Why Can’t the Church of Jesus Christ Be the Leader in Integrity?

Brad Neathery photo Freely

We are now living in the already inaugurated not yet consummated age of the kingdom of God. After rising from the dead Jesus told His disciples that He has been given all authority in heaven and on earth. (Mt. 28:18) He commissioned them, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Mt. 28:19-20, NASB) According to John; “as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” (Jn. 20:21, NASB)

The Lord’s teaching recorded by the apostle John in The Gospel According to John chapters 13-21 is amazing. It is what the apostle Paul calls in 1 Corinthians 9:21 and Galatians 6:2 “The Law of Christ.” The law of Christ is sacrificial love for the sake of one’s brother/sister. Both scripture and church history are filled with people who are called God’s own position doing bad things. The triumphs of faith in Hebrews 11 is filled with people such as these: Noah was a drunkard; Abraham a liar; Moses a murderer; David was all of these and an adulterer to boot. Yet each of them gained approval through faith.

Who hasn’t heard of a staff member of some congregation somewhere committing fraud, stealing the churches money? Who hasn’t heard of some pastor somewhere committing immorality? Who has not been hurt by someone in the church? The answer to all three of these questions is that we all have.

The church of Jesus Christ is a leader in integrity so long as it is looking to Jesus Christ and not to self. Our societies since the first century are better for the gospel of Jesus Christ. However, people do bad things, they always have, and they always will until all things are made new at his second coming. Should we continue in sin? Absolutely not, we have died to sin when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. (Rom 6:1-2) He died for our sins and was raised because of our justification. (Rom 4:25)

The only way that the Church of Jesus Christ is to be the leader in integrity is through the great commission. It is my belief that American Evangelicals have done a bad job of fulfilling the great commission. Beginning with “The Great Awakening,” American Evangelicals have focused their attention on conversions, but this is not what Jesus commissioned his disciples to do. 

The Son of God, Jesus Christ, who has all authority in heaven and on earth commissioned his disciples to make disciples, bring them into fellowship through the ordinance of baptism and teach these new disciples all that Jesus our Lord commanded. The church of Jesus Christ most turn its attention to teaching if she is to be the leader in integrity.

Reaching and Teaching: A Call to Great Commission Obedience from rtministries on Vimeo.

The Four Principle Practices of the Early Church

The disciples were all together in one place on the day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit came upon them suddenly and they all were changed in an instant. There were Jews living in Jerusalem who were from every nation on earth; therefore, they all spoke different languages. These Jews were bewildered because they were hearing the disciples of Jesus speaking in their own varying native tongues. They knew that the men who were speaking were Galileans, so why were they hearing them in their language? These men who were hearing were all Jews, but they were from every nation, tribe and tongue on earth as a result of the diaspora. (cf. Acts 2:1-11)

The diaspora is the dispersion of Jews beyond Israel. In most cases it was a voluntary departure from Palestine; and therefore, should not be confused with exile. There was a forced exile by the Babylonians; however, the Persians allowed the exiles to return. All who remained outside of Palestine at the beginning of the first century did so voluntarily. Also keep in mind that the day of Pentecost occurred well before the second temple was destroyed by the Romans in AD 70. The Jewish people considered themselves exiles after losing all independence in AD 132-135. However, on the day of Pentecost all Jews who resided outside of Palestine did so voluntarily.1

Some of these men were trying to figure out what it meant to hear these Galileans speaking in their native tongues because there was an obvious miraculous sign occurring. Others were mocking and calling the disciples drunkards. (cf. Acts 2:12-13) Throughout all of scripture we see this division among men concerning the supernatural works of God. In John 11:45-46 Jesus demonstrated the supernatural work of God by raising Lazarus, a man who had been dead for four days out of the grave alive. Many of the Jews who saw what Jesus did believed in him, but others went to the Pharisees and told them Jesus was doing things which caused the Jewish people to follow him.

Peter took the opportunity to preach the gospel using the text of the Old Testament to demonstrate that Jesus is both Lord and Christ. Those who heard were pierced to the heart. These men were asking the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do? Peter told them to repent, and that each of them should be baptized. The ones who believed and were baptized were added to the church. (cf. Acts 2:41) This early church was about three thousand souls which is no insignificant number. (cf. Acts 2:14-36) The first century Jewish historian Josephus estimated that there were six thousand Pharisees in all of Palestine at that time. Suddenly in a single day there were half as many Christians as there were Pharisees in Palestine.2  Which means that this early church was no small group. By any standard it would be considered a megachurch. Small house churches would come later in Acts as a result of persecution and new churches forming in different places.

