CAN YOU STILL SMELL?

Stephen Blair
Mar 18, 2024
4 min read

WRITTEN BY STEPHEN BLAIR

ANY PODCAST LISTENERS OUT THERE?

THE OTHER DAY, I WAS LISTENING TO ONE AND IT GOT ME THINKING ABOUT SOMETHING IN RELATION TO THE LOCAL CHURCHES I'VE BEEN PART OF OVER THE YEARS.

THE PODCASTER SAID THAT PRIOR TO JESUS' BIRTH, DURING OLD TESTAMENT TIMES, THE PEOPLE OF GOD WORSHIPPED IN A "SACRED" PLACE: THE TEMPLE. THEY WERE ALSO LED IN WORSHIP BY A "SACRED" PEOPLE: THE PRIESTHOOD THROUGH THE LINE OF AARON.

Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron to give him dignity and honor. Tell all the skilled workers to whom I have given wisdom in such matters that they are to make garments for Aaron, for his consecration, so he may serve me as priest. (Exodus 28:2-3)

BUT WHEN JESUS CAME, HE SAID THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT WOULD NO LONGER DWELL IN A PHYSICAL STRUCTURE BUT WOULD NOW DWELL INSIDE EACH BELIEVER. THIS TURNED THE "OLD ORDER" UPSIDE DOWN. NO MORE "SACRED" PLACES OF WORSHIP. JESUS SAID THAT:

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20)

WE CAN WORSHIP OUR LORD ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, BUT THERE'S MORE: THERE IS NO LONGER A "SPECIAL" CLASS OF WORSHIPPERS NEEDED TO LEAD US INTO THE PRESENCE OF GOD:

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9)

WE ARE NOW ALL A PART OF THE PRIESTHOOD! WE ARE NOW ALL THE LORD'S AMBASSADORS: EMPOWERED AND COMMISSIONED TO PROCLAIM HIS GOSPEL AND FULFILL HIS MISSION TO ALL THE ENDS OF THE EARTH! WHAT A WONDERFUL PLAN FROM THE MOST HIGH!

SOUNDS GREAT, RIGHT? WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG?

WELL...MEN.

MEN DECIDED IN ABOUT THE 4TH CENTURY THAT THEY HAD A "BETTER" PLAN: NOT SOMETHING NEW, BUT A RETURN TO THE OLD.

THE CHURCH, IN GENERAL, PARTNERED WITH THE GOVERNMENT TO RETURN TO THE OLD ORDER: THEY STARTED CONSTRUCTING "HOUSES OF WORSHIP." NO LONGER WOULD "THE CHURCH" REFER TO THE PEOPLE OF GOD, BUT NOW IT WOULD BE A BUILDING.

AND WORSE, NO LONGER WOULD EVERY BELIEVER BE EMPOWERED AND EQUIPPED TO DO THE LORD'S WORK - BUT NOW, AGAIN, THAT PRIVILEGE WOULD BE RESERVED FOR THE SELECT, APPROVED FEW: THE CLERGY: THE PASTORS AND THE PRIESTS.

THEY WOULD NOW BE THE ONES TO SHARE THE WORD, PERFORM THE BAPTISMS, GIVE COMMUNION.

THEY WOULD BE THE AUTHORIZED ONES TO TELL THE "SHEEP" WHERE AND WHAT TIME TO WORSHIP.

THEY WOULD SET UP THE OPPORTUNITIES TO "SERVE" AND THEY WOULD BE THE ONES TO MAKE "CONVERTS" (NOT DISCIPLES - BUT THAT'S A WHOLE OTHER DISCUSSION).

ALL THE SHEEP WOULD BE EXPECTED TO DO WOULD BE TO BRING THE "UNCHURCHED" INTO THE BUILDING AND THE "CHOSEN" LEADERS WOULD TAKE IT FROM THERE. AS BAD AS THIS SOUNDS, IT'S EVEN WORSE: IN DOING THESE THINGS, THE CHURCH "YOKED" ITSELF WITH THE SYSTEM OF MAN (THE GOVERNMENT).

WHAT HAS THIS DONE?

IT HAS ENABLED THE GOVERNMENT TO KEEP "TABS" ON THE PEOPLE OF GOD AS OPPOSED TO FOLLOWERS BEING LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT: JESUS SAID OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:

The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit. (John 3:8)

IMAGINE THIS...AN ARMY SO SPREAD OUT, WITH SO MANY EQUIPPED, CAPABLE SOLDIERS, THAT IT CAN'T BE CAUGHT OR CONTAINED. HOWEVER, WE CAN NOW EASILY BE FOUND, CORRALLED, AND SILENCED. ALL THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO DO IS "SHUT" THE BUILDING DOORS AND MANY "CHURCHES" WILL "DRY UP."

AND FOR THOSE STILL SHOWING SIGNS OF LIFE: BRING "CHARGES" AGAINST AND SILENCE THE "SACRED" LEADERS. THAT SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO "SCARE" THE REST OF THE SHEEP.

WITHOUT SOMEONE TO TELL THEM WHERE TO GO OR WHAT TO DO, THEY WILL BE LIKE CHICKENS WITH THEIR HEADS CUT OFF.