When God places a vision in a man’s heart, events happen God’s way according to God’s will. When man plans things man’s way without God, events may unfold but they are the product of manipulation. I have learned this principal the hard way and it took me many years. Sometimes it takes a few hard knocks to get a person’s attention. When the truth finally sinks it is obvious that God can use anyone, anytime, anywhere.

The book of Nehemiah is an example how God established His plan through man. God uses humans but only when they listen to Him. While it is still possible for men and women to accomplish good works, time usually reveals the flesh overrules the Spirit of God. When this happens the plans of men fail miserably.

Perhaps one of the best examples of this principal is repeated in church history. God often calls men to be the founders of movements. For example, a single man may hear from God and teach the Word of God to his flock without any other attractions. Initially a single church will grow and become a model for other pastors or assistant pastors to follow.

Soon this initial church will be cloned by others pastors who recognize God is at work through the founding pastor. After a generation or two other churches are added. Eventually a movement develops or what is often called an association of churches.

However, as the movement grows something usually happens. A hierarchy develops – a pope, cardinals, bishops, priests and many sheep. Even the pope of the movement may not understand what has happened. Although he can be a spiritual man, the cardinals have the potential to operate in the flesh. They see that the pope is getting old and frail. This means that someday they could potentially be chosen to replace him.

While the cardinals may not realize what they are doing either, trouble unfolds. There is always at least one of the cardinals who believes he is the one who should be chosen to be the next pope. When times change some of the cardinals get the notion that old ways need to be remodeled and that Christianity needs to be upgraded or re-invented. While the Bible is still quoted and the name of Jesus mentioned from time to time the new generation needs more stimulation. As well the “grey-haired” brothers and sisters who are going deaf need to be woken up. In order to wake them up, loud bands with strobe lights usher the young and old into the “presence of God”.

Soon the teaching of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation is no longer the main thing. Bible teaching is replaced by pastors telling stories or sharing good jokes that make everyone feel like they are not in a church. Church becomes more and more focused on entertainment. Convicting messages about sin, man’s fallen nature, salvation and the soon return of Jesus Christ to judge the planet are ignored.

When itinerant speakers are invited to replace the pastor for a mid-week Bible study, problems happen. Especially, if the itinerant speaker warns about the “present apostasy” that is happening in that church. The pastor receives many complaints when he returns. His biggest financial donors have been upset. The pastor and the board of the church cannot afford to lose this support so they promise. The pastor promises the wealthy donor that the itinerant speaker will never be invited back to that church again.

Sometimes pastors have to find other ways to raise support to pay the huge mortgage and wages for the expanded staff. This may mean the church has to become more business-like, ecumenical and less biblical. If you have been following me so far and you are a believer, you can see that a problem has developed.

Let me summarize. A man called by God is used by God for a while. Unfortunately, when other men are added to the program the vision gets diluted over time. Rather than continuing to be messengers of the gospel, the developing movement can go off the rails and head south. While there are those in the movement who see this happening they usually don’t say anything. Instead they remain in the “fellowship” of churches. They know that if they lost their church logo church-goers would not know what they were all about. At one time the brand name that originally meant something now could represent various ideas and trends.

You see, there are many different views on how churches need to change and how they should operate in order to grow. Pastors forget about their calling (if they ever had one) and easily follow other men who have devised clever plans to grow churches. Megachurches, they have been told, indicate healthy spiritual growth. The bigger the church and the more grandiose the program, the more successful they will become.

I hope this commentary will help you to understand our times and a fellowship of churches you may be thinking about.