‘The fact is that, while certain things characterize the New Testament churches, the New Testament does not give us a complete pattern according to which churches are to be set up or formed! There is no blueprint for churches in the New Testament, and to try to form New Testament churches is only to create another system which may be as legal, sectarian, and dead as others. Churches, like the Church, are organisms which spring out of life, which life itself springs out of the Cross of Christ wrought into the every being of believers. Unless believers are crucified people, there can be no true expression of the Church’. (T Austin Sparks)

I often visit blogs that discuss the topic of church to see what others are saying and to inject my little portion of heresy into the mix. So much is said about what makes for effective church and about what needs to change, but scarcely ever do I hear what Sparks said in the last sentence of the above quote. Yet without the reality of the life of Christ residing in us and flowing through us unhindered by the tyranny of the self life, church in any form or no form is of little or no value.

When I was a pastor in the IC I thought I could kill the self life by more prayer, fasting and keeping myself from things I considered to be impure. Somehow I missed the fact that selfishness was my greatest enemy. I was unable to consider myself crucified with Christ because I was still trying to be righteous in my own strength. Religion does that. Love brings self to the cross. Walking in love keeps it there.

David Fredrickson