NOT PRIVATE

“You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.”
— Psalm 56:8

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The Personal and the Communal—One Indivisible Faith

Modern preaching often overemphasizes having a “personal relationship with Jesus” while neglecting what Scripture presents as inseparable from that reality—integration into His Body, the Church.

The Bible never portrays our faith as private or isolated. A personal response to the gospel is essential, but salvation always results in union with Christ and participation in His people.

Ephesians 2:10 declares,

“We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

That “we” is not a collection of lone believers—it’s the redeemed community, His Body and Bride, each member “joined and held together… as each part does its work” (Ephesians 4:16).

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Personal Intimacy, Not Private Individualism

Psalm 56:8 beautifully reveals God’s personal care:

“You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle.”

This is intimate, not individualistic. David’s tears are precious to God, yet his psalms consistently move from personal lament to corporate praise:

“I will declare Your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise You.” — Psalm 22:22

Even the most personal cries in Scripture ultimately overflow into communal worship—because our faith, though deeply personal, is never meant to be private. God saves individuals into His people.

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From Family to Body to Bride

The New Testament continues this thread. Jesus said,

“Even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” — Luke 12:7

That’s intimate knowledge and infinite care. Yet John 3:16—perhaps the most quoted verse in Scripture—reveals that those who believe are welcomed into God’s family.

The Bible’s imagery is covenantal, not consumeristic. To be “born again” is not to be given a spiritual room of one’s own but to be joined to a household—a family where lives, hearts, and purposes are shared.

We are redeemed not to live as isolated “nuclear Christians” with private devotions and personal Wi-Fi, but as a Spirit-filled community that eats, serves, rejoices, and weeps together.

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Crucified with Christ—and United with His Body

Galatians 2:20 captures the personal dimension of saving faith:

“I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.”

But the verse continues:

“The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

That “body” is not merely physical—it’s relational and ecclesial. The life we live in Christ is life within His Body. The personal and communal are woven together by the Spirit.

Paul contrasts the autonomous sins of the flesh (Galatians 5:19–21) with the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23)—virtues that can only be cultivated and displayed in relationship: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. None of these can exist in isolation.

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The Church: Christ’s Body and Bride

The Apostle Paul affirms,

“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” — 1 Corinthians 12:27

Each believer is indispensable to the health of the whole. The Church is not a club of like-minded individuals but a living organism animated by the Spirit of Christ.

Thus, Paul instructs,

“When you come together, each of you has a hymn, a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.” — 1 Corinthians 14:26

True spirituality is measured not by mystical experience or private inspiration but by the building up of Christ’s Bride.

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Dead Alone, Alive Together

Ephesians 2 paints the stark before-and-after of our condition:

• Before: dead in sin, enslaved to fleshly desires, children of wrath.

• After: made alive with Christ, seated with Him in the heavenly places, recreated for good works within His Body.

Our salvation is not merely rescue from sin but restoration to fellowship—with God and His people.

Faith is both personal and communal, intimate and integrated, individual and corporate—all pointing to one glorious reality: union with Christ.

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The Beauty of Mutual Belonging

The two great commandments tie it all together:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind… and love your neighbor as yourself.” — Matthew 22:37–39

Jesus said,

“By this everyone will know that you are My disciples—if you love one another.” — John 13:35

Our love for God is authenticated by our love for His people.
Our unity as the Body is our most powerful witness to the world:

“…that the world may know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me.” — John 17:23

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Conclusion: The Faith That Weeps Together

Psalm 56:8 reminds us that God counts every tear—not one is wasted. Yet those tears are collected into a bottle, not scattered on separate shelves. They belong to the communion of saints—a shared testimony of grace and glory.

So let us draw near to Christ personally, but never privately. Let us rejoice that our salvation is personal in experience but corporate in expression—woven into the radiant tapestry of His redeemed Bride.

Faith in Christ is never solitary. It is the Spirit’s miracle of many becoming one.

