"The Household of God" (The local church)

When using the term "Local Church" I'm not making reference to a church building, but the body of all those whom the Lord has called out from this world! It's a spiritual building, the place where Christ followers meet to worship and glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. It's the place where God manifests His glory on earth most clearly! A local church must emphasize knowing and bringing glory to God! The church in America has lowered itself from that emphasis and focused instead on humanity through human viewpoint! Before we continue, let me define the human viewpoint. It is a mental attitude that looks at life through the LIMITATIONS of human wisdom, strength, and resources. It's through this viewpoint that causes the church to think its goal is to help people FEEL better about themselves! In reality, it offers the people nothing more than spiritual placebos of entertainment, psychology, self-esteem, and a host of other diversions in an attempt to meet the people's felt needs, all at the expense of sound doctrine! I am not saying that we're to ignore the needs of people, however, if people know and glorify the Lord, they have satisfied the greatest needs of their lives! The Bible tells us, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Proverbs 9:10). The fear of the Lord is defined as, "A healthy respect and reverence for God stemming from the knowledge of God and resulting in obedience to God!" It's diametrically opposed to the human viewpoint! The fear of the Lord is the attitude (respect and reverence) that results in the action (obedience)! The local church is the place where this attitude is to flourish! Apostle Paul when writing to Timothy described the church with these words: "I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long; but in case I am delayed, I write so that you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth" ( 1 Timothy 3:14-15). The church is called by Paul "the pillar and support of the truth." We're to act as the "pillar and support of the truth" by practicing that truth! As others watch our lives, our behavior is to undergird and uphold the truth concerning our God and Savior, Christ Jesus! Be encouraged!