Jan
24
2011

Why I do what I do

An article by Matt

On June 14, 2008 my life changed forever. It was that day that I stood at the front of a church and waited to see Theresa walking towards me in a white dress. As the sanctuary went quiet and the whole room waited with anticipation we all focused on one thing: the door that my bride to be was waiting behind. The music started, the door opened and it happened… she took my breath away. There are only a few things that I remember from the next few minutes as she walked up the aisle. I know that her father was there, but I don’t remember seeing him. I know that my friends and family were surrounding us, but I don’t remember seeing them either. All I remember was the look on her face as she came closer and closer to me, and that she was beautiful… radiant.

We often speak of the church as the bride of Christ. I often wonder if that phrase hasn’t lost something over the years. I wonder if we haven’t gotten so used to the phrase that it’s meaning has been watered down over the course of time. I wonder if we realize the feeling and the sense of excitement that Christ has as he gazes upon us, and we understand that he has his breathe taken away because of us.

Bill Hybels often says “the hope of the world is the local church” and I believe that to be true. The hope of the world is the bride of Christ operating with the power of Christ and doing the work of Christ. As I served in the local church and as I serve local churches now I am constantly excited to be drawn up into the work of Christ through the local church. I am inspired, energized, and drawn towards seeing how Christ’s bride is operating in her local context, and I am honored to serve her as she pursues her calling.

This stuff is exciting!

Why do YOU do what you do?

A. Amos Love

Matt

I question a lot about “Traditions of men” that nullify “The Word of God.”

Mark 7:13 KJV – Making the word of God of “none effect” through your tradition…
Mark 7:13 ASV – Making “void” the word of God by your tradition…
Mark 7:13 NIV – Thus you “nullify” the word of God by your tradition..

You mention “Local Church” a lot in your writing.
And you agree with “Bill Hybels when he says “the hope of the world is the local church”

When I check my antiquated KJV - I find NOTHING about…
“the hope of the world is the local church”
And the term “Local Church” is NOT found at all.

BUT I could have missed that.

Let’s say I’m a new believer. – Can you explain what you mean by “Local Church?”

http://churchthought.com Matt

Amos, I have to admit that I do not understand why this post raises a concern on your part about the tradition of man nullifying the Word. Perhaps it is too early in the morning or maybe it is the traveling that I have been doing of late.

The local church is the church that people interact with on a daily basis. It can have many names, First Baptist of Allentown, Faith Presbyterian, or whatever. I am talking about the local expression of the bride of Christ. As I follow along with the missionary journeys of Paul, I see him starting churches in many local contexts: Ephesus, Corinth, and Antioch and supporting churches started by others all over the place.

Amos, you talk a great deal about the traditions of man contradicting the Word of God… tell me a little bit about how you express your faith. Explain to me what your faith tradition looks like.

A. Amos Love

I question a lot about “Traditions of men” that nullify “The Word of God.”

Mark 7:13 KJV – Making the word of God of “none effect” through your tradition…
Mark 7:13 ASV – Making “void” the word of God by your tradition…
Mark 7:13 NIV – Thus you “nullify” the word of God by your tradition..

You mention “Local Church” a lot in your writing.
And you agree with “Bill Hybels when he says “the hope of the world is the local church”

When I check my antiquated KJV - I find NOTHING about…
“the hope of the world is the local church”
And the term “Local Church” is NOT found at all.

BUT I could have missed that.

Let’s say I’m a new believer. – Can you explain what you mean by “Local Church?”
Matt

Amos, I have to admit that I do not understand why this post raises a concern on your part about the tradition of man nullifying the Word. Perhaps it is too early in the morning or maybe it is the traveling that I have been doing of late.
The local church is the church that people interact with on a daily basis. It can have many names, First Baptist of Allentown, Faith Presbyterian, or whatever. I am talking about the local expression of the bride of Christ. As I follow along with the missionary journeys of Paul, I see him starting churches in many local contexts: Ephesus, Corinth, and Antioch and supporting churches started by others all over the place.
Amos, you talk a great deal about the traditions of man contradicting the Word of God… tell me a little bit about how you express your faith. Explain to me what your faith tradition looks like.
A. Amos Love

Matt

It seems when you use the word ‘church’ and I use the word “Church”
It just ain’t the same thing.

I would have agreed with you, and your explanation, at one time.

I now see a difference between the…
1 – “The Church of God.”
Where Jesus is the head of the body, (the ekklesia, the called out one’s), The Church.
2 – the church of man.
The 501 (c) 3, non-profit, tax $ deductible, Religious $ Corporation. Most today call ‘church.’

Should we call a $ Corporation “the Church of God?” AAARRRGGGHHH!!!

I suffered thru “Spiritual Abuse” from “Men in Power” in Today’s “Religious System.”
I was taught, some, men with “Titles,” were there by God, for my protection.
I was taught, some, are “God Ordained Authority in the church.”

And I needed to **submit** to “God Ordained Authority in the church.”
If not – I was bad, I was in rebellion, and I was in trouble with God.
I was not to say much, disagree with, or “Touch God’s Anointed.”
I was allowed and encouraged to – Pray, Pay, and Obey…
And I believed them. Oy Vey!!!

