Monday, April 28, 2014
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Who is on first?
It is the promises of God that make the church, and not the church that makes the promises of God.
~ Martin Luther
Chandler, Matt; Geiger, Eric; Patterson, Josh (2013-11-26). Creature of the Word: The Jesus-Centered Church (Kindle Locations 111-112). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
First line of the first chapter, and they have my attention. God has promised that the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church, so why are we so worried? Why do we seek to draw attention through gimmicks and fancy everything? God does not need that kind of help. Or to quote Bono, "My God is not short of cash."
He goes on to speak of two preachers, each struggling with their current roles and how their church is functioning. Then he says this: "And what both men need, as well as both of their churches, is a return. They need to return to their first love. A simple, yet significant return to Jesus." (Kindle Locations 150-151)
That pretty much sums up the book. At least the first 67% that I have read. They say it in different ways, and I probably need to hear every one of them.
Oh, the stories I could tell. Stories of churches who forgot about Jesus, who forgot that He sustains the church and not their efforts, forgot that Jesus is the reason not just for the season, but for everything. But rather than focus on hurts or old injuries, perhaps the answer is to focus on the present. What does it mean to "return to Jesus?"
That is going to take some thought.
Chandler, Matt; Geiger, Eric; Patterson, Josh (2013-11-26). Creature of the Word: The Jesus-Centered Church (Kindle Locations 111-112). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
First line of the first chapter, and they have my attention. God has promised that the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church, so why are we so worried? Why do we seek to draw attention through gimmicks and fancy everything? God does not need that kind of help. Or to quote Bono, "My God is not short of cash."
He goes on to speak of two preachers, each struggling with their current roles and how their church is functioning. Then he says this: "And what both men need, as well as both of their churches, is a return. They need to return to their first love. A simple, yet significant return to Jesus." (Kindle Locations 150-151)
That pretty much sums up the book. At least the first 67% that I have read. They say it in different ways, and I probably need to hear every one of them.
Oh, the stories I could tell. Stories of churches who forgot about Jesus, who forgot that He sustains the church and not their efforts, forgot that Jesus is the reason not just for the season, but for everything. But rather than focus on hurts or old injuries, perhaps the answer is to focus on the present. What does it mean to "return to Jesus?"
That is going to take some thought.
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Glutton for Punishment
I must be a glutton for punishment.
Seriously.
I already struggle with church, and the inch deep relationships, and the digging in the word until it begins to hurt and then changing the subject, and the materialism of the church while it preaches that we live by faith, and...well, you get the idea.
So what do I do? I start reading "Creature of the Word: The Jesus-Centered Church" I do this knowing that Matt Chandler is one of the authors, and he is going to say things that will get me more stirred up, all the while knowing how important it is to be a part of a church.
Short of moving to Dallas, this is going to be tough.
So it is time to look at another book. If I can keep from going crazy, I will blog some quotes as I have time.
This should be interesting.
If anyone is interested, here is the site for the book trailer. And by the way, when did books get trailers?
And here is a link to Tim Challies review of the book. So don't just take my word for it.
Seriously.
I already struggle with church, and the inch deep relationships, and the digging in the word until it begins to hurt and then changing the subject, and the materialism of the church while it preaches that we live by faith, and...well, you get the idea.
So what do I do? I start reading "Creature of the Word: The Jesus-Centered Church" I do this knowing that Matt Chandler is one of the authors, and he is going to say things that will get me more stirred up, all the while knowing how important it is to be a part of a church.
Short of moving to Dallas, this is going to be tough.
So it is time to look at another book. If I can keep from going crazy, I will blog some quotes as I have time.
This should be interesting.
If anyone is interested, here is the site for the book trailer. And by the way, when did books get trailers?
And here is a link to Tim Challies review of the book. So don't just take my word for it.
Monday, March 24, 2014
Detached
I am finding myself becoming more and more detached from evangelical Christianity. (See last post)
I don't like that idea, because I know that to Jesus the church is important. But he also spent a lot of time confronting the religious leaders of the day.
I try to look at his example, but need to understand my own imperfection as well. It's that whole thing about worrying about the speck in my brother's eye while having a plank in my own. Problem is, once the plank has been there for a while, you kinda get used to it.
It's quite a dilemma. Wanting to share what I believe the Gospel to mean while not making enemies in the process. I need time to think. To pray.
I don't like that idea, because I know that to Jesus the church is important. But he also spent a lot of time confronting the religious leaders of the day.
I try to look at his example, but need to understand my own imperfection as well. It's that whole thing about worrying about the speck in my brother's eye while having a plank in my own. Problem is, once the plank has been there for a while, you kinda get used to it.
It's quite a dilemma. Wanting to share what I believe the Gospel to mean while not making enemies in the process. I need time to think. To pray.
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Love your neighbor?
God has such an interesting sense of humor.
After attending our Sunday School classes dinner at a local eatery last week, I was a little put off by the behavior of a few of the class members. I happened to be facing the other way, so I did not see the sight in question, but the fella opposite me did, and made it a point to comment about. Apparently, the moon was showing in a way that would make a plummer blush on a gentleman who had just gotten up to use the restroom. Comments and laughter continued as he made his way to the door, where he paused a few moments before exiting. But some of the commentors did not notice this and continued making remarks. I wondered if he heard and understood that they were talking about him.
So today's Sunday School lesson was about loving your neighbor. The point was made that this is more than just loving people metaphorically. It was more than just loving people in far away places. It was about what you do right here at home. In fact, our "homework" was to find out our neighbors' names (the ones who live right by you) and something interesting about them.