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Blessings and love,
Kevin M. Kelley
Pastor
BigIslandChristianChurch.com

CRAZY STORY!

 

“When King Jeroboam, who was at the altar in Bethel, heard the word that the man of God had cried out against it, he stretched out his hand and said, ‘Seize him!’ But the hand he stretched out toward him withered, so that he could not pull it back. The altar also was split apart and the ashes poured out, according to the sign that the man of God had given by the word of the LORD.”
— 1 Kings 13:4-5

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The Pattern of Rebellion

Throughout Kings and Chronicles, the divine summary of Israel’s rulers repeats like a funeral toll:

“ … and he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD.”

God had decreed that the Messiah—Shiloh—would come through Judah (Genesis 49:10) and that one of David’s descendants would possess an eternal throne (2 Samuel 7:12-13).

David, though far from flawless, was “a man after God’s own heart.” His repentance modeled the very response God desires.
His son Solomon, however, began with unmatched wisdom and ended in ruinous compromise.

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The Wisest Fool Who Ever Lived

Scripture records,

“God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight… Solomon’s wisdom surpassed all the men of the East and all the wisdom of Egypt.” — 1 Kings 4:29-30

Yet we also read:

“Solomon loved many foreign women… and his wives turned his heart after other gods.” — 1 Kings 11:1-4

How could the wisest man become such a fool?
Because wisdom unapplied is worse than ignorance; it becomes arrogance.

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Division and Idolatry

After Solomon’s death, the kingdom split:

• Rehoboam ruled Judah in the south.

• Jeroboam ruled Israel in the north.

Rehoboam was harsh and proud; Jeroboam was blasphemous. To consolidate power, Jeroboam erected two golden calves and told Israel,

“Here are your gods who brought you up from Egypt.”

Thus began a national apostasy that mirrored Aaron’s sin at Sinai.

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The Man of God and the Old Prophet

In 1 Kings 13, God sent an unnamed prophet from Judah to confront Jeroboam at Bethel.
When the king commanded, “Seize him!” his hand instantly withered, and the altar split—fulfilling the prophet’s word.

Jeroboam begged for healing; the man of God prayed, and God mercifully restored the king’s hand.
The king then invited him home for refreshment and reward, but the man of God refused:

“Even if you gave me half your house, I would not go with you, for I was commanded by the word of the LORD: ‘You shall eat no bread nor drink water nor return by the way you came.’ ”

So far, obedience held. Then temptation came from a subtler source.

An old prophet from Bethel heard the story, sought the man of God, and lied:

“I also am a prophet, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the LORD, saying, ‘Bring him back with you.’ ”

The younger prophet yielded. He returned, ate, and drank.
Then the true word of the LORD came through the deceiver’s mouth: judgment.
A lion met the man of God on the road and killed him; his corpse lay beside the lion as a public warning.

The old prophet buried him, saying, “When I die, lay my bones beside his.”
And the story ends—one deceiver spared, one obedient messenger dead.

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Eden Replayed

The parallels are unmistakable.

• A divine command.

• A deceiver’s contradiction.

• Disobedience leading to death.

Just as in Eden, the serpent’s lie began with “Has God really said?”
And just as Adam and Eve learned, rebellion against explicit revelation always ends in judgment.

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Jeroboam’s Hardened Heart

Even witnessing this miracle and tragedy, Jeroboam did not repent:

“He again made priests of the high places from among all the people… This was the sin that caused the house of Jeroboam to be cut off.” — 1 Kings 13:33-34

Earlier, God had offered Jeroboam a covenant identical to David’s:

“If you walk in My ways and do what is right, I will be with you and build you a lasting dynasty.” — 1 Kings 11:38

Yet Jeroboam chose idols, invented feast days, and manufactured priesthoods.
He sought God’s relief but never His repentance.

