Who Will Build Whose Church? #1

For many it isn't even important to ask the question:  "Who builds the church?"  They are already invested into what their local gathering is doing and that is a good thing.  However some feel that this question is a central point of tension that needs to be Biblically answered - Who builds the church?

Acts of whom?

To underline the core of this dilemma we can ask it this way:  The book of Acts, a book describing what the Apostles and others did after Pentecost.  It is the story of the early church but is it the Acts of the Apostles or the Acts of the Holy Spirit?  Or both?  Where does the initiative come from to initiate these acts? How does 'both' work?

The reason why this is extremely important is because our moment by moment walk with the Lord is affected by how we answer this question. We do things that affect lives and everybody endeavouring to serve the Lord wants them to have God-content.  Because we are capable of doing things off our own innovation, creativity and genius, we need to be aware of God's involvement.

An Unconscious Polemic

The majority of Christians just go ahead and do works that seem to be the right thing.  This would be the "Acts of the Apostles" crowd who lean towards God being more presently active in our each and every work.   The smaller crowd would be the other side, the "Acts of the Holy Spirit."  This is where it is not assumed that each and every work is the Lord's will and we have to wait for specific leadings and sendings.  

• Lets call those who assume God is 'in' everything, crowd 'A'
• Let's call those who feel they have to wait for specific leadings and sending, crowd 'B'

Crowd A get busy around needs they perceive as important.  Crowd B are sensitive to the fact that God goes before us so wait for him to lead so the work will be effective.  If Crowd B are right then Crowd A get and do works that are not led by God.  If Crowd A are right then B are not seeing needs and procrastinating waiting for a letter from Heaven to help people.   

Can you see the dilemma?  What is the answer to this conundrum? Tomorrow I'll provide my angle but please comment as to your understanding of Crowd A and Crowd B.

Gary Ward