Not everyone in the church is a believer.  

Not everyone in the church is a believer. This is a hard statement for many to fathom.

Jesus knew there would be people who would become a part of the church to achieve their own agendas, people who would be no more than followers, there when there is something offered, gone when they reach satisfaction.

John 6:70, Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!”

This verse shows that even among Christ’s chosen disciples, one was not a believer. 

The verse comes at the end of a chapter where Jesus had given the multitude nourishment for their bodies. The miraculous feeding lead many to believe Jesus was indeed a prophet sent of God, their thought was also to make him their long awaited king. Jesus knew their intent and misunderstanding of His coming, so he sought solitude.

The next day, after he had crossed the lake many sought him. Jesus knew that most were coming for nourishment for their bodies and not their souls. John 6:26 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. ²⁷Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”  ²⁸Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” After Jesus explained what would be required, ⁶⁰On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”  ⁶⁶From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

After many disciples had left Jesus went on to ask the twelve if they too wanted to desert him, ⁶⁸Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

Judas had heard the question, yet he chose to stay, Judas had his own agenda and wanted to follow it.  I believe many in the church today are like Judas. They have become a member without personally accepting the truth about Jesus Christ for themselves. Some use the church to cover their sin from others, some out of pressure from family, still others to promote their business. Many do not understand that the church as the true “body of Christ” and treat it as a social institution.

I believe that most people take the first step with all intent on following Christ, just as the multitude did, but just as the multitude found the food for the body was much easier to partake of than the food for the soul, they take the second step of going their own way. Some though are like Judas listening to what is required to be a follower. But never hearing, they continue to set and follow their own agenda; many teach grades their children are in as a means to assure their children are taught, as they want things taught. Many accept positions of leadership where they feel most comfortable or because someone else thought they would be good in the position. Many pastors are climbing the ladder to more nickels and noses, adding lines to their resume so they can add leverage to their next salary negotiation.

I believe that some of these people will be brought to brokenness and ask God to forgive them of their sins and become part of the true “body of Christ”. Others will never embrace the forgiveness and life-changing love of Christ. They will continue to crucify Christ over and over with their self seeking agenda’s.

Clyde   

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