I used to be invited to speak at different sorts of church meetings, usually about unity.
I wish this could happen again, because I have a message for church leaders.
I would start by asking:
How many churches are represented here today?
They would mutter and count up amongst themselves and give me a figure. Without wanting to be clever, which they would accuse me of, I would have to reply, "Wrong! There is just one church represented here, the church of God.
The trouble is that most people are so consumed by the belief that their 'church' is the right church, and theirs is the best church.
The problem is, and the biggest problem is they dont realise it, that thinking like that actually excludes them from the Kingdom of Heaven.
Not recognising the Body is something written about in 1 Corinthians Chapter erm erm 13 or 14 I think.
We are all part of the one church, one body! This is what we declare when we break bread. Yet still this attitude permeates the church from top to bottom.
Personally, I would lijke to see the name 'church' removed and every local group called "area name fellowship group" or something similar and get away from the spiritual pride that is swallowing and consuming Gods people.
