A LITTLE MORE ABOUT JOHN 3:8
by David Yeubanks
July 8, 2003

In case you're curious about my reason for quoting John 3:8 as the title verse for this website, let me just explain for a moment. Note that you will also find my comments on this passage in other portions of the site. At the risk of sounding too redundant I would still like to expound just briefly concerning why I enjoy this verse and what it means to me. As always, I submit this simply as a personal perspective on a passage of Scripture for your consideration and study. May God bless you.

I think probably most Christians are aware and agree that John 3:8 contains the words of Jesus speaking in reference to those that are "born again" and how this remarkable mystery of the Gospel (where God causes a man's spirit to be completely reborn into something new) is so much like the wind; unable to truly be comprehended (with mere human wisdom) as to how it happens, save that it happens by the grace and power of God. While I agree 100% with this general understanding, I also believe that one of the most important aspects of this point, which I believe Jesus makes in this passage (about those who are born again), is sometimes missed by a casual reading of the text; that is the truth that Jesus says everyone who is "born of the Spirit" is considered in likeness as the wind. When I think of the wind and try to compare the Christian life with this analogy, I am led to a simple conclusion about it - it is not birthed, contained or controlled by any human device; not able to be shoved into a formula, a ritual, a program, church dogma, religious routine, building, legalistic practice, etc.

This is not to say (and I am not suggesting) that Christians assembling together for prayer, worship and mutual edification is wrong or without value (Hebrews 10:24-25), but it is to say that true Christianity is not defined by or embodied in the confines of organized religion (Acts 7:48-51) and the "wisdom" and "ruling" of religious men that so many people feel they must place themselves "under" or be "identified" by their "ministries" (1 Corinthians 1:12-17; 3:4-5). Rather, the Christian's new life in Christ is something brought into existence by the Lord Himself; a supernatural event and therefore not able to be sustained by the flesh. It is something completely spiritual (John 3:6), maintained by the inner working of His Holy Spirit and the freewill response from the one who has given his complete heart to the Lord, not the dictates of organized religion.

A born again person is immediately and completely part of the family of God at his conversion (Ephesians 3:14-15; 1 John 3:1; etc.), regardless of his affiliation or participation in some religious organization (be it a church or anything else). The born again person is a member of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13), which is the Lord's Church (Ephesians 1:22-23). The believer's fellowship with other Christians transpires because of who he/she belongs to (that "who" being Christ) - but true, biblical fellowship is not defined by mere attendance of religious meetings or participation in religious activities, groups, organizations and programs. To put it in simpler and bolder terms: you can go your whole Christian life without ever once setting foot into a "church" and still have fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ (the way the Bible encourages us to); again, fellowship is something you HAVE (not do) because of whose you are.

It is my opinion that too many Christians place things like church attendance and participation in religious programs in the middle of their relationships with one another. As a result it often divides them and causes them to lose a central focus on Jesus Christ. I think that far too many Christians today are not secure enough in their understanding of who they are in Christ to be able to regard the institution they call "church" as merely an institution (a club, if you will). Too many see it as essential to their Christian lives and have been convinced through tradition that it must exist and it must be maintained. Some even believe it is a necessity to "keep" their salvation or have God show favor on them; to protect them, bless them, keep them safe from the enemy and from error.

It is my opinion that the enemy, yes the devil, has purposed to use this distraction to keep the body of Christ fragmented, lame and bleeding. I do not mean that the "meeting" or the "activities" of any group, in and of themselves (necessarily), are the distraction. What I am suggesting is that the importance placed on these things is the distraction. Until Christians can finally regard one another simply and purely as brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus, regardless of what organization they belong to (or don't belong to), I think they will be missing the full intent of the Lord for His people. We have got to stop cramming religion in between our relationships with one another. It is not helping to pull us together and grow strong in the Lord.

