"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."~ 1 Corinthians 10:3

Stop Doing Church and Start Being the Church!

The early church changed the world by being surrendered, sacrificial, loving, unified, and committed to living a holy life. There was no air of self-righteousness and legalism in them. If we look at the life of the Apostle Paul, he fits all these characteristics.

The question is, how did these men do it?

I believe many Christians genuinely seek the answer to this question, but at some point in the past, we lost sight of Christ, and with that, we lost the key to achieving it.

I have spent years trying to answer this question and failing. I've sought counsel from the church and other Christians, but their suggestions were nothing more than cultural Christian formulas. No one seemed to have an answer. I tried the Christian way: studying the Bible, praying, serving, joining small groups, and having accountability partners, but all it left me with was tired and guilty, feeling like I had failed God.

I became convinced that we were all relying on willpower, self-effort, and religious activities—in our attempts to live a faith-filled life.

When these attempts fail, we do one of two things: we fake it till we make it and develop a fraudulent faith or hypocrisy, or we all convince ourselves that the life the early church saints lived is unattainable.

We are not Paul," my college professor said when I asked how Paul managed to rejoice in jail as if Paul were not human and flesh like me. His response implied that he believed there was a spiritual bar that we mere humans could never reach. The only difference between Paul and the rest of humanity was his faith in Jesus.

Christianity has been compromised in our day, allowing us to lower the bar and pick and choose the commands we will obey. The result has left Christianity weak, immature, faithless, and irrelevant. We have dimmed the spirit of God.

I know there are many Christians who want more of Christ, but our institutional churches have left them hurt and cynical. Many have been wounded and disillusioned by the hypocrisy and compromise within the church, causing them to give up on it. Yet, they still long for a deep and genuine faith.

I finally went to God for the answer in prayer.

I pleaded to God for an answer, and He made it clear that I needed to mature. At that moment, I had no grasp of what that entailed. All I understood was that no matter how much willpower, self-effort, or religious activities I engaged in, they wouldn't suffice. No miracles, no miraculous Bible verses, and no church functions could bring about this growth. There was only one thing I needed to do—it was to strengthen my relationship with Jesus.

How could I strengthen my relationship with my Lord?

There is no formula or steps to grow our relationship with Christ, but there is work that we need to do.

Surrender to God

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God(Romans 12:1-2).

God desires our entire being; we must surrender ourselves fully to Him. This means relinquishing not only our hearts, but also our minds, desires, opinions, and bodies to His will. We are called to surrender to God, not only in the moment of salvation but also every day in the process of sanctification.

Desire God

When Abraham and Lot decided to part ways, Abraham graciously let Lot choose which direction he wanted to go. Seeing the allure of Sodom and Gomorrah, Lots heart led him to head in that direction(Genesis 13).

How Lot looked upon Sodom and Gomorrah should mirror how we look upon God. God desires us to yearn for Him, to long to be in His presence, in such a profound way that everything else pales in comparison. We should recognize the supreme allure of God, so captivating that it guides our every step.

See God

In the story of Job, the very thing he feared most came to pass—he lost everything. Yet, through this profound loss, he saw God in a way he hadn't. Job said, "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You." Job lost everything that obstructed his view of God, and it allowed him to see what mattered most(Job 42).

We should see God in every part of our lives. See God behind us as our foundation, within us by the Holy Spirit, before us leading us. See God in the gifts we have and the things we possess. See God when we wake, in every step we take, every word we speak, and every breath we take. See God in our jobs, family, friends, and the world. We must keep at the forefront of our hearts the truth that God's hand is in every part of our existence.

Intimacy with God

In Psalm 139, King David reveals his profound awareness of God's intimate and all-encompassing knowledge of him. He acknowledges that God knows every detail of his life, from his thoughts, words, and actions. He reflects on the wonder of his creation, formed by God with intricate care and purpose. Amidst his awe, David expresses a zealous devotion to God's righteousness, seeking divine scrutiny to purify his own heart and lead him in the path of everlasting life.

I have realized that most Christians pray and study God's word with a self-seeking mindset. Some seek blessings or relief, while others, seemingly more righteous, seek growth in their faith. The problem is that this constant self-seeking causes us to miss out on our greatest gift. We need to set aside our seeking at times and experience God's intimate presence with us. The God of the universe wants to sit and spend time with you—how amazing is that?

When we spend time with God, in prayer and His word, we need to gaze into His heart, for He is gazing into our hearts. As King David, we ask Him to search our hearts as we search God's. We need to look into the heart of God and see how He loves and how He loves us. God is spending life with us—we should rejoice and bask in that reality. King David spent time with God in worship, not seeking his self-interest but seeking more of God. All I desire, God, is to be with You; let that longing reside at the core of our hearts.

Believe God

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven(Matthew 18:1-4).

We must deepen our belief in God beyond the surface level; it must be genuine and profound. Our faith should mirror that of a child—trusting, unwavering, and rooted in the certainty of God's truth. There should be no room for doubt, hesitation, or debate. When we embrace this childlike faith, our actions naturally align with our convictions.

Know God

Now this is eternal life; that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent(John 17:3).

We must delve into every facet of God's character—understanding His thoughts, love, and ways. This profound understanding comes from immersing ourselves in His Word and unwaveringly obeying His commands without compromise.

Walk/Follow/Abide in God

Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him(Genesis 5:24).

What does it truly mean to walk with God? It signifies acknowledging His constant presence with us, knowing that He is actively leading, guiding, shaping, and safeguarding us on our journey. God is directing us toward His Kingdom, navigating us through the challenges of this world, and shaping us to reflect the likeness of Christ. Just as Jesus relentlessly pursued His mission to redeem the world, we are called to follow Him courageously into the darkest places. Walking closely with Jesus deepens our relationship with Him, fostering growth and maturity in our faith. It's where our beliefs are tested and our commitment is proven. It is where the rubber meets the road.

If we commit to these actions, our relationship with Christ will flourish. No longer will we struggle with attempting Christianity, facing failure, and feeling guilt; instead—we will now be doing Christianity.