8 Years!

I am sitting here thinking about the fact that it has been 8 years since I decided to start a church. I can’t help but think that almost every man I have seen “surrender to the call” to be a preacher in my lifetime is no longer a preacher. Many never even became a preacher. In no way am I trying to hold myself higher than them. If I had started our church from their perspective I might not have made it these past 8 years. I knew from the start it would be hard. I knew from the start most Christians don’t really want to study at church. I knew from the start that there is no supernatural call to be a pastor like all of these men thought. Some of the rejection I have felt recently has almost broke me completely. I had counted the cost but maybe I did not count as deeply as I should have. I do however have the honor to share God’s word rightly divided according to the revelation of the mystery. This is  something that most of Christianity is oblivious to. I am reminded that both Jesus and Paul had few faithful at the end of their ministry. So, I am grateful that there are a few faithful that spend their Sunday mornings in the town of Moores Hill Indiana listening to God’s word taught literally. I recently met a gentleman that found his way to God’s word rightly divided and has also decided to start a church teaching God’s word rightly divided. What an encouragement! God chose to share his message by the foolishness of preaching so I won’t be questioning his method. Terry McLean once said; “success is not found in the numbers in the seats but in the doctrine being taught.” Based on this standard, I feel God is pleased with the progress I have made in the last 8 years. I’m a failure in the eyes of many, but I happen to be one of the few out there sharing the unsearchable riches of Christ exactly as Jesus instructed Paul. This my friends is priceless. It was God’s choice that Paul would not only know his will, but that Paul would be the vessel to share God’s will to the world. (Acts 9:15, 22:14) Such a shame that millions of Christians look for signs to show them God’s will for their life when it is so easy to find it in scripture. If you are a right divider and feel outcast by most of your denominational friends, I encourage you to keep moving forward. Keep trusting the clear teaching of God’s word rightly divided. It sure would be much easier to go back to the religious activity I spent much of my life in. Back when I actually thought I could trust preachers because they were educated and being “led of God.” Was it Reagan that said “trust but verify”? If you happen to be reading this and have put your faith in a preacher, I would encourage you to trust but verify. Bible understanding is possible. Bible understanding is attainable. God intended you to understand it for yourself. There is a purpose behind Paul’s favorite analogies of growing up and being built up and established in the faith. I pray I have helped a few people become grown, edified and stablished in the last 8 years. How are you building upon the edifice of Paul’s gospel? Time flies as they say.