by Darnell Whitfield

I start this article by stating, “I have never seen the church in the terrible state that it is in today.”

Today’s church is self-seeking and is not willing to conform to the image of Jesus Christ as seen in the attitude of the people going to church.

In the vernacular of Jesus himself, “the church has become a den of thieves,” as leadership purports lies that quickly make its way throughout the body of Christ.

Listen, I am not one of those people who believe that we need to be quiet about who we are supposed to be as Christians.

I have always stood up to ignorance and will always stand against it, because I am a firm believer that we need to be better as Christians and as people as time goes by.

I read Pastor Andrew Book’s article, “Why worship matters (and why I am a pastor),” and it was excellent.

In his article he made a beautiful statement, “You need to get your eyes off yourself and look at God,” and that is where the problem comes in.

Many come to church with their own idea of what church should be, what the pastor should be and what they want.

This is stinkin’ thinkin’!

Church is for those believers to come together, on one accord to be changed from their old lifestyle to a better way to live in Christ, as it says in Romans 12:1, 2:

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

And then Philippians 2: 5-11:

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.

7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The key here is to become like Jesus in attitude, in speaking, in your daily walk, so that you can accomplish what God wants from you.

You got saved because, for whatever reason, how you were living wasn’t working for you, so why would you bring your thoughts and ways to God and try your best to twist and mold the word of God to your lifestyle?

It never worked for you in the past and it won’t work now!

When you come to Christ you must relieve yourself of every notion that you have and transform yourself to God’s only begotten Son Jesus.

You must study Scripture on a regular basis every week, you must learn to pray for Gods’ guidance and pray that He will give you the understanding of His word, so that you will stop trying to satisfy your urge to be in pride and flesh.

Holiness is a lifestyle that speaks to the world at large and it says, “I do not walk in sin anymore. I do not walk in self-indulgence anymore, I do not walk after the flesh anymore and I do not dance with the devil, because I might get burned.”

The very moment that you accept Jesus Christ as Lord of your life, you have been endowed with power that comes from God himself through the person of the Holy Ghost!

It is the Holy Ghost that will guide you through life as shown in Acts 1:8:

8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

This is a promise that the risen Jesus gave His disciples and a promise to us all today.

Go to church to grow in unity, because where there’s unity there is great strength, but remember church is only one part of our growth. We must also pray, study and live the Scriptures daily.

Friends, pray for me as I am praying that God will guide me in the direction that He wants me to go in another city, closer to home, where I can work with believers willing to do Gods will.

MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

DARNELL WHITFIELD is senior pastor of Diamond Grove Baptist Church in Franklin. Contact him at 742-1343 or revwhitfield@me.com.