Archive for the ‘Church Life’ Category
What’s Important?
Tuesday, February 5th, 2008
Ever wonder what’s important in your church?
Is it that we all agree on the debatable philosophies of the theologians?
Or that our ministry is presented in a certain matter or by the book, per say?
Is this or that the proper way to lead someone to Christ?
I don’t know about you, but I have never talked to 2 people that share the same testamony. That just leads me to believe that in most ways our “strategy” of “saving souls” or feeding the flock doesn’t have any bearing or for that matter timing on personal conviction of the Spirit. That is not to say that there shouldn’t be a model in our churches to lead, teach or otherwise present Christ to others (that is our responsibility in Christ). It’s just that the more I listen to these things going on, the more I see this causing division among believers and drifting focus on what is important in the life of the believer.
I have a long way to go in this also. But it seems to me that if we concentrated on the importance of our personal relationship with God and not so much on whether someone else is doing something the way that we think they should be handling it, wouldn’t that encourage others to focus correctly? How are we supposed to disciple others that see this going on? Aren’t we supposed to model ourselves after Christ? This is the same bickering that went on in the early church. And the same bickering that Christ warned us about.
I know that these are things that are present in our churches today, and many of these things cause division among not only the congregation, but also the leadership. We will never agree with everything that another believer thinks is right or wrong. As we will never be convicted of our sins in the same matter or timing as another follower. I believe that God works in every believer in his own timing and molds everyones heart differently than another. That is where the personal relationship that we talk about comes from, and our personal maturity in Christ.
My point is that it’s OK to disagree with what I call the fringe of church life as long as the gospel stays intact and we are able to disciple properly. And we should embrace those differences rather than rebuke them, as I think that is how we become stronger. If we were all the same what would we ever get done?
What are your thoughts? Do you see this as an issue that may be hindering our walk? Or am I way off?
Is This What We Look Like?
Friday, February 1st, 2008
I was reading an article today in which Former President Jimmy Carter was speaking to about 9000 people at the “New Baptist Convent Celebration” in Atlanta. He was speaking in reference to Baptist’s letting their differences go, over what I call “silly” theological differences. He makes a very strong statement, and something I am very passionate about. This is a quote from his speech…
“My wife Rosalynn and I have visited more than 125 different nations since we left the White House, and we and our hosts have had many discussions about religion,” Carter said. “Among the unsaved people on earth, what is the prevailing image of Christians today?
“It’s not the dedicated and inspired work of our missionaries. It’s not the great preaching of Billy Graham or others who inspire people. It’s the image of divisions among brothers and sisters in Christ as we struggle for authority or argue about the interpretation of individual verses in the Holy Scriptures.”
Ouch!…Unfortunately this is the world view of the “Church”. Aren’t we supposed to be different than the world? This reality seems to show that we are no different than the unsaved.
He goes on with these questions…
“How many believe that we are saved by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ?” Carter asked. “How many believe that like the early Christians we should put aside our deeply felt personal differences and work in unity to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ? You see the distinction between those kinds of questions. We should remember which are the most important.”
Isn’t this what it’s all about? I think if we truly believe that we are saved by grace, and really realize the love that this gigantic God that we serve has for us, we would be so humbled that these differences over selfish opinions and ego building rif-raf would fade away. And at that point we could not help but to love others. And in loving others not only would we be less likely to argue over these differences in opinion on theology or what ever the issue may be. People would really be able to differentiate between what they have and what we have in Christ. After all, What is appealing about this bickering that is going on in our churches? How are we going to be able to show people who Christ is, if this is what they see? They can get that at home! They already have that! The only way people are going to come to know Christ, is to see it, firsthand. This starts with us, the “Church”.
What can we do to encourage this Christlike attitude? Can it be done? Or has it gone to far?
What’s In It For Me?
Monday, January 28th, 2008
This is a pretty funny video. Unfortunately, I think there is too much truth to the attitudes portrayed in it. What do you think?
but this was an AWESOME post honey! And AMEN to all of it. I want so much...