If you attend a church, that's great. But honestly, who cares? Does God? Is there some Scripture where He commanded men to build churches and fill them with programs and pews? Is He keeping a record of how many services you made and how many you missed? Has He promised to use you to minister His love and also meet your needs only if you attend meetings somewhere or join some organization? Did Jesus die for your sins and also require that you must become a member of another church besides the one He has built without human hands in order that you might be saved? What does church "do" for the Christian? I'll tell you what it does not do. It doesn't make a person right with God. It doesn't keep them safe from hell or guarantee them heaven. It doesn't identify them (from God's perspective) as a Christian or insure their spiritual growth. It doesn't qualify them to be used of the Lord "in ministry." It doesn't do any of these things. Can true ministry happen in a church? Sure. Can a person grow spiritually while attending a church institution? Sure. But is it because of the organization or is it because the believer has submitted some area of his life to the Lord and responded to Him? I think any eternal good that happens in an organization has NOTHING to do with that organization, but it has everything to do with Christ and the believer who submits to His Lordship. In all reality, the organization is a non-essential. That doesn't make it evil or sinful. It just means it's an organization. The family of God is not defined by the religious organizations of men. It is defined by our position with Christ.

You see, the simple fact is that what the Bible calls "church" (as it is defined from the original Greek) means people assembled. In the greatest sense of the word it means all of those who are called out by God and who are members of His body. In fact, Scripture boldly calls the Church "the body of Christ." It is to be the manifestation of His person on the earth through His people. So the Church is more than just people assembled; it is the Lord's very body! This is what "church" means according to its New Testament definition and context. It does not EVER (not even one time) refer to a building or a program!!! Try reading any verse in the New Testament that uses "church" or "churches" and replace the word with "assembly" or "assemblies" or "the believers" or, best of all, "the body of Christ" and think simply in terms of Christians gathered together as members of one divine body (leave all the organization out of it that tradition has taught you). The whole text will come alive with fresh perspective. Suddenly the church in a given city is not about a building where some people gather each week to have a service and perform a few routine rituals and activities, but it simply means the Christians living in that city who gather together (however, wherever and whenever they may gather) who are recognized by God as members of His very body. The form and pattern wasn't important. And without such hangups, the believers were free to express the life of Christ together as one body submitted to their Head; Christ. Many met in homes. Some in caves and in courtyards; all for the purpose of simply being together to edify one another, meet one another's needs (spiritually and materially), and to pray and worship together. It was real. It was informal. It was not a club. You didn't have to attend in order to be regarded as part of the family or the body. It was just people gathering together because of mutual love and a desire to regard one another as family. But even without the "gathering" they understood, as the Bible teaches, they were already part of the Gathering; the body of Jesus.

Well, that was a little off topic but it gels with the heart of my message here and that is that being a Christian is something far greater than simply belonging to a religious organization. A lot of Americans call themselves Christian just because they live in America (which is considered a Christian nation because it was founded on Christian values by Christian forefathers) and some call themselves Christian just because they believe in God or because they went to church growing up. None of these things qualify someone as a true Christian; a person who is born again.

We must remember that John 3:8 is the words of Jesus Christ - that the Christian life is something birthed and governed by His Spirit and, like the wind, it cannot be held within four walls, it cannot be pinned down and fashioned into a routine. It cannot simply be identified by slapping a label on it. If a wind blows into a room and the doors are then shut, the wind will not be encapsulated, rather it will cease to blow altogether. Walls keep the wind out and they also keep the stale (religious) air in. And what some may seek to control with their organization of religious programming, they ultimately destroy the impact and effectiveness because that which is born of the Spirit must flow like the wind.

Perhaps to some this will seem to be a too extensive rendering of explanation of the simple text of John 3:8. As I said earlier, I agree with the general interpretation of this passage completely and I have no problem if someone does not believe it is any more "extensive" than that. I am merely suggesting that we intently look at what the text says about the Christian's new life and consider the Lord's unique choice of wording to express this new life. He says it is like the wind. I find it very significant that the Lord uses such an analogy to express this mystery. And again, I do not share this to suggest merely that participating in a religious program or belonging to some organization is anti-Christian. If you belong to one or the other, please do not be offended because I am not seeking to discourage Christian service or assembly (i.e. ministry and meeting). But if you have been led (by anyone) to believe that participation in a religious program is equivalent to Christianity and is even essential to it, then I do wish to suggest strongly to you that you have not been told the truth, because Jesus says that His new creation is like the wind.