These were then devoting themselves continually to four things:

1.  The apostle’s doctrine 
2.  Fellowship 
3. The breaking of bread 
4. Prayers 

The apostles were commissioned by Jesus to make disciples, baptize them and teach them all that Jesus commanded. (Mt 28:16-20) That is exactly what they were doing in the first church. Discipleship refers to the process of growth and development. The English word disciple normally means to follow a leader or be a student which is a translation of the Greek μαθητής mathētēs.3  “A ‘disciple’ was not only a pupil, but an adherent; hence they are spoken of as imitators of their teacher."4

These early believers had a desire to be together. We can also see how they were sharing property and meals together. They had a since of being separated to God from the other people and thought of themselves in terms of community. (cf. Acts 2:43-47) The breaking of bread in Acts 2:42 is likely referring to the Lord’s supper. The fourth thing that this early church was devoting themselves to was prayer which showed that they had total dependence on God.5

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1. W. R. Stegner, “Diaspora,” Dictionary of Paul and His Letters (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, USA, 1993), 211.
2. Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (Downers Grave: InterVarsity Press), Acts 2:41.
3. M. J. Wilkins, “Disciples and Discipleship,” Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2013), 202.
4. W. E.Vine, “Disciple,” Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1996).
5. William MacDonald, Believers Bible Commentary, 4th ed. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995) 1588.

My Testimony

In the year 2003, Darlene and I started attending a local Baptist Church because our son Daniel had been participating in their youth group. In April 2003, during a church-wide reading of a book called, The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren, I was drawn to follow the Lord. I do not attribute my salvation to this book, however, the Lord did use it to bring me to repentance and faith.

After reading that book I began to read the scriptures daily and I prayerfully sought to follow the Lord in obedience. It was when reading the word of God, particularly, the Gospel According to John, that the blinders came off and the Lord gave me a new heart. I was literally born again through the testimony of the Holy Spirit (inward call) and the testimony of the prophets and apostles (outward call). The early church Pastor, Irenaeus of Lyons (130-202 A.D.) said that God guides His sheep with His two hands: His Word and His Spirit.1

My given name is Michael Brian Peek, but people call me Mike. I am the eldest son of Richard and Carole Peek, I was born May 4, 1968 in Richardson, Texas. I am husband to Darlene, we were married June 30, 1990 in Mansfield, Louisiana. I am father to Daniel James Peek whom the Lord gave me to adopt on November 4, 1992. I am father to Bethany Rachel Peek, born to us on July 20, 1993. 

Since 2012, Darlene and I have fellowshipped at Sylvania Church in Tyler, Texas. We are a Reformed Southern Baptist Church (SBC). We are Particular-Baptist; we believe in the sovereign grace of God in the salvation of man.

I graduated North Garland high school in 1987. I spent the first 5 years after high school, before going to college, in the U.S. Army. I was stationed in the country of Panama, Ft. Knox, KY (where I meet Darlene), Ft. Polk, LA, and lastly the country of Korea. After discharge from the Army I went to college. I graduated in 1997 and became a Registered Nurse. My profession for the past 20 years has been cardiovascular-critical care (ICU) nursing. I am currently in graduate school at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary working towards a Master of Theological Studies.

Now why would a Registered Nurse want to take seminary classes? When someone hears that I am taking seminary classes they ask, “Are you going to be a pastor?” This is not the reason that I am taking seminary classes. Why then?

At the beginning of the year 2010, I was lead to share my faith in Jesus Christ with others, but did not know how. I began reading about others who were sharing their faith in Jesus Christ. One of the books that I read was, Give ME A J! by Author Blessitt, but his methodology amounted to getting someone to repeat a prayer. I then came to read The Way of the Master by Ray Comfort and became interested in Ray’s teaching on how to share your faith with others. This eventually lead me to open-air preaching and my first Super Bowl outreach with Sports Fans Outreach International, January, 2013 in New Orleans, LA. 

I could have continued as I was doing; reading the Bible daily, listening to preaching on Sundays and reading other books during the week. However, I understood that if I am to truly tell people what the Bible is saying about God (Father, Son and Spirit), about man, about salvation, about the church and about the judgment; I must undergo a formal-structured discipleship program which is what seminary is.2

I believe that God’s justification of man is declared in scripture alone.3 Justification is a gift, you cannot earn it.4 Justification is given by the grace of God alone (God did not have to give it to anyone). God said to Moses, “I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.”5 Justification is received through faith alone, in Christ Jesus alone, and is for the glory of God alone.6 The apostle Paul said, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”7 Therefore, I am compelled to go out and preach the gospel.