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The Deceit of “God Told Me”

The tragedy deepens when we recognize the “old prophet” still speaks today.
Countless preachers, friends, and influencers confidently announce, “God told me…” while contradicting Scripture.

But God’s Word declares:

“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.” — Exodus 20:7

To invoke God’s authority for our opinions is to bear His Name in emptiness. It’s blasphemy masquerading as spirituality.

We have one Mediator—Christ Jesus (Hebrews 5–10).
The Holy Spirit speaks through Scripture, not around it.
Any “new revelation” that undermines the written Word exposes itself as deception.

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Losing Saltiness

The man of God’s death reminds us that disobedience—however small—can end a ministry in a moment.
Jesus warned,

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor… it is no longer good for anything.” — Matthew 5:13

Delayed judgment does not mean divine indifference.

“Because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath for the day of wrath.” — Romans 2:5

Many today pursue the benefits of Jesus rather than Jesus Himself—wanting the treasures of heaven and earth simultaneously. But Christ said,

“No one can serve two masters.” — Matthew 6:24

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David or Jeroboam?

Both kings sinned grievously.

• David was broken, repentant, and restored.

• Jeroboam was proud, unrepentant, and destroyed.

The difference was not in the sin but in the response.
One clung to grace; the other clung to guilt-free religion.

Grace is abundant for repentance—but never for rebellion.

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The Voice of the Shepherd or the Old Prophet?

Christ warns,

“My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me.” — John 10:27

Do you listen to His voice through Scripture—or to flattering voices that say what you want to hear?
Jeroboam cried only for relief; David cried for forgiveness.

Right now, you can do the same: plead with King Jesus to forgive, redeem, and restore.
He delights to show mercy.
The cross proves it.

“As many as I love, I rebuke and discipline. Be zealous therefore and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock…” — Revelation 3:19-20

Reject the counterfeit prophets. Return to the Shepherd.
Better to be slain by conviction now than by the Lion of Judah later.

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Blessings and love,
Kevin M. Kelley
Pastor
BigIslandChristianChurch.com

The Wedding Banquet

 

“Let us rejoice and be glad
and give Him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and His bride has made herself ready.
She was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure.
For the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.”
Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.”
— Revelation 19:7–9

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Marriage: God’s Divine Design

Marriage is not a human invention. It is a divine creation—an earthly reflection of the eternal intimacy within the triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Genesis 1:26–27 reveals that humanity—both male and female—was uniquely created “in Our image, according to Our likeness.”
This divine image-bearing reflects both plurality and unity—equal worth, yet distinct roles designed to complement one another in perfect harmony.

No other creature bears this divine relational likeness. Humanity alone was made to mirror the eternal fellowship of the Godhead.

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The First Marriage: A Sacred Union

In Genesis 2, God gives Adam a divine function: “to serve her and watch over her.”
The “her” refers to the creation that would soon include his corresponding partner—woman—formed from his side (Genesis 2:21–23).

When Adam beheld her, he exclaimed,

“This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.”

Then God revealed the divine pattern:

“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” — Genesis 2:24

Marriage is far more than a social arrangement or religious ceremony. It is a supernatural love-union that provides a visible picture of God’s indivisible Triunity—distinct persons, yet one essence.

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The Fall and the Failing Bridegroom

Genesis 3 records the tragic distortion of that union. The serpent—crafty and deceitful—tempted the woman into doubting God’s Word. She ate, and Adam, standing idly by, followed.

Though Eve was deceived, God held Adam responsible:

“Sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.” — Romans 5:12

Adam failed in his divine charge to “serve her and watch over her.” The result was catastrophic separation—divorce between humanity and God.

Yet even in judgment, God promised redemption:

“He shall crush your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” — Genesis 3:15

This was the first Gospel—God’s promise of a coming Bridegroom who would redeem His fallen bride.

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Christ: The Perfect Bridegroom

Unlike Adam, Jesus Christ, the Second Adam, came to rescue His Bride rather than abandon her. He crushed the serpent’s head through His cross and resurrection.

