I have noticed that Facebook has provided a great avenue for those who like to point out the flaws of the church to make their wisdom known. Daily I see people who find cute ways to criticize the church and it's members. That's awesome. I'm glad we have so many ways to express our opinions and influence others, it truly is an amazing time to be alive.
Here is what I would like to share on the topic today:
1. It takes no spiritual gifting to be a critic. Any fool can find fault in others. Anybody who can't see serious flaws in me is just blind! As a matter of fact, I invite you to give me a call if you're having trouble and I'll help you out because I am sure that you can't see even a fraction of the short-comings in my life.
2. I have never been afraid to admit I'm wrong, nor to learn from others. So here is what I would like you to do: If you are concerned about how the body of Christ has polluted the teachings of Christ and become irrelevant, how about you give us a new paradigm. Not with words mind you, words are cheap, show us how to do it correctly.
I'm not being a wise guy here, I'm totally serious. I really do think we need to rethink they way we "do" Christianity. I'm looking for some trailblazers to help lead the way. I've been thinking and praying about it a lot, we need to do better at "spreading everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of God". A lot of the aroma we're spreading around doesn't have much of a heavenly scent to it. I guess that includes those who seem to be making the case that the most spiritual thing we can be doing is pointing out how messed up everyone else is.
Talk is cheap. Let's shake things up. The church was God's idea. If it has become irrelevant then we need to figure out how to make it relevant again. If you're not willing to do that then it's hard for me to take any of your criticisms seriously.
This came together in my head during yesterday. It is about Jesus, The Christ, His church, you and me:
ReplyDelete"This morning I was sorrow full and with many people in sorrow.
I was reminded of Jesus in the Garden in Matthew 26:38 He said to three companions, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me. Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
Yesterday was a lesson that I can be hurting but I am not alone. Jesus was hurting, but He was not alone. I can feel the beginnings of anxiety, but I am not alone. I can feel the beginnings of doubt, but I am not alone. I can feel weariness, but I am not alone.
In Second Corinthians 1, Paul tells me about the Comforter, who is my Lord, but it is also you and I.....His church. "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort."
It is my opinion that men especially struggle with being comforted, with comforting others. We seem to be UN Comfort able with the concept of comfort. I am believing it because we are too much of ourselves. Me self. Praise the Lord for His church.