The Justification Trap: Why "It's Not Wrong" Isn't Enough

The Justification Trap: Why "It's Not Wrong" Isn't Enough

As I've engaged in conversations about the biblical model of church versus the prevalent North American model, a fascinating pattern has emerged. Those who've been immersed in the traditional church often respond with a similar tone – a tone of justification. And that, in itself, is incredibly telling.

Think about it. When was the last time you tried to justify something? Or, conversely, when did someone try to justify something to you? Take a moment. Really think about it.

(Cue the Jeopardy theme...)

Alright, let me guess. It was something wrong that was being justified, wasn't it?

That's because the right doesn't need justification. It needs teaching, clarification, and perhaps even defense, but never justification. Justification implies a need to defend something that is questionable.

And this brings us to the common responses I hear: "Well, it's not wrong, is it?" "But I was baptized in a church!" "Our church does so much good!" "We help so many people!" "What you're saying makes sense, but it's not wrong to do church that way, is it?"

Notice the common thread? These are all justifications. They're attempts to defend the current model, not necessarily to celebrate its alignment with scripture.

Now, let me be crystal clear: I'm not saying the traditional church is inherently sinful or that God can't use it. He absolutely can and does. But just because God uses something doesn't automatically validate its alignment with His desired model.

The Bible teaches us that God can use even evil for His glory. This means He can use things that deviate from His original intent to bring about His purposes. So, we can't use God's ability to redeem circumstances as justification for our methods.

Regardless of the "fruit" produced by traditional churches, it doesn't necessarily mean it's the model God intended. We are called to obedience to the Word, not to experimenting with methods that seem to yield better results. I'm willing to bet that a church operating according to biblical principles will produce biblical fruit, while a worldly church will produce worldly results. Large numbers in a church don't equate to biblical fruit; they might simply indicate effective business practices.

Why this need for justification? I believe it boils down to one word: comfort.

The traditional church is what people know, what they're accustomed to, and what they find comfortable. There's often minimal personal investment required. You can sit in the back, remain anonymous, and leave without engaging.

But that's not the church we're called to be. We are called to so much more! We are called to community, to discipleship, to service, to a life that reflects the sacrificial love of Christ.

It's time to step outside our comfort zones, challenge the status quo, and strive to be the church Christ would be proud to return to. It's time to embrace the biblical model, even if it feels uncomfortable.

Let's stop justifying and start obeying.

Learn more about our ministry and our vision for a biblically-centered church at www.theexchangemin.com.


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