Paul writes:

“Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing of water with the word… to present her to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle, but holy and blameless.” — Ephesians 5:25–27

Christ’s covenant love restores what Adam’s failure destroyed. The divine Bridegroom purchased His Bride with His own blood.

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Repentance: The Requirement of the Bride

Before His crucifixion, Jesus said,

“I go to prepare a place for you… that where I am, you may be also.” — John 14:2–3

Notice: “you may be,” not “you will be.”
There is a condition—repentance.

All roads do not lead to heaven. Rituals, ceremonies, or mere profession of faith cannot save. Jesus preached,

“Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” — Luke 13:3

Paul echoed this truth:

“Godly sorrow produces repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow produces death.” — 2 Corinthians 7:10

Salvation is not achieved through works or emotional remorse, but through Spirit-wrought repentance—a total surrender to Christ as Lord and King.

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The Marriage Supper of the Lamb

Revelation 19:7–9 points forward to the glorious culmination of redemptive history:

“The marriage of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has made herself ready.”

The Bride—Christ’s Church—is clothed in “fine linen, bright and pure,” representing “the righteous acts of the saints.”

These righteous deeds are not meritorious works but the fruit of regeneration—the evidence of a grateful Bride clothed in the righteousness of Christ, walking in the good works “prepared beforehand” by God (Ephesians 2:10).

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The Passover and the Proposal

On the night of Passover, Jesus—the true Passover Lamb—instituted the Lord’s Supper.

He broke bread and said,

“This is My body, given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” — Luke 22:19

Then He took the cup and said,

“This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.” — Luke 22:20

In Jewish custom, a cup of wine offered to a woman was a marriage proposal. By drinking, she accepted the covenant.
In this sacred moment, Jesus extended His wedding invitation to His disciples—to all who would believe.

Each time we partake of Communion, we remember not merely His death, but His proposal—the invitation to eternal union with Him.

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The Wedding Banquet Parable

In Matthew 22, Jesus told a parable of a royal wedding banquet. Those first invited refused and even killed the servants bearing the invitation. The king judged them and extended the invitation to everyone, both “evil and good.”

Yet one man entered the feast without proper wedding clothes. The king said,

“Friend, how did you get in here without wedding garments?”
The man was speechless.

The king then commanded,

“Bind him hand and foot and cast him into outer darkness… For many are called, but few are chosen.”

This parable reveals a sobering truth: accepting the invitation is not enough—we must be clothed in Christ’s righteousness, evidenced by lives of holiness and obedience.

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The Bride Made Ready

When we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, we are not performing ritual but remembering a proposal. We are affirming our covenant union with the Bridegroom who gave His life for us.

To partake is to say “Yes”—to accept the invitation and live as His purified Bride.

Being “dressed in fine linen” does not represent a works-based salvation; it is the visible fruit of an inward grace—the grateful obedience of a redeemed people adorned for their King.

This is the eternal honeymoon—the unending joy of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

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Blessings and love,
Kevin M. Kelley
Pastor
BigIslandChristianChurch.com

THE IRRATIONAL

 

“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.”
— Romans 1:18

Actor Jesse L. Martin plays behavioral scientist Alec Mercer in the TV show The Irrational.
In one classroom scene, Mercer tells his students they’ll hear a short audio clip four times. He projects the phrase “THAT IS EMBARRASSING” on the screen, and—unsurprisingly—nearly every student believes the sound matches the words.

Then, Mercer changes the displayed text while keeping the exact same audio. Suddenly, most students reinterpret what they’re hearing. His point: our brains don’t perceive reality objectively. We interpret information through bias and expectation. The data doesn’t change—our perception does.

You can watch the short clip >HERE<.

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The Same Problem with Scripture Reading

That same principle applies when people read the Bible.

