Relationship over Religion!
by Pastor Darryl K. Fields | December 19, 2013
My Beloved,Jesus ordained the church not as a BUILDING, but as His BODY and BRIDE. Jesus' RELATIONSHIP with the church is a mystery that is best exemplified in a marriage between a man and woman. We are united in RELATIONSHIP with Christ upon believing as bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh (Genesis 2:23). We must not equate the church with RELIGION, but elevate the church into RELATIONSHIP as the BRIDE and BODY of Christ. Religion has been defined as the excessive performance of deeds out of terror. God is not is a terrorist, but He does value RELATIONSHIP over RELIGION. The Bible supports the church as...
1. The Bride
John the Baptist spoke as the Best Man (John 3:29 KJV) when He said, "He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled."
2. The Body
Romans 7:4 (KJV)
Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, [even] to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
Romans 12:5 (KJV)
So we, [being] many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Since we are the BRIDE and the BODY of Christ we cannot withdraw from the church because Jesus told Peter (Matthew 16:18 KJV),
"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." We all need a connection to the church to remind us of our ROCK and REDEEMER in Christ.
The church is the Bride and we have an intimate RELATIONSHIP thru the Body of Christ, better known as the church. Jesus ordained the church as His Bride and Body. Thereby, believers do not option out of the church. We run to the church! We don't cancel the church, but include the church in every aspect of our life. The Bible says this about how the church should come together (Hebrews 10:25 KJV), "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."
The church is more than a BUILDING, we are the BODY and BRIDE of Christ. Matthew 19:6 (ESV) says this in regards to marriage, "So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man seperate." Jesus wants all believers to be faithful to Him in their BODY and as His BRIDE. We are not to be divided or seperated, but one BODY with Christ. It was in the context of discussing marriage that the Apostle Paul impressed the importance of faithfulness when He wrote, "That he (Christ) might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish (Ephesians 5:27 KJV)." Let me encourage you to keep your BODY spotless as you are in RELATIONSHIP with Christ as His holy and unblemished BRIDE. Jesus is not coming back for the RELIGIOUS, but for those who are in a faithful RELATIONSHIP with Him.
Sincerely yours and Securely His,
Pastor Darryl K. Fields
