We are the family of God, who are grafted into the “commonwealth of Israel” (Ephesians 2:12) through faith. Those who are in covenant with God. The covenant He made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and renewed with Moses and David and fulfilled in Yeshua! If you are joined to that covenant, then you are in Him. And all things in heaven and earth are being made one in and through Him! (Eph 1:9-10, Eph 2:11-13)
The covenant is with the ALMIGHTY God, creator of the universe. If you are fighting against, dividing, turning your nose up towards, or looking down on other members of the same covenant, I warn you now, that you are in danger of yourself being cut off.
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19-21 (emphasis added by author)
We are members together of one body, and Christ is the head. We do not have authority except in Him. And He is our authority. We submit to one another in love because as one body, our function requires submission. If the hand thinks it’s more important than the elbow, or the eye than the stomach, that body will soon die of starvation through pride. One fat hand, or obese eyeball cannot make a healthy body.
Why—since we, together are the Church—have we traded our identity for a weekly meeting that satiates our appetites, but does not bear the fruit of unity, maturity or edification? In other words, the evidence of our meetings is that our fruit is mixed at best, and rotten in some cases. It is time to judge ourselves and repent. To return and submit to the head.
The early followers of Yeshua met in homes (Acts 2:46; Romans 16:5), shared meals, shared together (1 Corinthians 14:26), and emphasized mutual edification, prayer, and the exercise of spiritual gifts within the community. Leadership was plural, often localized, and based on character rather than institutional ordination (Titus 1:5-9; Acts 14:23).
Most Sunday services today follow a familiar pattern: people gather to watch a program led by one person on a stage or behind a pulpit. It’s a setup where the audience mostly listens and observes, rather than actively participates. While there’s still great value in gathering together, it’s worth asking whether this format truly reflects the biblical picture of the Church.
The shift from a participatory, Spirit-led community to a more institutional model didn’t happen overnight. It goes back to the fourth century, when Emperor Constantine legalized and began to favor Christianity. That moment changed everything. The Church, once a grassroots movement led by the Spirit, became aligned with the state. As a result, churches started looking more like Roman government buildings, leadership became more hierarchical, and worship adopted the formal style of imperial ceremonies.
The bishop became the central figure, and ordinary believers—once active in teaching, encouraging, and leading—were gradually sidelined. Over time, the church became more of a weekly event run by professionals, and less of a community where everyone contributed and built one another up. What was once a vibrant, shared way of life became more about routine, structure, and ceremony.
Today, we’re left with a model that can sometimes hide the true purpose of the Church: to be a living, connected body where each member plays a part in helping the whole grow in love (Ephesians 4:16).