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“By this all men will know you are my disciples…” - Jesus
I used to be an out of Church Christian. Why? Because I loved God with all my heart and had grown sick of the ambition, the backstabbing, the cut throat competition. Well, Bryan, the world is a fallen, evil place. Yep. I am talking about the carnal competition between professing Christian churches and ministries. Aren’t believers supposed to be known for their love? Well, like so much unreality in the religious world, doctrine has little to do with practice. And if there is anything I cry out for, it is living truth out in day to day reality.
Without casting stones, being painfully ever mindful of the specs of dust in my own eyes, I can say from experience that most of what professes to be the Christian faith has little to do with serving God. Instead of remaining embittered by focusing on past betrayals and disappointments, I felt God challenge me to go and be the church I dream of!
Which bring me to the little spiritual refuge I know as Living Word Christian Fellowship in Oakville, MO. John Hartmann is my pastor and friend. He holds both an M.Div (Covenant Theological Seminary) and an earned PhD (Cambridge University) and is a shepherd of Christ. With all the anti-intellectualism in Spirit-filled circles, John is a man of both the Scriptures and the Spirit. Yes, John is a Bible-based, Christ exalting pastor/teacher. Screamingly good blues guitarist, too.
Living Word is a community, a place of refuge away from the ambition-drive, ego satiated, God-as-a-business that much of what passes for Western Christianity has become. We’re a simple band of brothers and sisters each walking in the reality of 1 John 1: 7, “but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
Having been repulsed by the evil side of Jesus, Inc., I straggled into Living Word more dead than alive spiritually and discovered a church without selfish ambition, where people supremely love God and each other. Perfect? Hardly. Walking in love? Absolutely.
In the St. Louis area and need a spiritual home? Leave your agenda at the door and come worship God in the beauty of his holiness, in the company of disciples who are known by this simple benchmark: they love God and each other.
Did I mention the Bible-centered teaching? Tune in below.
Peace.
Bryan Hupperts
PS. If you’re looking for the latest in Charismatic fluff and psudo-spirituality, move on pilgrim. This is a Meat Only site! Map to facility included: http://drjohnhartmann.net/
Dr. John Hartmann
Pastor/Teacher
Living Word Christian Fellowship
Oakville, MO
