|
|
Church without God A
while back someone handed me a newspaper with an article talking about a
“church without God.” Actually
this was no church at all, but a humanist organization.
“Greg Epstein, the humanist chaplain at Let
me see if I can make sense of this. We
have a group of folks that doesn’t believe in God, but claims to be a church.
In the strict definition of ekklessia, a called out group, they are
right. A church can be any group
working together or separated from the masses.
Obviously Mr. Epstein is using the word church to get attention and
perhaps mislead some people in thinking of this church as a religious body.
This group of folks simply doesn’t believe in God.
There are a lot of “churches” out there that are in the same boat.
The Unitarians don’t know if God exist or not so they are like the
humanist. Other churches don’t
believe in God’s word so they are similar to the humanist.
They are embarrassed that the Bible condemns homosexuality, immoral
conduct, profanity, drunkenness, and other sins.
I can’t really see much difference between these religious churches and
the non-religious church. I
find it interesting that this group is at They
want to do “good works.” It is
admirable when people want to help other people.
I am curious as to why they would want to do this, but I should be happy
that is their mind set. More folks
should be interested in helping their fellow man.
Numerous passages in the Bible deal with benevolence; James 1.27 tells us
to visit or help the widows and orphans. Galatians
6.10 tells us to do good to all men and especially those of the household of
faith. However, doing good is not
enough by itself. There are a lot of
religious folks that are doing “good works”, but they do so without Biblical
authority. "Not everyone
who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does
the will of My Father in heaven. Many
will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name,
cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' "And
then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice
lawlessness!' (Matthew 7:21-23). Some
will be lost because they do not have works of faith, James 2.26; others will be
lost because their works are not according to the faith. Finally,
this article spoke of salvation here on earth and having a purpose. First of
all, if they are seeking salvation here on earth they will be lost.
Life here on earth is temporary for we are mortal beings. “For what is
your life? It is even a vapor that
appears for a little time and then vanishes away”
(James 4.14). Paul said that
if our hope is in this life then we are most pitiable, 1 Corinthians 15.19.
The saying “The one that dies with the most toys wins.”
Should read, “the one that dies with the most toys; is still dead.”
Second, man without God has no purpose.
Solomon concluded that in Ecclesiastes.
We are here to serve God, Ecc. 12.13. Those looking for purpose without
God are doomed to fail. Of course I
know some religious groups that mis-defines man’s purpose.
They believe their purpose is to have bake sales and provide recreation
and entertainment. We must keep in
mind that Christ’s church is made up of the saved and they are saved by the
Gospel of Christ.. We
don’t need more churches unless they are built on the word of God. “Every
plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted” (Matthew |