Modern readers live in vastly different times, cultures, and languages from those of the biblical authors. There are linguistic, historical, and cultural gaps that make understanding Scripture a careful, Spirit-dependent task.

Even the best translations involve interpretive choices—because every translator must decide how to render words, idioms, and figures of speech. A purely literal, “word-for-word” version like Young’s Literal Translation can ignore idioms, metaphors, and contextual meaning.

Every language, ancient or modern, contains expressions that defy literal equivalence. For example:

• “Quitting cold turkey”

• “Ballpark figure”

• “Cat got your tongue?”

• “It’s all about to go down.”

• “Plead the fifth”

Imagine how nonsensical those sound outside their cultural context. The same principle applies when interpreting Scripture.

If it’s hard to communicate clearly with your own teenager, how much harder is it to interpret the writings of ancient prophets and apostles in different languages, cultures, and centuries?

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Reader-Response: The Modern Error

Many assume the challenge is too great and therefore make little effort to study Scripture carefully. This is known as the “reader-response” approach—the idea that the meaning of the Bible depends on what it means to me.

This mindset dominates much of modern Christianity. You hear it in phrases like:

“Well, to me, this verse means…”

Reader-response interpretation rips verses from context and bends them toward personal desires.

Take Jeremiah 29:11:

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you…”

Many twist this to mean that God promises wealth, health, and happiness. Prosperity preachers thrive on such distortions. But faithful interpretation asks:

• How does Jeremiah 29:11 fit within its chapter and book?

• What was Jeremiah’s message and mission?

• Who was he writing to—and why?

• What was happening in Israel at the time?

• How does Jeremiah connect to the larger redemptive story?

Those questions move us from emotional projection to God-centered interpretation.

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The Real Reason People Suppress Truth

As Professor Mercer observed, people rarely see reality; they see what they want to see. Scripture agrees:

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” — Proverbs 14:12

Evolutionary theory provides a tragic modern example. Despite the lack of any verified instance of life arising from non-life, the glaring gaps in the fossil record, irreducible complexity in biological systems, and the universe’s precise fine-tuning, many brilliant minds still reject God.

Why?
Because, as Romans 1 declares, mankind suppresses the truth in unrighteousness. The issue is not evidence but rebellion.

The irrational reason is moral, not intellectual: in our fallen state, we crave affirmation and equilibrium, not conviction and transformation.

But God, knowing our hearts lead us to death, sent His Son—the Lamb of God—to rescue us from our delusions.

“This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.” — John 3:19

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The Only Rational Way to Read Scripture

The only right way to approach the Bible is to seek the Divine Author’s intended meaning.

Scripture is not a mirror for our opinions—it’s the revelation of God’s will, character, and redemptive plan.
God does not call us based on intellect or academic skill, but solely by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8–9).

That’s why Jesus chose twelve ordinary men. Understanding Scripture is not about mastering Greek syntax or philosophical systems; it’s about humble submission to the Spirit of Truth who inspired it (2 Peter 1:20–21).

If we read God’s Word merely to:

• Win arguments,

• Find self-affirming promises, or

• Claim blessings and prosperity,

Then we are not hearing God at all.

But if we open Scripture in reverence, gratitude, and obedience—as an act of worship—our study becomes a means by which God conforms us to the image of Christ.

As Oswald Chambers wrote:

“When we choose deliberately to obey Him, then He will tax the remotest star and the last grain of sand to assist us.”

That is the most rational decision any human can make.

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Blessings and love,
Kevin M. Kelley
Pastor
BigIslandChristianChurch.com

📘 For a fantastic resource on Bible study and interpretation, see How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth.
🎥 For more on the scientific flaws of Evolutionary Theory, watch Genesis: Paradise Lost.

Christ's Bride

 

“And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”
— 2 Corinthians 11:14

When you give a child the choice between a balanced meal and an all-you-can-eat dessert buffet, the outcome is predictable. The candy wins—every time.