My neighbor sat at a table in a restaurant. He did not dress as well as some of the others there.
A woman who does not live in our neighborhood was in need. We did not know what to do, so we went to talk to one of the pastors for advice. Their advice was simple, have her call some local government agencies to see how they could help, because we surely did not want to risk our savings or our children's needs to take on this family. How neighborly.
I guess I should be glad that this thing called Christianity is so much easier than the Bible actually makes it seem. But somehow I am not. Somehow it bothers me. But maybe I am alone it that. And that bothers me too.
After attending our Sunday School classes dinner at a local eatery last week, I was a little put off by the behavior of a few of the class members. I happened to be facing the other way, so I did not see the sight in question, but the fella opposite me did, and made it a point to comment about. Apparently, the moon was showing in a way that would make a plummer blush on a gentleman who had just gotten up to use the restroom. Comments and laughter continued as he made his way to the door, where he paused a few moments before exiting. But some of the commentors did not notice this and continued making remarks. I wondered if he heard and understood that they were talking about him.
So today's Sunday School lesson was about loving your neighbor. The point was made that this is more than just loving people metaphorically. It was more than just loving people in far away places. It was about what you do right here at home. In fact, our "homework" was to find out our neighbors' names (the ones who live right by you) and something interesting about them.
My neighbor sat at a table in a restaurant. He did not dress as well as some of the others there.
A woman who does not live in our neighborhood was in need. We did not know what to do, so we went to talk to one of the pastors for advice. Their advice was simple, have her call some local government agencies to see how they could help, because we surely did not want to risk our savings or our children's needs to take on this family. How neighborly.
I guess I should be glad that this thing called Christianity is so much easier than the Bible actually makes it seem. But somehow I am not. Somehow it bothers me. But maybe I am alone it that. And that bothers me too.
Saturday, February 1, 2014
To leave or not to leave?
Revelant Magazine recently posted an article, 5 Really Bad Reasons to Leave Your Church.
Since I am not stranger to this issue, I thought I would offer some thoughts.
Reason 1: I am not being fed.
Here is the last paragraph of the article:
To leave a church because you’re not getting "enough" is a cop out. Your primary call in the church is to contribute, not just to consume. As a Christian, you shouldn’t require spoon-feeding for the rest of your life. Eventually you need to learn how to feed yourself so that, in time, you can actually feed others. Remember, your call is not just to be a disciple but to make disciples.
While I wholeheartedly agree with what is said here, I think it does not look at the problem from a big enough view. If you are at a church and believe that you are not being fed, why is that so? Is it merely a matter of you don't care for the pastor's delivery style or is it something deeper? I think what is preached from the pulpit is of ultimate importance, and I think Jesus would agree. Did he not chastise the Pharisees and Scribes for putting burdens on the people that they themselves could not carry? (Luke 11:46)
I believe theology matters. If you feel that you are swimming in the kiddie pool when you listen to what is being taught, what does that say about what others are hearing (and believing). If all that is preached is a moralistic or theraputic message that does not honor the true heart of the gospel, does that hinder or even counter your ability to evangelize others, because eventually they might want to attend your church? Can you even contribute when pastors with low self-esteem are frightened by the fact that you do not let them spoon-feed you their brand of Christianity?
I agree that church hopping is not a good thing. I believe the choice of church is a deep and personal decision. I think this article minimizes the fact that our first responsibility is to God, and sometimes a change is needed. Jesus did not advocate "pulling up the weeds," (Matthew 13:24-30) so I do not believe that it is our job to fix a church by creating disruption. Sometimes a move is the best out. Attending a church is not like being married. I am married to Christ, not a church, denomination, or pastor. He is the only one I will not leave.
Your thoughts?
Since I am not stranger to this issue, I thought I would offer some thoughts.
Reason 1: I am not being fed.
Here is the last paragraph of the article:
To leave a church because you’re not getting "enough" is a cop out. Your primary call in the church is to contribute, not just to consume. As a Christian, you shouldn’t require spoon-feeding for the rest of your life. Eventually you need to learn how to feed yourself so that, in time, you can actually feed others. Remember, your call is not just to be a disciple but to make disciples.
While I wholeheartedly agree with what is said here, I think it does not look at the problem from a big enough view. If you are at a church and believe that you are not being fed, why is that so? Is it merely a matter of you don't care for the pastor's delivery style or is it something deeper? I think what is preached from the pulpit is of ultimate importance, and I think Jesus would agree. Did he not chastise the Pharisees and Scribes for putting burdens on the people that they themselves could not carry? (Luke 11:46)
I believe theology matters. If you feel that you are swimming in the kiddie pool when you listen to what is being taught, what does that say about what others are hearing (and believing). If all that is preached is a moralistic or theraputic message that does not honor the true heart of the gospel, does that hinder or even counter your ability to evangelize others, because eventually they might want to attend your church? Can you even contribute when pastors with low self-esteem are frightened by the fact that you do not let them spoon-feed you their brand of Christianity?
I agree that church hopping is not a good thing. I believe the choice of church is a deep and personal decision. I think this article minimizes the fact that our first responsibility is to God, and sometimes a change is needed. Jesus did not advocate "pulling up the weeds," (Matthew 13:24-30) so I do not believe that it is our job to fix a church by creating disruption. Sometimes a move is the best out. Attending a church is not like being married. I am married to Christ, not a church, denomination, or pastor. He is the only one I will not leave.
Your thoughts?
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