The Walls Built Between Believers

In church, we tend to build walls between each other because of personality differences, petty disagreements, or minor theological distinctions.  In fact, often these walls that separate God’s people may be for no other reason than a difference in Bible translations, a preference in church music, or the style and mode of worship.

And walls grow into cliques, and cliques into factions and factions into splits.

We greet each other on Sunday with a façade of caring and at the same time keep each other at arms length-never too close.  Unfortunately, in some cases, we are hurt more by others in the church than those in the world-hence, our walls.

Amazing, isn’t it?

The Walls Between Believers and the World

Then, we attempt to build walls between those within the church and those within the world.  You know, the ones we are commanded and empowered to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to.  We tend to feel comfortable in our pews, protected by our buildings and programs, and yet seldom feel compelled to reach out to those different from us with the unchanging message of hope and redemption we have in Christ.  We tend to “do” church rather than “be” church.  The church, in a nutshell, becomes a “hospital for hurting people” and not the “military outpost” taking its stand against the enemy by making disciples (Matt. 28:19) and setting captives free.

And, because it makes us uncomfortable, we erect a wall to keep us in and the world out.

The Walls Between Our Obedience and the Holy Spirit

Finally, since being comfortable is such a deeply held value in this church age, we also seem to strive to build a wall between where the Holy Spirit is drawing us and where we are now.  In essence, we try to limit His movement in our lives and church because where He leads always demands faith!

And faith is scary stuff to the comfortable Christian!

Therefore, phrases like “We’ve never done it that way before” or “I don’t feel comfortable with this” become mainstay within our self-made walls– and the Holy Spirit is often left outside.

Therefore, our name: The Church Without Walls.

How We Strive to Tear Down These Walls

First, we strive to break down the walls between Believers by focusing on Christ-centered relationships and not programs or buildings.

Second, we strive to break down the walls between Believers and those we are mandated to reach by meeting in cell-based home groups during the week in the very neighborhoods in which people live.  In other words, we are not begging them to come to us, but are reaching out to them where they live.

Finally, we strive to break down the walls between the Believer and the Holy Spirit by allowing Him to move in our lives His way and not trying to confine Him by our programs, traditions or our structure.

Are you tired of letting walls stand between you and our Lord?  Are you longing for things to be different in your relationships with our Lord and with other believers?

If so, we would love for you to become a part of what the Lord is doing at The Church Without Walls.