That’s much like what happens with many parachurch organizations. While often birthed with good intentions, they frequently draw attention, resources, and devotion away from Christ’s ordained means of ministry—His Church, the Body and Bride of Christ. They may make us feel inspired for a time, but as with a diet of sugar, the long-term effects are spiritually disastrous. When Christians fill up on “spiritual desserts,” they leave no room for the nourishing substance of biblical discipleship that only the local church can provide.

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The Problem: Mistaking Corruption for Christ’s Design

Church history has its dark stains. False teachers, greed, and abuse have often obscured the Church’s beauty. Yet we must never confuse what corrupt people have done with what Christ designed. From the days of Simon the Sorcerer (Acts 8), men have tried to manipulate God’s work for selfish gain.

Today’s problem is not new—it’s mission drift. Many churches have shifted from a biblical mission (building up Christ’s Body through identification, integration, and sanctification) to a cultural mission focused on self-help, numbers, and feelings.

But the goal of discipleship, evangelism, and ministry has never been self-fulfillment or humanitarian relief. It has always been the edification of Christ’s Bride (Ephesians 4:11–16; Matthew 28:18–20).

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Christ’s Exclusive Bride

God’s design for His king was exclusive loyalty. Deuteronomy 17:17 prohibited Israel’s king from multiplying wives or alliances with foreigners. Solomon’s failure (1 Kings 11:1–3) led to spiritual collapse.

In perfect contrast, King Jesus is the faithful Husband who has one Bride—the Church. He established, sanctified, and glorifies her alone (Ephesians 5:25–27). He declared that not even the gates of hell would prevail against her (Matthew 16:18).

Though there are many local expressions of that one Body—diverse in culture, color, and language—Scripture teaches there is only one universal Church (1 Corinthians 12:12–27; Revelation 7:9–14; 21:22–27).

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The Rise of Parachurch Movements

Parachurch organizations arose in the 18th and 19th centuries, during an age of religious freedom and distrust of institutional religion. Alongside genuine gospel efforts came the rise of unorthodox movements—Mormonism, The Shakers, Christian Science, and Seventh-day Adventism. The cultural soil that allowed the parachurch to grow also bred confusion about biblical authority and ecclesiology.

Freedom of religion made possible many “good” things—but as Paul reminds us,

“All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful... not all things build up.”
— 1 Corinthians 6:12; 10:23

Just because we can do something doesn’t mean we should.

King Jesus warned,

“Whoever is not with Me is against Me, and whoever does not gather with Me scatters.”
— Matthew 12:30

If a ministry is not building up Christ’s Body according to His revealed standard, it is actually working against Him—no matter how “effective” it seems. Popularity never equals truth (2 Timothy 4:3–4).

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Vision and Accountability in the Local Church

Many churches today lack a biblical vision for discipleship. Their “five-year plans” revolve around budgets, buildings, and brand—not the Bride.

Proverbs 29:18 warns, “Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint.”
A godly vision must be measured by Scripture, not sentiment.

Churches should regularly examine every partnership, program, and affiliation by asking:

“Does this build up Christ’s Bride?”

Without ongoing, honest evaluation, churches drift into mere tradition and personal preference. The result is predictable: man-made religion instead of Spirit-led obedience.

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The True Standard of Success

When we stand before the Lord, the test will not be:

• How big our sanctuary was,

• How many people we fed,

• How emotionally moving our services felt, or

• How “impactful” our programs appeared.

The test will be this:

“Let all things be done for building up.” — 1 Corinthians 14:26

Success is not measured by our standards but by God’s—whether we have faithfully done His will in edifying Christ’s Body.

Jesus said,

“This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples.” — John 15:8

And James adds,

“Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” — James 2:17

True discipleship bears fruit in the unity, maturity, and holiness of the Church—Christ’s Bride.

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Building the Bride

Ephesians 4:13 declares God’s goal for His people:

“Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.”

