Matthew 15:8-9
“‘These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
They worship me in vain;
their teachings are merely human rules. ”
Any institution has to come to some "ground rules" on how it's participants should be handled. Churches are no different. Specific teachings are required so that outsiders can make a decision about it. Unfortunately, in some churches, it is difficult to determine if these "convictions" are of God or of man. Looking at this scripture, this can cause a great deal of conflict in the operations of the church.
What teachings in your church are of God and what teachings are of institutional structure?
Jesus was proof that God is not predictable. The existing church before Jesus felt they had God pegged. They knew how to act, how to worship, what to do...Very much like some churches feel today. They create a doctrine based on what they think they've got nailed down...But God proved that he doesn't work that way.
1) If an idea is about self (or group) preservation, it is from human
2) If an idea is intended to control or corral a thought process, it is from human
3) If an idea is self-serving, it is from human
1st John 1:5-6
4)If an idea is about love and light, it is from God
5)If an idea is about propelling a person toward worship and love, it is from God
6)If an idea is about pursuit of God's truth, it is from God.
7)If an idea is about sacrifice and helping others, it is from God.
God is completely unpredictable. If we try to love him in an institutionalized fashion, we have failed. No church or group of people can completely house the understanding of God. If one says that they can, then they don't fully understand the scriptures laid out before them.
Luke 15:25-30
-Which son recieved the robe and the party? Why?
-Why was the older brother angry?
-In your relationship with God, do you see yourself following rules and man-induced laws and concepts? Or are you throwing off everything to rebuild a relationship with God?
It isn't an intentional thing...It is an act of nature. Every institution (churches, stores, restaurants) try to provide you the best product in the best way that they know how. And in their defense, for the most part, they do a great job.
Unfortunately, for a church, it must always remain on its toes. It is very easy for human precepts to step in and decide the "order of things". Unfortunately, churches can not talk to God directly so they must be very flexible and be ready to try new things and fail. If a church ultimately trusts in God, then they should be able to accept failure in anything they do. That is the entire basis of trusting...accepting failure prior to stepping out.
You can tell a church that is actively seeking to understand God. NOT THE PARTICIPANTS, BUT THE CHURCH ITSELF...You can tell this by them being dynamic in everything they do, and loving of all people who stick with them.
