Preface

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Preface

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“... do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. “Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. “Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. (Matthew 23:8-10)

“… the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.” (John 14:26)

As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.” (1 John 2:27)

“Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.” (James 3:1)

The misinterpretation of the Bible has been the cause of innumerable problems, not the least of which is a worldly simulation of the New Testament church. Often described as organized, institutional, traditional, cultural, religious, or temporal, it is but a mere shadow of the original New Testament church. As a result, the theology and practice of the simulated church is quite different from the New Testament church.

The New Testament church is the body of Jesus Christ. It was created before the foundation of the world to accommodate divine life on earth. Consequently, the New Testament church on earth was made to be a “dwelling of God in the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:22)

The New Testament church on earth was not designed to be animated by human life for God. Instead, by divine grace through human faith, it was made to be animated by the indwelling presence of the living God.

The abundant quality and quantity of spiritual fruit produced by the early New Testament church provided unmistakable evidence that God served as its primary, animating source of life. Consequently, the early New Testament church community understood that it was not their responsibility to build the church for God but to faithfully depend on Him to produce the church in them.

Not until the fourth century AD did the world produce a simulation of the New Testament church. Uninvited by God, it was the result of spiritual ignorance and scriptural misinterpretation. Unsuitable for eternal purpose and mission, the simulated church was appropriate only for religious activity.

Rather than allowing for organized religious activity, the New Testament clarifies that early church gatherings were animated by the living, indwelling Christ. Consequently, they were an organic celebration of eternal life that intentionally emphasized the preeminence and ministering presence of the victorious Savior.

Much to the surprise of many in the modern, religious simulation of the church, the New Testament does indeed unveil the distinct practice of the early church. However, the discernment of its practice requires that the New Testament be viewed faithfully and prayerfully apart from the bias of civic, religious, and historical precedent.

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Learning to understand the church solely from a New Testament perspective has been a life-long process. Writing about it in the form of a book required prayerful dependence on God and thousands of hours over more than 25 years.

Please read "The Real New Testament Church" in the manner that it was written; prayerfully and dependently. Consequently, I believe that you will be as blessed as I have been.

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