I realize that I haven't written anything "fresh" in a while. Actually, I have, but it isn't on here. It is in the form of term papers and book reports for seminary, systems and policies for church. It has sucked. Today as I almost forced myself to type, I looked across the desk and saw my journal from college. I haven't really looked at this thing in about 3 years. However, as I read through the pages, I remembered the moments and emotions I was feeling when I originally wrote the words that were on those pages. I am going to type them for you here. I want you to know that these are fresh words from my heart today. I still agree.
The Christian religion contains such a vast array of denominations and divisions. There are so many, in fact, that a town of a few hundred believers needs 8 different buildings that would seat ten times the amount that could actually attend. These divisions come from stupid, small, insignificant details like the color of carpet or time at which the service starts and ends. Denominations are also caused by meaningful, huge reasons. Without the protestant reformation we might still be buying indulgences or speaking to a dead woman instead of lifting our hands and hearts to a risen savior. For a moment forget the causes...
Since I have been alive I have not seen with my own eyes any significant split in a church. I have, however, argued with people who claim every denominational tie under the sun...I think. Why do we argue so much? Why is there a cause for confrontation? What is the Gospel all about? When we understand this mystery we will begin to unlock the chains of division. In John 3 Jesus explains that He was not sent to condemn the world, but to give life. What is life? Breathing? Or so much more?
The "Good News" is that we, this sinful people, separated from God were redeemed. Galatians 3:13 states that Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the law. The law is the image of perfections that God demands. God is Holy! Jesus was born, under law, to live the life that no man could. He fulfilled the law by living a sinless life, something no human has or ever will do.
The good news is that we can come into the presence of this Holy God by the blood of Christ (Hebrews 9).
If our churches don't have the presence of God, if the people in our congregations are not communing with God, if there is no life, no passion, no intimacy with God, then nothing else matters. Example: worrying about where, when, how fast a car drives without even having gas in the tank. The car isn't what it was built for until it has fuel. It can't be a car until it drives. Until the car is fueled, it is ridiculous to even think about driving it or anythign that comes along with driving.
12/30/03
Showing posts with label church. Show all posts
Showing posts with label church. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Saturday, December 9, 2006
Emerge or Resurrect
Whether or not someone believes that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, Savior, or coming King, their opinion does not negate the fact that He did what He said He would do. In Matthew 16 Jesus claimed that He would build a church. Not only did Jesus the Nazarene continue to have a small group of adherents even after His public killing, but almost 2000 years later, He is still the most famous human being to walk the earth with millions upon millions of followers. His name has rung and will continue to ring throughout the ages.
And Jesus declared that He would build a church. And He did. And this Church has stood the test of time. Yes, it has had its moments and "dark ages," but the Church has stood strong in the face of religious wars, enlightenments, scientific theories and other foes that wished to rid the world of her name. The Church is truly that bethel of strength that Jesus claimed even the gates of Hades couldn't overthrow.
In a general sense, the Church is alive and active, functioning in the purposes of God and inching closer everyday to that Day when her Head and Husband will come to gather and judge. But is this the case in a more specific sense as we look out upon the landscape of Christianity today where we live? For years now, there have been two extremes that have done more damage than good to the image of the Church.
One extreme is dead and dying. Dead in the sense of spiritual fervor; this extreme denies the power of the Holy Spirit by claiming He no longer distributes His gifts. Their 'worship' services have a rote script of stand up, sit down, sing in perfect structure, bow, bend, bore. This extreme is dying (probably better than worse) in the sense that many of those who hold to this school of though have grown old in year and therefore are hopefully going to a place much more exciting than where they left. Between losing numbers through death and losing numbers because of discontent many doors to many meeting places have been shutting.
The other extreme has made an oxymoron out of itself. It has come to be defined by jewelry, fancy suits, big, colored hair, and prosperity messages. These plate-passing prosperity pulpiters claim that their religion which was started by a homeless man, deemed a man of sorrows, and whose adherents claim the desire of total conformity to is now somehow about each Christian's personal comfort and possessions. Accompanying these ideas are those that spirituality is measured by "the power" that you possess to work miracles, heal the sick, speak in a heavenly language or to be the mouthpiece of God Himself. There is an air of a hierarchy they have created in the election of Christ.
Although both of these camps can be labeled as "extremes," many Christians have been effected by one or both of them and therefore have a bad taste in their spiritual mouths and resist anyone and anything that in the slightest way resembles either one. Amidst all this, almost out of nowhere is a call to reform. It has been labeled the "Emergent Church Movement" or "Emerging Church Movement" and for many has been another option to the headache that has been created in finding a place to corporately worship, find fellowship, sow financially, and grow in one's walk with Christ. Though this movement has many different "denominations" in a movement that claims no denomination, those who are in this movement have at least one thing in common. They are looking for "new ways" to do church and to reach the unchurched.
