The Once-Was-But-Now-Is Church
“Jesus heard that they had put him out; and finding him, He said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered and said, “And who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him, and He is the one who is talking with you.” And he said, “Lord, I believe.” And He worshipped Him. John 9:35-38
For the past three blogs we have been following the man born blind from birth who was miraculously healed by Jesus as recorded in John Nine. We have also seen how many of the church folks (the Jewish Pharisees and scribes) resisted the truth that not only Jesus healed this man, but He did so by the power of God for He was and is, God!
There are two types of OWBNI churches (see title of blog). One is the church where Jesus was once followed and worshipped as Lord but no longer is. Perhaps this church has become Pharisaic. The other is the church where Jesus was not first-place in the lives, mission, and service of the congregation, but now is through the movement and the enabling of the Holy Spirit. Notice how Jesus Himself went to seek out a man who had a heart to become a Christian although the church had kicked him out because of his interest in Jesus!
A growing and passionate OWBNI church seeks the hurting and the lost. They are intentional about going beyond their walls to seek the spiritually blind with the Good news of the gospel! Notice how this man came to the Lord; from first seeing his as “a man” to “a prophet” to the “Son of Man”—Jesus favorite designation of himself which linked His mission to earth: the cross!
Praise be to our Savior, who first sought us out while were yet sinners and patiently loved us along the way!
Pastor Louie