Cleansing of the Church

by Dan DeVitis

he intent and soberness of this passage cannot be overstated. Could this declaration of Paul be equaled to the prophetic cry from the heart of Christ? We speak today of “going on with Christ,” of “pressing into His high calling,” of a “bride being prepared for the coming of Christ, her Husband.” However, my brethren, there can be no continuance, no progression, no such growth of the Church without the sanctifying and cleansing spoken here in His word—no matter how “Spirit-filled” or “holiness-minded” a church might be.

If the Church, the Body of Christ, is to press towards fullness of His purposes, and if this bride is to be prepared for the return of her Bridegroom, Christ, there must be such a current sanctifying work of the Spirit of Christ in His Body. The work must be a radical, thorough purging.

To sanctify means to be set apart for His holy purpose. Even the utensils used in the tabernacle of the Old Testament were sanctified. The tongs¹ used to move coals on the altar could only be used for that purpose, and could not be used for any common work. Nor could one take unsanctified (common) tongs, and use them for the work of the tabernacle. This type of sanctification is only equaled by Paul’s declaration, “God forbid that I should glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me and I to the world…” Gal. 6:14

"In today’s church, Godly compassion has degraded to worldly tolerance and compromise."

The word for cleansing comes from the word pure—to purify from filth, pollution, to make clean. The word is even used in connection with being made clean from leprosy. Think about it. Today, if one is inflicted with cancer in the body, every attempt possible is made to remove every single cell of that disease. Radical surgery. Radiation. Powerful chemicals. If a cell or two were to move from the area of containment, it may quickly spread its destruction throughout the body. The body must be cleansed, thoroughly.

In today’s church, Godly compassion has degraded to worldly tolerance and compromise. Forgiveness now means to overlook the sins of others because, “but for the grace of God there go I.” The passage, “judge not lest you be judged,” now means to turn a blind eye to sin and iniquity, and “love thy neighbor,” means unconditional acceptance into fellowship for at least, then, they can still hear and possibly repent. This has created a body infected by a spiritual disease that incapacitates the Body, leading to stagnation in its present form, or eventually to its demise. This disease must be purged.

I will briefly address four cancer-types affecting the Church today in which radical purging is an absolute must. Zero tolerance.

Sin and iniquity must be radically dealt with as never before—yes, even at the possible cost of membership and/or leadership. A church leader found practicing gross sin (sexual misconduct, malpractice, financial misconduct, and the like) should leave his positions of authority and go into sackcloth and ashes for a year in repentance. He can return in humility to be grateful to be a door-keeper in the Lord’s house--regardless of his many ‘talents’--until the Lord Himself sees fit to use him again in some dimension.² The practice of sin cannot be tolerated anywhere in the Body. It must be addressed and dealt with in swift Biblical fashion—from confronting the individual to repentance,³ to excommunication.⁴ Purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, just as you are unleavened. 1Cor. 5:5

Inordinate spiritual deception misguides much of the Church into believing she is something spiritual, but in fact, has redirected the focus from Christ-likeness of character to being signs and wonders minded. At best, the tools (gifts) of the Spirit have been traded for toys of excitement and manifestations. At worst, there is an invitation to deceiving spirits into the Body for the sake of supernatural illusions. She has become as a bird attempting to fly with one wing—going around in circles, incapable of reaching her destination. The spiritual infancy, confusion, and even carnage left from such past movements are its testimony.

Can we not learn from the past? Discernment,⁵ a testing of spirits,⁶ and balance⁷ are required. Signs of deliverance and healing must be in balance with proper preaching and teaching the principles of the Kingdom walk and goal of Christ-likeness in character.

As everything in the O.T. tabernacle, including the priesthood, was sanctified for specific purposes, so too everything in the Church, the Body of Christ, must be holy, and not common. Any activity in the tabernacle using common (worldly) things was not only dead works but considered a breach of the covenant only to come under judgment. O how the “common” of the world has infiltrated the Church; and the “holy” of the Church profaned with worldly use.

"Every member must present himself or herself soberly before the Lord and rise in His anointing in ministry—every member having the same care one for another"

So much of the Church has brought in the ways, methods, and culture of the world around it. The Gospel is presented using the latest marketing schemes. Multi-sensory worship ignites the emotions of the people. Clowns, actors, and athletes fill the stages. Fellowship halls are turned into basketball courts, dance floors, and social centers. Jesus is no longer enough!⁸ The Gospel can no longer stand on its own. The message of the cross is exchanged for a social gospel addressing social injustices. Today’s church has become appealing to the outward man, while the inward man starves for the reality of the living Christ. The common has been brought in to the holy, and the holy has been profaned. Judgment is at the door.

Lastly, I will address the plague of tradition.⁹ Besides meeting in homes, some of the first century church met in synagogues as well. The emphasis of the synagogue on Scripture, prayer, and a sermon in worship has influenced the order of service used in most churches today. But most critical, most infectious and harming, is the tradition of a separate priesthood, or the separation of the Body into clergy and lay. Even though the message of the multi-functioning Body of Christ is preached from the pulpit, the underlying tone of most churches is clergy/lay or pastor(s)/congregation—even in the most fundamental or Charismatic church. This deceptive mentality will continue to hold the church in infancy. If the Church is to mature, the current system of single pastor ministry must give way (die) and resurrect in newness with every joint supplying¹⁰—and with a true resurrection of the five-fold ministries.¹¹

There are prophets, but all may prophecy.¹² There are teachers, but many may instruct.¹³ There are evangelists, but all may witness.¹⁴ There are pastors, but all may be active to shepherd, disciple and mentor. No longer should member participation be limited to boards, treasurers, choirs, activities coordinators, social functions, and “amen’ers”. Every member must present himself or herself soberly before the Lord and rise in His anointing in ministry—every member having the same care one for another. 1Cor. 12:25

Parents, teach your children in the ways of the Lord.¹⁵ It is your responsibility, not solely that of a Sunday school class or youth group. Older women, mentor the younger women.¹⁶ Men of God, mentor the young men.¹⁷ Elders, disciple the initiate. Allow the teachers to teach, and the shepherds to shepherd. Set at liberty the apostles and prophets with proper support to serve the Body of Christ. May a prayer ministry infect the whole of the Church. Just as pastors (a shepherd ministry) were never intended to carry the weight of the entire spiritual ministry of the Church, the members were never meant to be spiritual spectators.

A new oneness must arise in the Church today. The church is to ascend in holiness, in singleness of focus, enabled to deliver, heal, nurture, instruct, hold accountable, and encourage in the Spirit. It is to be that vessel of the Lord bringing wholeness and maturity in Christ to each member of its Body.

ENDNOTES: ¹Is. 6:6; ²Establishing principle here, not policy; ³Mt. 18:15-17; ⁴1Cor. 5:11-13; ⁵1Cor. 12:10, ⁶1Jn. 4:1; ⁷Mt. 4:23; ⁸1Cor. 2:2; ⁹Col. 2:8; ¹⁰Eph. 4:16; ¹¹Eph. 4:11; ¹²1Cor. 14:31; ¹³1Cor. 4:15; ¹⁴Acts 1:8; ¹⁵Eph. 6:4; ¹⁶Titus 2:3; ¹⁷1Tim. 5:1