THE FALL FROM THE WALL

You all know the story of Humpty Dumpty and his fall from the wall, and all the kings men couldn't put him back together again. I recently read an article, in which the author likened the situation in the church structures of today to this children's story. Present day church structure is not the same as Jesus had in mind when He made the statement "I will build my church" (Matt 16:18). When we read the book of Acts, the church we see developing in Jerusalem after the day of Pentecost was more like what He had in mind, I'm sure! Here we see a church that was based on "relationships" between people who were being saved and added to the church (Acts 2:42-47). They met for teaching and fellowship in homes, and in public places for larger gatherings.

Unfortunately this all changed after Emperor Constantine merged the church together with the Roman Empire in 317AD and we see the beginning of the first State Church, which over the years developed into various denominations. A brief study of early church history will reveal how the church became like Humpty Dumpty on the wall, with each group thinking they had the right doctrines, and therefore all others were wrong in what they believed. Jesus never came to start a "Religion", but that is what church became, and most people consider Christianity to be one with the other major religions of the world. Actually it would be more accurate to say Jesus came to destroy religion! The main religion of the day was Judaism, and the Pharisees were one of the leading denominations which were always at odds with the teaching of Jesus. And these religious people were the only ones that He criticized for their hard hearted religious practices (Matt 23:1-36) gives a graphic description of what Jesus thought of religion, and I have no reason to think He has changed His opinion of such religious practices!

In our present 21st century we are beginning to see some major changes to religious structures that could easily be compared to Humpty Dumpty on the wall. I believe as this system falls, it will be impossible to put it back together again like it was, and what will take it's place will be a completely different structure that will be more like the church we see functioning in the Book of Acts. It seems that the newly formed "house church networks" that are springing up all over the world, could take the place of old line denominational structures with their expensive to maintain buildings, and their elaborate system of "top down" management patterned after the world system! Let us be praying for proper discernment for believers during this transition period!

Sincerely submitted.

Gramp