go. We are Kingdom citizens and although we operate here, we are not of this world. Government will never legislate morality and the Lord doesn’t need their backing or protection for us to function in “on Earth as it is in Heaven.” What part of “The weapons of our warfare are NOT Carnal” did you not understand?
We need to get out of Revelations and get back in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles!
We need to quit looking for an exit strategy. There is no rapture, and we need to occupy our spheres (Homes, Schools, Jobs, Marketplace, Social Media) until He comes.
Without going Beyond in our present substandard relationships in the Church we will not be able to do any of the above. The Lord have Mercy on us!
In Conclusion
We have come though the shakeup of a worldwide Pandemic. We are beginning to feel the grip of worldwide inflation. The Economic Crash stand before us. In one day, life as we know it will change forever. It is my prayer that His Body will not just endure what’s coming but will explode in unprecedented growth! May the Glory of our relationships in the Church carry us through! May we all be ready and may ALL the Glory go to King Jesus!
Much Love,
Jose L. Bosque
