Not Even Close

Even now you are still not ready, for you are still of the flesh. For as long as there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not of the flesh, and behaving according to human inclinations?

 - 1 Corinthians 3

So basically, the world (let alone the Church) is still not ready for the enriching meat of the Gospel. We still cannot handle the highest expression of God's plan, and Word, for us. We have never been ready.

Paul says that our jealousies and quarrels are what prevent us from being ready to hear the fullest measure of God's word. Jealousy, and quarreling, are present everywhere; especially in the Church.

When a pastor stands up in a pulpit, he is defending the ground of an exclusive system that by definition divides God's people, one from the other. He is advancing ideals that will hopefully keep his church in line with what the other churches are doing.

Any Christian active in a denominational church, is providing tacit aid and comfort to the denominational system, which itself means "divided," or, "not unified." People want to go to a church that is growing, and that has the outward trappings of growth: a full parking lot, a modern facility, parsonage, active youth group, large gifts to missions.

And we are always aware of how we are doing vis-a-vis the other churches in town.

I do not want to downplay the great sacrifices made by believers throughout the world, or the amazing, miraculous acts of kindness and charity done, usually by the large churches and denominations. It is not to say that we are wrong in some major way, or that we have lost our way.

I simply want to note, that we are not fully there yet, not by a long shot. The divided Church is a vulnerable Church. We have indeed been divided, while not conquered, by our foes. Not conquered, but weakened nevertheless. 

When we learn to fully love, when we can stand truly unified, completely motivated only to serve: to help widows, orphans, and aliens - - - and when we can do all of this in moral purity; then there is no telling what God has in store for us, when it comes to conveying His full love and Word towards us.