The main thing that we build our Churches around is God. Churches are a place where we worship God. Ephesians 2:20-22 “Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him, you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”
When the main thing is God, we build a solid foundation for our Church like in Ephesians. Is our most important thing really God, or are we putting other things before God? When we start to focus on pleasing individual needs, we are working against God's intentions for the Church. Romans 12:5 tells us: “So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” We are to be one body in Christ. This verse does not tell us to separate each other out based on our earthly desires.
If our focus is God driven, we will ultimately come together and be one body in Christ just as Romans 12:5 tells us. The devil uses his deceit to break apart the Church body. He starts pulling one part of the Church one direction and the other part of the Church another. Before you know it, we are struggling to stay together as one body in Christ. When we do not seek God first, the Church body becomes broken. Instead of working as one unit, we divide ourselves into our selfish separate ways. We must always keep the main thing the main thing.
How does the devil tear apart a Church?
Romans 16:17 “I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.”
The doctrine tells us that we must follow God. We must seek his council. Our hearts must desire him. When we break apart the Church body in Christ, we are causing the divisions spoke of in Romans 16-17.
Isaiah 59:2 “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you so that he will not hear.”
Our sins separate us from God and break apart the Church when we do not work as one body in Christ. Is God the purpose and focus of our coffee shop, sports, concerts, worship? Or are we doing those things because we like them and they are fun? If the purpose of something does not build the body of Christ, then does it have a place in the Church?
You can try to make a Biblical case for any agenda that you want to promote. But God knows your heart and will judge you by your actions.
Ultimately we have lost focus of the main thing. We find ourselves scattering and trying to fix things in our way, what we think is right. Are we fixing things God's way? Do we seek and follow his direction for the Church, or do we use scripture to promote our agenda? Do we find ourselves in Romans 16:17 as a divider and creator of obstacles? If so, we need to step back and examine ourselves.