Let the Church be THE CHURCH!

After a wonderful evening with my church family, I came home and got online to make a hotel reservation for a little trip I'll be taking in a couple of weeks.  The plan was to attend a Christian artist's (comedian, story-teller, and singer) event in a city in which I used to live and work.  Since the event is scheduled for 7:00 on a Saturday evening, and the city is a good 3 1/2 hour drive from here I decided to rent a room and visit the church I used to attend when I lived in that city.  After making the hotel reservation I "Googled" the church to see if there had been changes in service times, if the pastorial staff was the same, etc.  Keep in mind, as I'm searching I'm excited just thinking about being back in that church.  Well, it no longer exists.  Yes, you heard me...  It's not there.  Instead of a church coming up, posts, blogs and other interesting tid-bits came up discussing how this church had been sued by the very denomination that I hold credentials with as a minister.  It was the very headquarters of this denomination that I worked for at the time I lived in this town.  The reason the church was sued - the pastor declined renewing his license with this particular denomination.  In one particular blog a former staff member there posted his letter to this particular organization in which he informed them he would not be renewing his license with them.  The organization sued the church two days later to seize all of the churches property and assets.  You ask, if the pastor and the majority of this church no longer desired to be affiliated with this denomination, why couldn't they just break free? Well, I'll tell you.  In our by-laws it basically states that a church, its properties and assets belongs to the organization.  In my endeavors to become licensed with this organization, one of the classes I took was a history and bylaws class.  I don't remember reading that...  However, it is there...  I'm not sure how I feel about that...  According to the bylaws it is the local church that is to run itself.  However, if the local church decides to disassociate they have to give their building, property, and everything else they labored for to the organization.  I know as I read many blogs, ministers should be aware of this.  It is stated in the bylaws...  However, do we really remember every bylaw of every organization in which we are a member - even if we read them?  I took a class and I missed that regulation. 

While I'm not sure whether or not a denomination seizing all of the assets and properties associated with a church when that church wants to disassociate with the denomination is right, I do know this:  Scripture is clear about believers taking each other to court.  It shouldn't be done!  So while according to the bylaws of this organization and laws of the land they could take this church to court and win (which the denomination did), I don't think they should have.  This is what I read about the matter in I Corinthians 6:1, 6-11:
"If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people?... But instead, one brother takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers!  The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?  Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters.  Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.  And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."

The entire issue breaks my heart!  It breaks my heart for everyone involved!  It baffles my mind as well.  Although it shouldn't!  I've seen my share of church politics in this particular organization.  The truth be told, the church I attend now is not affiliated with this denomination.  I'm glad for it!  While I know no church, or denomination is perfect, it hurts my very soul to think of the pain this body must have gone through.  It makes me question whether I want to continue holding a ministerial license with this organization.  Sorry there are no jokes or fun stuff in this blog.  My heart is just too heavy.  It is time for me to go lay this all before the Lord.  My mother and I discussed last week how the "entire world seems to be going crazy."  It's a sad day when we see that in the church as well.