Most of the letters we have in the New Testament were written to Churches. Many of these letters discuss what the Church might be doing wrong. What the Church was doing right. Some letters gave instruction on how to do something. And many more things.
My question to you is this, if Paul or another New Testament author were to write a letter to the Church you attend, what might it say?
Just thinking. May the Lord Bless you and keep you.
I think Paul would say the American church is very exclusive. It excludes the poor. It excludes the needy. It excludes those who are "different".
ReplyDeleteTake our own church for example. What do you see in the pews each Sunday? I see 98% white middle-to-upper class Americans who have a lot in common.
Where are the minorities? Where are the poor? Where are the orphans and widows?
These problems are not symptomatic to our church alone. I imagine this is a nation-wide problem and it is a rather damning indictment of the American church. We are very good about "churching" with others just like us. On the other hand, we suck at seeking the lost, the hurting, the sick.
I don't pretend to know what we should do either. I have been rather convicted by these things and my own lack of Jesus-like behavior ever since DW started his blog. You guys are throwing out some meaty stuff and I think we should brainstorm on ways to act on our thoughts. It's high time we become the hands and feet of Jesus.
DISCLAIMER: I love our church family and did not in any way mean to disparage it. However, I do recognize that our church is far from perfect as I suspect most would agree.
Jeff, I agree with your thoughts. I like the image of being the hands and feet of Christ. I think, could be wrong, we're uncomfortable with asking people different than us to come to church. We get nervous because they're in a different place than us or I have heard some say they do not know how to relate to people that are different.
ReplyDeleteI also know, from some things I have read that non-church goers feel like we look down on them.
Thank you for your thoughts.
Maybe we are approaching people the wrong way. In the video you posted, people were being asked if they go to church. Perhaps the question should be "Do you know who Jesus is?" Ultimately, whether a person goes to church does not matter one bit. However, a person's relationship with the Living God is ALL that matters.
ReplyDeleteI think that getting people to simply "go to church" ultimately fails because the person is looking to the church for fullfillment and we (the church) are fallible. Jesus, on the other hand is the essence of perfection. If we can get people to know Jesus, then they will come to "church".
What say you?
I think you're spot on Jeff. I don't recall any of the Apostles are anybody else in the Bible asking people if they wanted to go to Church/Temple/Synagogue instead they preached Jesus and Him crucified. Church does not change people, Jesus does. Maybe we need to invite people to know Jesus instead of an invitation to Church?
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ReplyDeleteand this...ladies and gentlemen...is why Dustin Gist is a stud in my book. Jesus is all over you, bro. It is so evident that you are His by the spiritual fruit that pours out of your heart. I am blessed to know you!
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Something like, "You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked."
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