Jesus told the Pharisees that it was their traditions that made God's Word to have no effect at all (Matthew 15:3, 6; Mark 7:13)! That is a strong statement, but it shows the Lord's utter contempt for anything that stands in the way of Him and His Word. I would personally take the Lord's words to the extent of saying He was not impressed or fond at all of organized religion. It seems to me He thought it an obstacle to the truth and a distraction from complete submission to God.

I wholly believe that this is exactly what is happening today in organized religion as a whole; men have become so enamoured by and saturated with their own doctrines (the commandments of men), that they are often unwilling and, many times, simply unable to discern actual biblical truth from error. Remember that the Pharisees were the respected and highly esteemed religious leaders in Jesus' day and they were wholly offended at Him, often remarking how He and His disciples transgressed the traditions of the elders. But Jesus was quick to respond to their religious accusations.

Jesus taught us that it is the Spirit of God - NOT HUMAN RELIGIOUS EFFORT - that gives life. The Jews became confused by Jesus' words at times because they misunderstood the purpose of the Law. This was partly due to all the distortions they received by the religious leaders of their day. People were led to believe that it is by observing laws, rituals, deeds, ordinances, and exhibiting pious performance that made one appear right before God. The delusion was so thick that at times even Jesus' own disciples had trouble understanding Jesus' words. So Jesus reminded them:

When Jesus talked with His disciples about things like prayer, He also strongly encouraged them to leave religiosity out of the picture completely. In fact, He again used the religious leaders of His day as the example how NOT to do things.

The Christian life is like the wind, Jesus said! It cannot be bound into a formula or some performance of religiosity. Christianity is about CHRIST BEFORE US, OVER US, IN US and THROUGH US! Our life finds its full source and sustinence in Him only. He is that Life! He is the Center! Organizational religion, on the other hand, wants to play the mediator and stand between God and men as well as be the center of everything. It wants to "help" God out by taking control of some of the load, some of the authority, some of the right to present what must be accepted as the truth. It wants to dictate every facet of the Christian life in accordance with its own prescription of rules, ethics, morals, and dogma. It has a very high and haughty opinion of itself - so high that it even will dare call its own doctrines the doctrines of God.

I have watched men in prominent ministry positions choose to reject, re-define, ignore and overlook important passages of Scripture because, if they were to acknowledge or accept what the Word really taught (as it is plainly written) in those instances, it may prove that some or all of their traditional doctrinal perspectives are false and require ammending or, sometimes, complete dismissal. So consumed is the Institutional Church today with its man-inspired, man-made, man-sustained, man-estemed and man-promoted teachings, programs, "revelations", rules and regulations, that anyone who raises a flag of question, challenge or even criticism with respect to what the Word of God actually has to say in response to such things, are almost immediately regarded as heretics, trouble-makers, dissenters, rebellious, etc. In so many institutional churches today, the Bible is no longer the foundation of truth and Jesus has lost His role as the central Character of the Christian faith, but whatever a particular denomination seeks to believe and impose on its patrons is held in the highest regard. I have watched, first hand, as men elevate their own organization's doctrines above the Word of God and then call their doctrines "the ordinances of God." I have watched them chastise, rebuke, and manipulate sincere believers in Christ who have dared ask honest questions, challenge with Scripture, or refuse to believe those man-made doctrines.

It is my opinion that the moment an institution of religion imposes itself in some intermediary fashion (assuming a position of control that should only be held by Christ), it is at that moment completely out of the will of Christ. It is then, in fact, anti-Christ - for it denies His control, His influence and His governing. We who have been born again are sons (and daughters) of our Father in Heaven. He is our Lord, our King, our High Priest (and even as Psalm 23 and Hebrews 13:20 tells us), our Senior Pastor (Shepherd). The Church is His body (not a building made with human hands). His Church is a spiritual building made of living stones (1 Peter 2:5) and completely under the rulership of Jesus; the government rests on His shoulders only (Isaiah 9:6) and not on some artificial hierarchy (Matthew 23:8-12; 20:25-28). He ALONE is the Head and is the only one allowed to have the preeminence (1 Corinthians 11:3; Matthew 21:42; Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:23; Colossians 1:18) and we all belong to Him and were created by Him and for Him.

The intention of this site is to encourage believers completely in this holy direction. That's why the focus is not on religious organization but purely on the connection we must have with Christ the Lord. He is essential and central to all things. God bless you as you continue to discover His leading hand in your life day by day.

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