The Church: Pillar of Truth
In 1 Timothy 3:15 the Bible gives us a clear definition of what the Church is to be. “…the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” In these times it seems that much of the Church is more concerned with being at the forefront of political correctness. Therein lays the problem of why so many of our churches are powerless to truly help anyone. It is not political correctness that convicts the heart of a person and brings spiritual renewal. It is the truth found only in God’s Word. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the Word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit and of the joints and morrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and the intents of the heart.” Jesus said in John 17 as He prayed for all believers, “(Father) Sanctify them through your truth; YOUR WORD IS TRUTH.” Jesus prayed for the Church, the believers, that we would stand pure by obeying God’s Word. When a church strays from the Word of God to adopt ear tickling rhetoric, then they have lost all ability to present people sanctified to God. When a pastor will not preach the message of God with boldness because he fears people leaving his congregation or reduced offerings, then he is nothing more than the world’s pawn and the calling of God on him will be rendered useless. The churches that will flourish in these days are the churches that will not compromise the Word.
I have heard many people adopt a religious mindset on where to attend church. Recently I was told of a woman who said, “God doesn’t care where you go as long as you go.” It is very dangerous to think that way. It is clear in God’s Word that God wants you to go where the truth is emphasized. Jesus wrote to a church in the book of Revelation about this very thing. Jesus told the church at Sardis in Revelation 3:1, “…you have a name that you are alive but you are dead.” Jesus is telling them that they have a reputation of being a good church, but in truth, God sees them as dead. Would Jesus want you to go to a dead church? No. I have talked to people that were in the midst of deciding what church to go to. By the Bible’s standard it is an easy call to make; you go where you will grow. You will not be any good to yourself or anybody else if you are being spiritually starved.
When churches decide to be the pillars of truth that God wants them to be, then they are providing people who are sincerely searching for God with the opportunity of truly knowing Him. Others that come just to relieve their conscience will eventually get offended and leave. Let them go but let’s make sure we ourselves are not withering with them.
Blessings,
Pastor Tim
Family Church Jamestown is a non-denominational church located in Chautauqua County in Jamestown between Lakewood and Busti NY. The senior pastor of Family Church is Pastor Tim Stahlman a native to the Jamestown, NY area.
