A major problem with the institutional church is that one leader is often given the authority to override the Holy Spirit. When worship was turned into a never-ending series of weekly lectures by a single expert, Christianity lost much of its power.

Perhaps, instead Christians could gather and “prepare the way of the Lord” so that the living Jesus can take direct control of the meeting. When the body of Christ gathers to be led by the Spirt, older Christ-followers can oversee and referee the meeting to help keep people focused on hearing and obeying the risen Jesus and letting Him directly control the meeting.

If you’ve ever been in a conversation with someone and another person walks up and hijacks it, that’s how Jesus must feel about church. He’s rarely allowed to take control of the conversation.

Christians are called to move in sync with the Holy Spirit, not to do what we want to do. When Christians gather everyone should feel safe and encouraged to say and do whatever the Spirit tells them to. Jesus is calling Christians to step out of the boat of human programming and manmade blueprints and to follow Him instead. (If we can’t {or won’t} trust the inner leading of the living Jesus, how can we trust human leadership?)

The body of Christ isn’t called together to follow a program, but to follow and obey the direct leadership of the risen Jesus. When gathered with other Christ-followers, have everyone be still and seek to be more and more aware of the Spirit’s promptings.

When the body of Christ is gathered and being led by the Spirit, pay attention to and follow the flow of Jesus’ leading and don’t try to change the direction of the meeting to fit your comfort level. Christians are supposed to be led by God’s Spirit, not by our desires.

When Christians
Dare to gather
To focus on Jesus
With no one knowing
And no one controlling
What’s about to happen
They go beyond
Words, forms, and programs
And experience
Powerful demonstrations
Of the presence of Christ.

When Christians gather
And meet in sync
Sadness and discouragement
Sink
And awe and joy soar.