That’s what it means to:

• Remain faithful to our first love (Revelation 2:4),

• Reject false teaching (Revelation 2:20),

• Refuse lukewarm faith (Revelation 3:16), and

• Be the spotless Bride clothed in fine linen, bright and pure (Revelation 19:8).

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Testing Ourselves

Paul exhorts,

“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.” — 2 Corinthians 13:5

Those who operate as “independent contractors” outside the authority of Christ’s Church may hear the most terrifying words ever spoken:

“Depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness; I never knew you.” — Matthew 7:23

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When Parachurch Serves the Church

There are faithful parachurch ministries that exist to serve, protect, and strengthen the local church rather than replace it. J. Mack Stiles, in an excellent 9Marks article, highlights key marks of such health:

• They consciously exist to serve the Church, not themselves.

• They make a clear distinction between parachurch and Church.

• They maintain accountability to local churches.

• They guard against drifting from principles to pragmatism.

Organizations like MinistrySafe and The Joshua Project illustrate how parachurch ministries can function biblically and fruitfully under the Church’s headship.

By contrast, others—like The Salvation Army—blur the distinction by operating as both organization and denomination, often emphasizing social work over worship.

Stiles warns, “Almost no parachurch movements that existed a hundred years ago are now found faithful to the gospel.” That sobering truth should drive us back to the Word.

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Final Call

“Where there is no vision, the people perish; but blessed is he who keeps the law.” — Proverbs 29:18

If we lose God’s vision—to build up the Body of Christ through the proclamation of His Gospel—apostasy will soon follow.

Even Satan masquerades as an angel of light. Appearances deceive. When we abandon God’s objective truth for our subjective preferences, we end up in the chaos of Judges:

“In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” — Judges 21:25

So let us return to our King’s commission. Let us renew our commitment to His mission—the edification of Christ’s Body and Bride.

“Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:20–22

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Grace & Peace,
Kevin M. Kelley
Pastor
BigIslandChristianChurch.com

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WOMEN!

 

“…and everything that does not come from faith is sin.”
— Romans 14:23

The things the world celebrates often look appealing on the surface—until we hold them up to the light of God’s Word.

Take International Women’s Day, for example. A whole day devoted to honoring women sounds commendable. Yet when we dig deeper, we find that what the world promotes and what Scripture teaches are very different.

The Bible—the infallible, God-breathed revelation of our triune Creator to fallen humanity—honors women in ways infinitely higher and purer than the world ever could.

1. Women are made in the image of God.
From the beginning, God declared, “Let us make man in our image… male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:26–27).
Women are not lesser, inferior, or secondary beings. They are equal image-bearers of Almighty God—distinct yet complementary in their divinely appointed roles. This is the beauty of biblical complementarianism, not the confusion of egalitarianism.

2. Scripture celebrates women’s courage and faith.
Throughout redemptive history, when men faltered, God raised up steadfast, faithful women—Tamar, Rahab, Deborah, the Hebrew midwives, Jochebed (Moses’ mother), Ruth, Hannah, Esther, Mary, Anna, Phoebe, and many more. These women were not passive; they were active servants and warriors of faith—examples of godly strength, conviction, and devotion.

3. God exalts womanhood in redemption.
So highly does God esteem women that He uses the imagery of a Bride to describe His redeemed people—the Church (Revelation 19:6–9). Christ loved His Bride so deeply that He “gave Himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25).

The world offers women a fleeting token of appreciation—one day of recognition.
Christ Jesus, the Creator and Redeemer, gave His entire life—even unto death on a cross—to ransom His people and bring them into eternal union with Himself.

So rather than celebrating worldly tokenism, let’s rejoice in eternal truth:
Women are image-bearers of God, co-heirs of grace, daughters of the risen and reigning King—courageous, noble, steadfast, and gloriously distinct.

Celebrate that. Celebrate Him.

Blessings and love,
Kevin M. Kelley
Pastor
BigIslandChristianChurh.com

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