Though we learn from Moses and Elijah, God told the three disciples assembled on the mount of transfiguration, specifically to listen to Jesus, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” (Matthew 17:5). I dream of a church that studies the whole Bible, but makes what Jesus taught an important focus.
If Your Brother Sins
The only other time that Jesus is recorded as mentioning the word church is regarding church discipline.
“Now if your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that on the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter may be confirmed. And if he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, he is to be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.” (Matthew 18:15-17 NASB)
This threefold approach to church discipline is well known among Christians, even if it is rarely practiced in full. It is a false assumption that this involves shunning. Would Jesus mean to treat the rebellious brother like the Pharisees treated people? Of course not. The unteachable parishioner should understand that he is outside God’s will, and cannot be considered for any church leadership role, but is still to be treated with courtesy and Christian kindness.
Two or Three
Does Jesus ignore a gathering of two or three? “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:19-20 NIV) I dream of a church where everyone recognizes God in our midst.
Truth
Did Jesus promise that later generations of Christians would discover as yet unknown aspects of the truth, or was He making this promise just to the apostles?
“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you [plural] into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you [plural] things to come.” (John 16:13 NKJV)
This was addressed to the apostles and not to later generations of the church. Changes or additions to what Jesus and the apostles taught within the New Testament is not addressed. Whether or not later ecumenical councils obeyed or disobeyed this directive is something for another discussion. However, the importance of the Bible must not be diminished or overshadowed. I dream of a church that honors the teachings of Jesus and the Apostles above all others.
Naked Ambition
When the mother of the two sons of Zebedee sought positions for her sons, this caused a great stir among the disciples (Matthew 20). Naked ambition causes many problems in churches, and yet the best thing that any missionary can do for a new church is to leave immediately after local leaders are trained, rather than continue to hang on in power. I dream of a church where indigenous leaders preach the Gospel in a manner relevant to their own culture, rather than becoming clones of a foreign missionary’s culture.
Palm Sunday
One of the biggest lessons to learn from Palm Sunday is that Jesus rode into town on a donkey, not in a gold chariot or on an expensive thoroughbred (Matthew 21:1-11). I dream of a church where great humility is found among all leaders.
