be church

Sunday May 12^th, Acts 16:  16-18 One day, on our way to the place of prayer, a slave girl ran into us. She was a psychic and, with her fortunetelling, made a lot of money for the people who owned her. She started following Paul around, calling everyone's attention to us by yelling out, "These men are working for the Most High God. They're laying out the road of salvation for you!" She did this for a number of days until Paul, finally fed up with her, turned and commanded the spirit that possessed her, "Out! In the name of Jesus Christ, get out of her!" And it was gone, just like that. Let me see, since she was possessed I assume she could speak in tongues, but before I can accept her as a child of God I must ask a few questions.  Was she baptized before she started yelling that these men worked for the Most High God?  Was she born again first?  Did she become a member first? Was she confirmed member or only baptized? Is yelling at others one of the gifts of the spirit? Actually none of these were Paul’s questions, and as the children of God, neither should they be our questions.  All Paul saw was someone in need and someone through whom the spirit had already worked its wonders. The same could be said for you and I and that anonymous person you see walking down the street. Through the love of Christ, Paul responded to her needs and through the love of Christ and she was set free, much to the irritation of those who thought they could own her.  That is our calling also.  To set free those who are bound, by whatever it is that binds them.  One could assume that since before she was set free she was doing the will of God, after she was set free, even though we do not hear from her again, she was also doing the will of God.  How many people in your lives, without doing some formal training, are doing the will of God and speaking the word of God in your heart? Sometimes we get too busy playing church to be the church.  The last line of the Church Song by the Jay Beech Band is; The church it is the people, living out their lives, called, enlightened, sanctified for the work of Jesus Christ. (http://www.baytonemusic.com/) So it goes.  Now go be the church.