Stranger Danger: The Watch Letter

Many years ago, the Lord gave our Pastor Chief Apostle H.C. Gunn the current name for our church THE BODY OF CHRIST, INC.

The name is straight to the point because that is who God is. It is simple to understand but the name carries great power. It describes the essence of who we are to be as people of God and is the best summation of what it means to be a saved Christian.

The other day, as I was driving, I heard ARE YOU INCORPORATED?

Why is this important? God was very specific in dealing with our leader about our church name, and if you notice at the end of it there is “INC," which stands for incorporated.

In the business world, incorporated is used to express that you are a legal organization. But the historical meaning of the word incorporated is "embodied or formed into a/the body." It also means to fold in, integrate, and embrace. This word poses a great question though: Are we a legal part of the organization of God, or our we a violator of the law by pretending to be?

If you have not folded into, integrated into, or embraced the church you attend and the pastor and saints, are you just a stranger hanging around for the benefits?

We use to sing a song in the choir that goes: Don’t wait 'til midnight when there is no sunlight. You're just a stranger until you're in danger." That is not a testimony anyone should want to have -- to be a stranger in the household of faith -- the one place where you never have to be alone.

Chief Apostle H.C. Gunn has always warned us to be careful of stranger danger. It's not only dangerous to be around strangers in the criminal sense. But it's also dangerous to be a stranger. When you remain a stranger in the church that you are supposed to belong to that means you are hearing the pastor preach but you are not allowing him to pastor you, because those who are pastored are usually the ones who "do." They get involved because they believe and support what is being preached. And also the word says don't just be hearers of the word be doers. James 1:22–25 says those who are only hearers will deceive themselves or be easily deceived.

Also, if you just hear the word at church and go home about your business, then there is a great chance that you are either trying to pastor yourself when it comes to the things of life or letting someone who is not ordained to pastor you, pastor you. Remember sheep cannot shepherd themselves.

When we are a part of the Body, we seek instruction and counsel from the pastor and we work with and deal with who or what he advises us to do because we know the Lord has spoken through him. What is the last thing the pastor advised you to do that you have not or the last assignment you were given to work in the ministry that you have pushed to the side?

Sheep without a shepherd are always in danger because you are uncovered and disconnected or disjointed and outside of the watchful eye of your leader. And believe me, foxes and wolves are looking for the sheep who refuse to be shepherded or refuse to stand with the flock. And don't forget: some wolves come in sheep's clothes.

If you ever wonder why no matter how many times you go to church and hear the word things aren’t working out, check yourself and ask am I a stranger. A stranger has no accountability. They go and do what they want, how they want, and where they want.

Sometimes we choose, on purpose, not to draw close to the pastor or engage with the saints because we don’t want to be accountable. We would rather be church-homeless than be a part of something that matters to God. It is dangerous to be a stranger, you are left vulnerable to the enemy without having someone to be accountable to and with and are a target to the devil because he sees you as a weak link because you are standing off in the corner from the army of God.

So, I ask us all: are you incorporated? Have you allowed yourself to be formed and included in the whole body? Physically, God made each part of the body to serve a purpose. No part of the body is ever not doing anything or functioning. Every part of the body is working 24/7 for the good of the body and each part works willingly with the other part. Imagine if the heart did not want to work with the brain or decided I am not going to do anything? What if the nerves tried to avoid the legs?

Are you a member and actively functioning in the body part you have been called to be or are you still a visitor even after being under the teaching and blessed by the pastor and the church for so many years? A visitor has no obligation to participate in the Body they are just passing through. Some people try to remain a visitor so that don’t have to be accountable even though they know they have been called to that church and that their life was changed because of the teaching of that pastor. Do you attend or are you in (the Body?) Outside of the Lord calling a minister or church to fellowship with another body, an individual visiting a church should be there to find a church home, and once you find it and know God has sent you there -- you incorporate yourself and make yourself accountable to the pastor. And if you don't know God has sent you to that church, ask the pastor. He will help you find out where you are called to be.

Some people say: "Well I am a member because I pay my tithes or give an offering." Yes, God requires us to give and tithe. It is very important and necessary but that is not the only part of the Bible. Throughout the Bible, God proves that we are to offer the sacrifice of our service and talents in addition to our tithes and offerings. God highlights men and women who work for the ministry. It is not just pastors or ministers who have an assignment in the Body.

There are countless scriptures about how true saints and true worshipers of God are always working for the advancement of the kingdom and that first starts at home. If you are trying to help people in the community or on your job but don’t help in your own home or your own church, is that the help God is calling for? The Bible says seek ye first the kingdom! Seek can mean to see about too. So, we must handle kingdom business first.

In our Body, we have people who help take care of the premises of the church building, people who bring water, people who run errands for the pastor, people who encourage and pray for others every day, people who do paperwork for the saints when there is a need, people who help with the media ministry, people who help with the youth ministry, people who help with the music ministry, people who help the pastor and his wife prepare for travel, people who try help buy or update things in the church, people who help babysit, and the list goes on. But where are you on this list? What do you do for the Body of Christ? How have you incorporated yourself into handling the business of the kingdom? If you never have anything to contribute to the Body willingly, then ask yourself am I just panhandling (hanging around with my hand out seeking what I can gain or obtain for myself)?

Romans 12

12 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:

5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.