I share in many frustrations of much of those who have positioned themselves with this movement. Useless traditions that were never the plans of Christ have become the centerpieces or our worship services and the "weightier issues" that Jesus warned the Pharisees of neglecting have become our stumbling blocks. Extremes have tainted the waters of pure and holy worship and left many jaded and anti-organized religion.
But for those of us who love Jesus with all our hearts, souls, and minds, we must be about His business. We must stay grounded in the Truth of the Scriptures. We must never neglect to speak unapologetically about the "lost" and not the unchurched; even in the face of offending someone. We must pray earnestly to God and ask for the power of the Holy Spirit to come and resurrect what seems lame and lifeless to so many: the body of Christ, His Church.
We cannot let our generation emerge into a message stemming deep from the its roots of postmodern thought rather than the Truth Jesus and His Prophets and apostles gave us in His Word. We must seek to save that which is lost while at the same time viewing ourselves in sober judgment; found only because of God's grace. We must understand where we stand before a Holy God: depraved and not good, unworthy and hellbent, guilty and not innocent, incapable of becoming good or saving ourselves. It must be from this understanding that our missiology stems: here and only here.
So I pray, let the Church resurrect to her Glorious state prescribed by Jesus her maker and let those of us who desire this resurrection strive to honor our Lord Jesus Christ above all else. Let our hearts' desire be a movement of purity, righteousness and peace. And may God receive all the Glory. Amen
And Jesus declared that He would build a church. And He did. And this Church has stood the test of time. Yes, it has had its moments and "dark ages," but the Church has stood strong in the face of religious wars, enlightenments, scientific theories and other foes that wished to rid the world of her name. The Church is truly that bethel of strength that Jesus claimed even the gates of Hades couldn't overthrow.
In a general sense, the Church is alive and active, functioning in the purposes of God and inching closer everyday to that Day when her Head and Husband will come to gather and judge. But is this the case in a more specific sense as we look out upon the landscape of Christianity today where we live? For years now, there have been two extremes that have done more damage than good to the image of the Church.
One extreme is dead and dying. Dead in the sense of spiritual fervor; this extreme denies the power of the Holy Spirit by claiming He no longer distributes His gifts. Their 'worship' services have a rote script of stand up, sit down, sing in perfect structure, bow, bend, bore. This extreme is dying (probably better than worse) in the sense that many of those who hold to this school of though have grown old in year and therefore are hopefully going to a place much more exciting than where they left. Between losing numbers through death and losing numbers because of discontent many doors to many meeting places have been shutting.
The other extreme has made an oxymoron out of itself. It has come to be defined by jewelry, fancy suits, big, colored hair, and prosperity messages. These plate-passing prosperity pulpiters claim that their religion which was started by a homeless man, deemed a man of sorrows, and whose adherents claim the desire of total conformity to is now somehow about each Christian's personal comfort and possessions. Accompanying these ideas are those that spirituality is measured by "the power" that you possess to work miracles, heal the sick, speak in a heavenly language or to be the mouthpiece of God Himself. There is an air of a hierarchy they have created in the election of Christ.
Although both of these camps can be labeled as "extremes," many Christians have been effected by one or both of them and therefore have a bad taste in their spiritual mouths and resist anyone and anything that in the slightest way resembles either one. Amidst all this, almost out of nowhere is a call to reform. It has been labeled the "Emergent Church Movement" or "Emerging Church Movement" and for many has been another option to the headache that has been created in finding a place to corporately worship, find fellowship, sow financially, and grow in one's walk with Christ. Though this movement has many different "denominations" in a movement that claims no denomination, those who are in this movement have at least one thing in common. They are looking for "new ways" to do church and to reach the unchurched.
I share in many frustrations of much of those who have positioned themselves with this movement. Useless traditions that were never the plans of Christ have become the centerpieces or our worship services and the "weightier issues" that Jesus warned the Pharisees of neglecting have become our stumbling blocks. Extremes have tainted the waters of pure and holy worship and left many jaded and anti-organized religion.
But for those of us who love Jesus with all our hearts, souls, and minds, we must be about His business. We must stay grounded in the Truth of the Scriptures. We must never neglect to speak unapologetically about the "lost" and not the unchurched; even in the face of offending someone. We must pray earnestly to God and ask for the power of the Holy Spirit to come and resurrect what seems lame and lifeless to so many: the body of Christ, His Church.
We cannot let our generation emerge into a message stemming deep from the its roots of postmodern thought rather than the Truth Jesus and His Prophets and apostles gave us in His Word. We must seek to save that which is lost while at the same time viewing ourselves in sober judgment; found only because of God's grace. We must understand where we stand before a Holy God: depraved and not good, unworthy and hellbent, guilty and not innocent, incapable of becoming good or saving ourselves. It must be from this understanding that our missiology stems: here and only here.
So I pray, let the Church resurrect to her Glorious state prescribed by Jesus her maker and let those of us who desire this resurrection strive to honor our Lord Jesus Christ above all else. Let our hearts' desire be a movement of purity, righteousness and peace. And may God receive all the Glory. Amen
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