Can you imagine the reaction of Dorothy of “Wizard of Oz” fame, when she awoke from her ride in a spinning farmhouse in a strange land called Oz? Suddenly, everything she knew to be true, no longer was. She had a true moment of awakening. Knowledge in an instant that “this is NOT right”! A sudden, clear knowing that everything she knew, wasn’t. As she began to come to grips with where she was not, she uttered in disbelief, “we’re not in Kansas anymore Toto”. Her observation and knowledge was sudden, unmistakable, and without dispute. Everything had changed. Nothing was as it was. Nothing made sense.
I wonder what the response of a Book of Acts believer would be if he were to suddenly awaken and find himself in a New Testament Church of today? Would the church of today resemble in part what they knew; or would it be filled with a semblance of what was; without the substance? For Dorothy in Oz, the house was there but it was certainly off it’s foundation. Much like the church of today…
I ran across a word recently that describes what should be the foundation of ALL New Testament churches: Christocentric. It means, “centering theologically on Christ”. Although most would say they do “center theologically on Christ”, bluntly, plainly, they, (we) do not. Don’t act so surprised! The Bible says this is how it will be before Jesus’ return.
People will turn from “centering” on Christ to “centering” on other things like…
Centering on SELF – An attitude that Jesus exists for us and to fill our desires and expectations. (Even spiritual expectations.) 2 Tim 3:1-2 …men will be lovers of themselves.
Centering on DOCTRINE, POOR – Like selecting the finest of fare from a smorgasbord, men will pick, choose, and string together scripture that may fit them, but doesn’t encompass the whole counsel of God’s Word. The time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 2 Tim 4:3
Centering on LITURGY ABOVE LIFE – The church at Ephesus seemed to have all the right things going on; works, labor, patience, discernment and endurance, Rev 2:1-4. What they lacked was Life, Jesus Christ. …thou hast left thy first love.
Centering on SIGNS – Matt 24:24 False Christs (anointings) …will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive. Miracles aren’t bad, but if centered upon they can cause us to be satisfied with a shadow of Christ instead of the Person of Christ.
We could go on and on with a list. Get the point though, we’re to be Christocentric, (I like that word), centered on Christ. And why not?
Jesus Christ IS the CENTER of everything! ALL things were created by him, and ALL things exist through him and for him. To God be the glory forever! Rom 11:36
Jesus Christ MADE everything! By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. Ps 33:6
Jesus Christ made everything for HIMSELF! The LORD has made all for Himself. Prov 16:4
Jesus Christ not only made everything, He GIVES IT LIFE, and GIVES IT WHEN, WHERE AND HOW! He gives to all life, and breath, and all things; 26 …And has determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; Acts 17:25-26
Only by the WILL of Jesus Christ does ANYTHING exist! You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created. Rev 4:11
Jesus Christ HOLDS all things together! And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. Col 1:17
Only by Jesus Christ will a man be SAVED! Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12
Can you think of a reason why we shouldn’t CENTER on Christ? In him we (SHOULD) live, and move, and have our being; Acts 17:28 That’s Christocentric!
AND… what of our “Book of Acts” visitor who got dropped into today like Dorothy into Oz? Do you think he’d wonder why there’s a church every 300 feet? Why we can’t forgive one another? Why “Love” isn’t strong enough to get us past OUR hurts and disappointments and disagreements? Why we spend our lives in church and never lead anyone to Christ, baptize a convert, or make a disciple?
I submit, we’ve, you and me, may have lost our first love and therefore are no longer… Christocentric, (I still like that word).
We’ll NEVER win a lost world to Christ and be the parts of One Body Jesus made us to be to His glory, until we are.
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