Much Of The Church Hinders Deepness In Christ

MUCH OF THE CHURCH HINDERS DEEPNESS IN CHRIST

An Analogy by Pastor Terry Fischer

“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” Ro. 11:33

“But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” I Cor. 2:10

“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” Eph. 3:17-19

Consider the depth of Christ as an ocean to swim in. Consider a person’s first step into that ocean to be that first moment of salvation. The church for the most part is congregating in knee deep water. As the new babe in Christ takes his first step into the water the church is excited for him and rooting him to quickly come and join them. Some of the members come into the shallow to grab his hand to encourage him to step out into the deeper water. Deeper water represents going deeper with Christ, so as the water gets deeper he is growing deeper in Christ. Some get to that place the church is at rather quick, some are stubborn and lag behind, but many make it there; after all it is pretty safe in knee deep water. It isn’t long and the new Christian makes it to where that church is congregating. There, many are floating around on rubber rafts, others are playing water games. Some are teaching others how to swim, some are warning others about the danger of to much sun. But there they all are one big happy family and the new Christian has now become one of them. How great to be part of such a wonderful group of people. However, he is starting to get a little restless and he starts looking out to the deeper water. Sometimes he sees someone swimming out in the distance and starts to ponder on the vast area yet to tread. A loving brother interrupts his gaze by insisting that there really is no need to go any deeper, that it is much safer to remain close to shore. Another warns there are sharks out there; another’s convinced that he will just drown out there. The pastor comes and pats him on the back and tells him he is really doing good, and that he has a new shallow water ministry that he would like him to head up. But discontentment has set in, that new man in Christ wants more. His gazing toward the deeper waters has now turned into several steps into the deeper water, even though many have decided to stay back. As the water goes from the knees to the waist some well meaning church member insists that the waves are too high out there, so he stops for a moment to re-evaluate the situation but then continues to go deeper. Now another respectable believer is starting to get frustrated with this young buck and shouts, who do you think you are you show off, do you see any of us out there. Finally Pastor Love shouts out one final warning before the Christian plunges with enthusiasm into the deep cool waters. Those back in the shallow waters are now grumbling about that man and warning others to stay away from him because he is reckless and has no love or concern for the church family.

Brethren, this is an illustration about the state of much of the church here in America. When someone gets saved, the whole church is excited and encourages them to quickly join, but if they desire to go past that shallow relationship that most live in then the church works in the opposite way. When she once was encouraging growth, she is now hindering from growing deeper in Christ. It could happen that the very church that helped someone get saved could also be the church to help them go back into the world. This must not be. God is looking for some men and women that will not stop at status quo Christianity. It is God’s desire to raise up a body of believers that will deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow hard after Him. Will you be one of them, even if your own church family disapproves?

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