I spent a three-year period, 2012-2015, memorizing the entire Gospel According to John word-for-word. I now use my memorization of it to publicly promote the reading of the Gospel According John. I do this by reciting 1-3 chapters in open-air, then I give copies of the book away to passersby’s. I do this for three reasons, all of which comes from the Gospel According to John:

1.     It is the Word of God who draws His sheep and gives eternal life to them. Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.” (Jn 10:27-28, NASB)

2.      There must be both an inward-call (testimony of the Holy Spirit) and an outward-call (testimony of the apostles) before faith occurs. The apostles were the ones who witnessed Jesus life, death and resurrection; therefore, it is their witness that must be proclaimed. Jesus said to His disciples, “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me, and you will testify also, because you have been with Me from the beginning.” (Jn 15:26-27, NASB)

3.     The Gospel According to John is an eye witness testimony about Jesus, written by the disciple whom Jesus loved. (cf. Jn 21:20-24)

My Sunday school teacher, Paul McClung, D. Min, in his practical commentary on Jonah said, “Men of God today must preach Jesus. Jesus means ‘salvation is of the Lord.’ If salvation depends solely upon God, only God is able to save and accomplish what is needed for salvation. Man can only be saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.”8

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1 Justo L. González, The story of Christianity (New York:

HarperCollins, 2010) 85.

2 Jason Duesing, A Conversation with Dr. Jason Duesing, Vimeo, accessed January
2017, https://vimeo.com/116191698.

3 Cf.
Romans 3:21-26.

4 Cf.
Romans 3:10-20.

5 Exodus 33:19, NASB.

6 Cf.
Romans 3:21-26.

7 Romans 10:17, NASB.

8 Paul D. McClung, Jonah: Salvation is of the Lord, (Paul D. MClung, 2016) 75.

Why Does This Bother So Man People

I have wondered for some time: Why does an NFL football player kneeling during the anthem of the United States of America bother so many people? This week Nike has announced that Colin Kaepernick will be the focus of their next "Just Do It" ad campaign. Colin Kaepernick was the first NFL player to kneel during the playing of the national anthem in 2015, others have followed in his kneeling likeness. I can’t go on social media without reading someone’s anger about this ad campaign. Again I’m wondering: Why does this bother so many people?

I personally could careless what an NFL player does because I do not watch football unless it is my local high school team. I am, however, on social media; so, I notice that every-time football season comes around there is much chatter about NFL players kneeling and threats not to watch, but the league continues to make their billions and the players their millions.

Now there is much chatter and anger regarding Nike’s plan to use Kaepernick in their "Just Do It" ad campaign. Unlike NFL football I do have an interest in Nike because I wear there shoes and use their products when I go running and have done so for the past 45 years.

This morning I logged a little over 6 miles in my Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 33’s, Nike running apparel and used the Nike Plus program on my Apple Watch to record my course, distance and pace. Given that I am an older runner (50) I must take care to avoid injury. I purchase a new pair of Nike Air Pegasus (my favorite running shoe) every 300 miles, for me thats about every 10 weeks; therefore, I spend a great deal of money on Nike products and have no plans to stop. The Nike Air Pegasus properly fits my foot and helps to protect my 50 year old joints from the impact of many miles logged each week on the road.

I get that a statement like "Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything" is superfluous considering that you are receiving millions of dollars from the ad campaign. So, again I’m wondering: Why does this bother so many people?

I am a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am not a citizen of the kingdom of man, I am a citizen of the kingdom of God which is composed of people from every tribe and tongue and people and nation on earth purchased for God by the blood of Jesus Christ. (Rv 5:9)

If you are in Christ you are a citizen in the kingdom of God and not a citizen in the kingdom of man. The United States of America is a nation in the kingdom of man and Nike is a business in the kingdom of man. We are to be in subjection to the governing authorities in the kingdom of man (Rom 13:1) We are to pray for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may be about the business that Christ has given us to do without hinderance; (1 Ti 2:2) which is to make disciples, bring those who have repented and believed into the fellowship by the ordinance of baptism, teaching them the law of Christ. (Mt 28:18-20)

If this Nike ad Campaign bothers the citizens who are in the kingdom of man so be it. Jesus said that there would be wars and rumors of wars until the end. (Mt 24:6) However, if you are a citizen in the kingdom of God why be bothered by someone not stand during the anthem of the United States of America and why are you bothered by a business like Nike using a controversial figure in an ad campaign?

Brothers and sisters, our citizenship is not of this world, (Jn 18:36) Jesus Christ is Lord of heaven and earth. (Mt 28:18) The kingdom of God is composed of people from every race and nation on earth, the kingdom of man will be destroyed at his coming. (Rv 14:6-8)