A Call to Simplicity

For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, 

that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, 

not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, 

and supremely so toward you.

2 Corinthians 1:12

A Call to Simplicity in the Modern Church

My husband and I have been prayerfully considering a new church home; one that was closer to our house so that we could more easily be a part of the fellowship, and to serve more effectively.

Recently, the Lord brought to my mind a local church...   One that I was familiar with through some young mom friends whose children attend their AWANA program.

I mentioned this church to my husband who it turns out knew the Pastor through seminary.   We both agreed that it would be a good idea to visit the church.

As soon as I sat down in the pews of this small, humble church, listening to the Pastor speak from his heart with such joy and humility, opening Scripture, welcoming the congregation to worship our great God and Father, followed by the organist playing a familiar hymn, music I had missed hearing so very much, I felt like I had come home...

And then the preaching...  Preaching that I soaked up like a dry sponge...  Preaching delivered without presupposition or editorializing...  Preaching spoken with power that the Word of God brings...  Preaching in the frank, purity of the Word...  Preaching that provided much wisdom and insight...  Preaching that convicted and encouraged...  Preaching that lasted for an edifying hour, that I didn't want to end...  Preaching that I thought about the rest of the day and during the week... Preaching that I desperately needed back in my life...

Fast forward to this past Sunday, Mother's Day, when I felt like I had stepped back in time...

The elderly women in the congregation, donned in their spring bonnets; the sweet children's choir of four precious ones that sang, as if there were 10, songs in honor of mothers; the beautiful Scripture embellished totes filled with a bouquet of brightly colored daisies and a ribbon adorned bag filled with delicious chocolates, given to each of the ladies present that Mother's Day morning; and then the guest Pastor, with guitar in hand, leading the congregation in some of the old Spirituals like "Do Lord, Do Remember Me; In the Sweet By and By; Swing  Low Sweet Chariot and When the Saints Go Marching In".

In the sweet simplicity of that service, I walked away feeling loved, fulfilled and rich, rich in the fellowship of the Saints and rich in the grace and love of the Lord Jesus   I felt that I experienced a glimpse of the Sweet By and By...

There’s a land that is fairer than day,

And by faith we can see it afar;

For the Father waits over the way

To prepare us a dwelling place there.

Refrain:

In the sweet by and by,

We shall meet on that beautiful shore;

In the sweet by and by,

We shall meet on that beautiful shore.

We shall sing on that beautiful shore

The melodious songs of the blessed;

And our spirits shall sorrow no more,

Not a sigh for the blessing of rest.

To our bountiful Father above,

We will offer our tribute of praise

For the glorious gift of His love

And the blessings that hallow our days.

Sanford F. Bennett

The Simplicity of the Gospel

For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, 

that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity,

 not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.

2 Corinthians 1:12

The Apostle Paul issues a call to simplicity...  Simplicity in our hearts, our minds, our actions, our homes, and most especially culminating in our churches...

...church, where the saints gather in the simplicity of the Gospel.

But it seems that the church experience I described above, in all its simplicity, is becoming harder to find these days...  Having been replaced by concert settings with brightly colored spotlights and loud music; with a bent toward pleasing the world in order to entice people into the church... That may seem harsh, but when you boil it down, isn't that what is happening?  Rather than trust in the simplicity of the Word and the Gospel, churches are resorting to all sorts of entertainment in order to "get people in the pews".   Once there, the message is so watered down, that people walk away with no true understanding of what Salvation in Jesus is saving them from!  Hell is a topic considered taboo now.  But why??   There is no Good News without mention of the very hell that Jesus death has rescued us from.

 That IS the Good News!

Jesus suffered the wrath of God's judgement for the sins of the world so that we who believe are forgiven, and our sin debt paid.  We do not need to fear death and hell because our eternity is secured in Heaven.

He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours alone,

 but also for the sins of the whole world.

1 John 2:2

 Is there sincerity in preaching that avoids topics like sin and hell??

That in simplicity - (ἐν ἁπλότητι en haplotēti.) Tyndale renders this forcibly "without doubleness." The word means sincerity, candor, probity, plain-heartedness, Christian simplicity, frankness, integrity; see 2 Corinthians 11:3. It stands opposed to double-dealings and purposes; to deceitful appearances, and crafty plans; to mere policy, and craftiness in accomplishing an object. A man under the influence of this, is straightforward, candid, open, frank; and he expects to accomplish his purpose by integrity and fair-dealing, and not by stratagem and cunning. Policy, craft, artful plans, and deep-laid schemes of deceit belong to the world; simplicity of aim and purpose are the true characteristics of a real Christian...

