While the temple serves as a concrete structure, the church embodies the collective of redeemed individuals united in gratitude to God for the forgiveness of sin. This movement originated immediately following the ascension of Jesus to His Kingdom, at which point God sent His Spirit into the world to impart His Word to the believers. Consequently, the Spirit gathered them as a church, resulting in the daily addition of redeemed individuals in significant numbers (Acts 2:47).
The Impact of Religion
In the Old Testament, the Jews established a religion known as Judaism, which subsequently mandated that only Jews could be members of this faith. This led to a conflation of caste with spiritual life, transforming them into a religious framework. Through the coming of Jesus, God abolished the system of religion dominated by one ethnic group and directed the redeemed to unite in gratitude to Him for His works in their lives.
However, this unity was short-lived; approximately thirty-two years following Jesus’ ascension, those outside the redeemed community began referring to them as “Christians” in Antioch (Acts 11:26), marking the transformation of the Way Jesus had exemplified into a new religious identity. When Paul presented the Gospel to King Agrippa II, the king expressed fear of being converted to Christianity and consequently prevented Paul from continuing his discourse (Acts 26:28).
This trend persists today, as many individuals harbor apprehensions regarding religious conversion when confronted with the Gospel for their spiritual transformation. Thus, religion often exerts control over the redeemed, obstructing their path to the Way that Jesus depicted.
The Issues Regarding Conversion
However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. – 1 Peter 4:16 (NIV)
Among the disciples, Peter played a pivotal role in formalizing this path as a religion by designating the group of redeemed individuals as Christians. In a letter of encouragement to believers enduring persecution, Peter affirms that this designation serves as a badge of honor, to be embraced and used to glorify God, notwithstanding potential social ostracism or official penalties. Unbeknownst to him, Peter inadvertently drew the attention of other ethnic groups, leading to opposition against this new religious identity. Presently, such opposition is primarily rooted in religious concerns and conversion, rather than a commitment to following the path toward salvation and eternal life.
Individuals possess the privilege to select a political party that aligns with their motives and principles. Political leaders, as well as ordinary citizens, frequently change their political affiliations and adapt to the ideological tenets of the parties they join. There is generally no apprehension associated with this party-switching; such changes are often accepted with minimal resistance by the populace. This phenomenon can be attributed to the understanding that politics is not a religious doctrine but rather a social platform aimed at serving the constituents. Various political parties seek to influence the electorate by appealing to religious affiliations that represent substantial segments of the population to secure votes. Nonetheless, there tends to be a lack of agitation among ethnic groups, as politics is viewed primarily as a mechanism for garnering majority support to establish a government rather than a means to promote any particular religion.
Likewise, Jesus came into this world to serve humanity and guide them toward eternity, without establishing any specific religion. If we align ourselves with Jesus in serving those redeemed by His blood, there remains no justification for rejection. Mahatma Gandhi noted this in his book “The Experiment of Truth,” where he expressed that he admired Jesus but held disdain for the Christians who adhere to the religion known as “Christianity.”
Understanding The Concept of Church
The scripture states that individuals are the temple of God, as He resides within them. However, a significant number of people continue to hold the belief that God dwells solely within physical structures designated as temples. This misconception has repercussions for contemporary churches. With a multitude of denominations, individuals often alter doctrines slightly to distinguish themselves from others, thus granting them the freedom to select from various denominations. Regrettably, all these denominations fall within the broader classification known as “religion,” accompanied by specific rules and regulations governing membership in each. Regardless of denominational differences, the religion of Christianity upholds a practice known as baptism, which serves to include individuals into its religious framework.
In fact, the church does not belong to any specific religion; rather, it represents a community of redeemed individuals coming together. As God resides in the hearts of believers, each person becomes His temple, and the church is the collective assembly of such temples, united in the adoration of God. Consequently, the church is not merely a building containing believers but rather a congregation of temples convening in harmony. When redeemed individuals gather, it creates an environment for those who may not yet recognize their redemption to comprehend that their sins are also forgiven when they join the assembly of the redeemed. For this understanding, there is no necessity for newcomers to undergo religious rituals such as “baptism.”
This description captures the essence of the early churches. The church serves as a unifying force, aiding individuals in maintaining their faith until they mature sufficiently to follow the teachings of Jesus and attain communion with God the Father, thereby exchanging their faith for the promise of eternal life. Once a believer reaches a level of maturity that enables them to tread the path exemplified by Jesus, their role within the church concludes, and their journey towards the Kingdom of God commences. Conversely, churches may be likened to motels, providing shelter to believers who have discovered the path. Yet, due to various programs and schemes, these believers may remain within the church, hindering their progress in their walk towards God.
The Traditional Worship And The Spirit Filled Worship
God, by sacrificing His Son for our sins, established a new path that transcended various religions, including Judaism. This concept parallels the contemporary actions of numerous governments, which have implemented a single-window system to streamline access to public services for their citizens, thereby eliminating intermediaries that profit from services rendered. Consequently, if an individual persists in relying on an agent to navigate this single-window system, it reflects a profound level of ignorance. Likewise, believers who continue to depend on spiritual intermediaries can be analogized to this individual.
The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings —external regulations applying until the time of the new order. – Hebrews 9:8-10 (NIV)
The scripture elucidates the importance of communal worship among redeemed individuals, asserting that adherence to traditional modes of worship should become obsolete for their inclusion amongst the saints who ceaselessly worship the Living God in truth and spirit. Consequently, the church, as a collective of redeemed individuals, plays a pivotal role in fortifying their faith until they attain maturity, enabling them to walk in the right path and reach the Father God through the body of Jesus Christ, which functions as a veil to access the Kingdom of God. To gain a deeper understanding of this concept, it is imperative to consider Paul’s teachings, which delineate the distinction between living under the law and living under God’s grace.
Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. – Galatians 3:23-25 (NIV)
The church represents the collective of redeemed individuals who convene to uphold their faith as they progress toward His Kingdom. As this assembly of redeemed individuals matures sufficiently to utilize their faith in accordance with the pathway that Jesus has illuminated towards His Father, the necessity for such congregational support to maintain their faith diminishes, making way for ascension to a higher spiritual level.
When one group of redeemed individuals embarks on their pilgrimage, another will inevitably form to sustain their faith, thereby commencing their own journey towards His Kingdom. This perpetuates a continuous cycle, indicating that it is not essential for any singular redeemed individual to remain tethered to the congregation to preserve the identity of the church. Others may occupy that gathering, gaining insights from the Holy Spirit. Henceforth, we shall participate in church services as a collective of redeemed individuals to express our gratitude to God, much like the saints in His kingdom do without ceasing.
The Jordan Valley 
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