Of course, with God, there is always a benefit…
The “Spiritual Abuse” drives you to Jesus…

And you learn, you can get it from Jesus, directly.
You become a “Disciple of Christ.” And learn from Him.
NO longer a “disciple of man.” Or a “disciple of a denomination.”

John 6:45
It is written in the prophets, And they shall be “ALL” taught of God.

Deuteronomy 4:36
Out of heaven he made thee to “hear his voice,”
that “he might instruct thee:”

1 John 2:26-27
These [things] have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.
But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you,
and, **ye need not that any “man” teach you:**

If “Disciple” means, learner and student?
Then a “Disciple of Christ” means, a learner and student of Christ.
A. Amos Love

Matt

Now… about this word “Church.”

You might want to get before God and hear from Him yourself,
about this very important word “Church.” And what it refers to in the scriptures.

NOT “The Traditions of Men” we have seen and been taught.
For a long time I was in “bondage” in the church of man.

In “the Church of God” there is “Liberty.” Glory!!! Thank you Jesus.

I wanted to know what this word ”Church” means for me.
Looked up the definition in the Greek, looked up the root words. Ek, and Kaleo.
Went to the computer, printed out every verse that has the Greek word “Ekklesia.”
Read the verses, over and over again, Prayed, asked God, What does this mean, “Church?”

IMO – The best way is “Get It” for yourself, from Jesus. Then NO ONE can take it away.

Don’t know if you ever checked or not but…
In the Bible, I found…

NO one ever *Led* “A Church.”
NO one ever *joined* “A Church.”
NO one ever *went to* “A Church.”
NO one ever *Tithed* to “A Church.”
NO one ever brought their friends to “A Church.”
NO one ever applied for membership in “A Church.”
NO one ever gave silver, gold, or money, to “A Church.”
NO buildings with steeples and crosses called “A Church.”
NO – Pastors – in Pulpits – Preaching – to People – in Pews.

It is shocking – Almost nothing of what is taught, or practiced, about ‘church’ is in the Bible.

In the Bible, believers “Became” “The Church,” the body of Christ.

Had to throw out “all” I thought I knew about “Church.”
Started over, like I’m hearing the word for the first time. Because…
Jesus warned us about “The Traditions of men” that make “Void” the word of God.

Where people go sunday morning is NOT “The Church of God” in the Bible.
It is a 501 (c) 3, non-profit, tax $ deductible, Religious $ Corporation.

Should we call a $ Corporation “the Church of God?” AAARRRGGGHHH!!!

Most of what goes on sunday morning is NOT in the Bible.

Now… about this word “Church.”

What is popular is not always “Truth.”
What is “Truth” is not always popular.
Brad Locke

Hey Matt,

I think this is a great topic and I bet there are some interesting stories. I’m not so sure that my story is all that interesting but this is why I do what I do. I am the steward of a turnkey electronic giving service called eGive LLC.

I was getting near the end of Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life and was praying for God to use me as his servant. Shortly after that prayer I was asked to serve the local church where I was an involved member as Assistant Financial Secretary which meant I took care of balancing and depositing the offering when the Financial Secretary was not able to do so. Shortly after that one beautiful Sunday afternoon I spent four hours balancing and preparing the weekly offering for deposit. I was glad to serve the church in this capacity but had the feeling there must be a better way to do this. The very next morning I assisted in processing a direct deposit payroll that paid approximately 10,000 people in 45 minutes and it hit me. ACH (Automated Clearing House) otherwise known as eCheck could be used to efficiently collect an offering for the church where I was a member. This was 2003 and I looked around on the Internet to try and find a company that provided this service for churches and could not find one. I knew that it would not be cost effective to provide an electronic offering service for only one church so my wife Mary and I prayed about whether or not God wanted us to provide this service for his local churches and leverage the cost of doing this over a wider base to make it affordable. We believed that the answer was yes and in spite of the people who told us this would not work we started eGive in January of 2004 and collected the first electronic offering on July 4, 2004. Our initial hope was for this eGive company to cover its own expenses and about two years down the road provide enough income so my wife Mary could quit her job and be a full time Mom for our two daughters Katie and Sarah. Because eGive was customer coded (no Microsoft eGive program was available)and required constant web development to keep the web site updated and add features that the churches and givers wanted; the first five years eGive was like supporting a college student.

The main reason I do what I do is that I believe that Christ’s local Church can change the world one person at a time. I believe that one of the most important things we can do is share the good news of Christ’s Love. Worshiping together as part of the body of Christ and living out our faith by following God’s Word, the Holy Bible is life changing. I love Christ with all my heart and wanted to serve his local church. All of my extensive banking experience in processing ACH, Cash Management, Fraud Prevention, Accounting, Budgeting, Internal Controls, Auditing and in being able to communicate effectively helped me to be ready for this moment of starting eGive. It is amazing what God can do with an ordinary person. It is also amazing what the body of Christ can do. Praying bold prayers, making a difference in the world by sharing the love of Jesus the Christ our Lord and Savior. Yes, it has been a lot of hard work and there were many nights were I only got an hour of two or sleep. But it is my prayer and hope that when I leave this earth and stand before my Heavenly Father that he will say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Matt

Brad, what a great story! I have always enjoyed hearing your heart for eGive in our conversations and I am glad to have finally heard the story behind the ministry.
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