Stop The Bleeding

A hemorrhage is a medical condition that results in the loss of blood either internally or externally. According to Wikipedia there are two causes of hemorrhaging: blunt trauma to the body, and underlying medical conditions. Add to that a third cause, which is hemmorhaging that occurs as a side effect to medication. In other words hemorrhaging that happens because of the introduction of a foreign substance to the body.

It is no secret that Christ refers to all that put their trust in him as the Body of Christ. Paul says in 1 Corinthians that we are the Body of Christ, but members in particular. A gathering of Christians who meet together on a regular basis would be considered "members in particular." If the life of the human body is found in the blood, then the spiritual counterpart in a church assembly would be the members. What causes a Church to hemorrhage members?

While many things could be listed, the introduction of a foreign substance to the body is the chief culprit. We are saved through faith in Jesus Christ. We live by faith in Jesus Christ. We shall go to heaven through faith in Jesus Christ. The foreign substance is ANY TEACHING AND PRACTICE THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AS THE FOCUS. Leadership idolatry (cult of leadership), ambition, traditions, pet doctrines, spiritual elitism, spiritual profiteering, and the clergy/laity dichotomy can all turn believers away from a church assembly. If Jesus is not in charge, then we're in charge. And if we're in charge then a mess will be made.

The answer is a return to our first love. There is nothing that we can present, no method that we can devise that is more profound than Jesus of Nazareth! Born of a virgin, born in an impoverished setting. Being God yet willingly subjecting himself as a Son. Friend of the underbelly of society, yet available to all, rich and poor, that call on Him. There is no one and nothing greater than Jesus!

The church grew from 25,000 in the first century to 25 million in the third century, without programs, buildings, and under heavy persecution. All they had was Jesus Christ living in them by the Holy Spirit, and fragments of the scripture.

Stop the bleeding! As the Sugar Hill Gang said, "it's on you, so what you gonna do?"

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