...Not with fleshly wisdom - Not with the wisdom which is manifested by the people of this world; not by the principles of cunning, and mere policy, and expediency, which often characterize them. The phrase here stands opposed to simplicity and sincerity, to openness and straightforwardness. And Paul means to disclaim for himself, and for his fellow-laborers, all that carnal policy which distinguishes the mere people of the world. And if Paul deemed such policy improper for him, we should deem it improper for us; if he had no plans which he wished to advance by it, we should have none; if he would not employ it in the promotion of good plans, neither should we. It has been the curse of the church and the bane of religion; and it is to this day exerting a withering and blighting influence on the church. The moment that such plans are resorted to, it is proof that the vitality of religion is gone, and any man who feels that his purposes cannot be accomplished but by such carnal policy, should set it down as full demonstration that his plans are wrong, and that his purpose should be abandoned.

Barnes Notes on the Bible

I have had several young adults, those outside the church, say to me when we visited a modern church together, "Church should be church".   They were actually uncomfortable in the "concert" type setting.

I think in general, people outside the church expect church to be different.  They expect church to be church.  Can we honestly say it looks that way now?...

I know that there are differing opinions on this topic.

I also know that there is much being accomplished for the Kingdom of God in many modern churches today.

But my fear is that church leaders are assuming that they need to reinvent church to be more relevant, especially to the younger generation, but in the process, have lost the simplicity of tradition and the Word of God.   What will become of the next generation growing up in the church?  Will they crave sound doctrine or is the modern church actually training them to be entertained?

Trusting in the Power of the Simplicity of the Word

I understand that everyone worships differently, and I don't want to come across that I am judging one way over the other.

I am just concerned that the modern church is on a slippery slope, sliding farther and farther away from simplicity, Godly sincerity and wholly depending on the Grace of God.

What if the church would return to trusting in the simplicity of the Word to accomplish what it says it will...

It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit.

 It will accomplish all I want it to,  and it will prosper everywhere I send it.

Isaiah 55:11

...rather than forms of entertainment, multi-media presentations and me-centered messages...

Is the church's conscience clear?

Is the church conducting itself as a body standing on holy ground, set apart, a royal priesthood, whose focus is God, not on me and entertaining ears?

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

1 Peter 2:9

I am concerned that we as believers will have less and less tolerance for sacrificial, God-centered services, with in-depth teaching and preaching, preferring me-centered wants and desires to be satisfied during the service, to the detriment of our daily walk...

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions.

2 Timothy 4:3

As a result, will we look any different than those who do not know Jesus, who live only for themselves and their selfish desires??

Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform

 you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know

 God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Romans 12:2

Is my conscience clear?

Am I behaving in the world with simplicity and Godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom, but by the grace of God?

The church's one foundation 

is Jesus Christ her Lord; 

she is his new creation 

by water and the Word. 

From heaven he came and sought her 

to be his holy bride; 

with his own blood he bought her, 

and for her life he died. 

Samuel J.  Stone

We as believers are the church.

O that we would return to the simplicity of conducting ourselves both individually and corporately as God's holy bride... For His blood has bought us, for our lives He died...

For a similar post, click on the following:

The Multiplied Blessings of a Consecrated Life

You might find me on these link-ups:

Grace & Truth, Woman to Woman Ministries, Inspire Me Monday, A Wise Women Builds Her Home, Spiritual Sundays, Soul Survival,  Good Morning Mondays, Tell His Story, Faith & Fellowship Blog Hop,   Tuesday Talk,    Faith 'N Friends,  Sitting Among Friends   House to Home  ,Wonderful Wednesday , Literacy Musings Mondays,Imparting Grace, Dance with Jesus,  Booknificent Thursdays ,  Fresh Market Friday Moments of Hope Wonderful Wednesdays , Tea & Word Tuesday Heart Encouragement Thursday Hearts for Home Messy Marriage Link-up Friday at the Fire Station Link-up Tune In Thursday Faith on Fire Link-up, Sunday Scripture Blessings Link-up, Sunday Thoughts, Writer Wednesday, Faith Filled Friday God Sized Dreams Link-Up Sitting Among Friends Be Thee Inspired Graceful Tuesday Link-up Aprons & Pearls Link-up Trekkingthru Link-up  Encouraging Word Wednesday  Grace Moments Link-up  Encouraging Hearts and Home Worth Beyond Rubies Seeking Sabbath Scripture and a Snapshot IHeart Verse Welcome Heart Kingdom Bloggers Outdoorsy Mommy Anchored Truth Tuesdays IHeart Verse InstaEncouragements

Recharge Wednesdays Kingdom Bloggers