I hate diets! I turn 35 on Monday and I know that I need to change the way I eat. I drink way to many Dr. Peppers a day and I eat bad food. So, starting this Monday I have decided to change my eating lifestyle. I don't really want to but I know that this change is going to be for the best.
Often times when Church people hear the word change they tend to get a bit scared or nervous. As I am getting older I see that change is not a bad thing when it is good for the body of Christ. As I look at the Church in general there are many things that I would like to change. I would like to see all of the Good Shepherd's sheep in one pen going the same direction. I would like for us to be more outward focused (not that being inward focused is a bad thing). I would like to see us to have more influence in the world. My list can go on and on. But I will stop.
What are some areas you think the Church needs to change in and why?
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
I'm glad you mentioned changing your lifestyle instead of "dieting". Make no mistake about it, diets do not work. You must change your lifestyle if you want this to work.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, a good start would be to do four things:
1. No more sodas. This includes diet sodas too. If you have to have a caffeine kick, drink tea. You'll be less likely to sugar-up tea as opposed to coffee.
2. No fast food. EVER. Fast food is crap and the way they make it taste "good" is to load it up with sugar and salt. Stay away.
3. No white bread. Did you know that bread makers make white bread by bleaching the flour? Yes, actual bleach. Start buying whole grain breads. Whole grain tastes better anyway.
4. Incorporate a salad into as many meals as possible. You can have some croutons, but no cheese please. Also, try to go with a light dressing.
Now here's the hard part. You're going to go through a period where you will CRAVE fast food, sodas, sugar, etc. This time will pass if you stay committed. If you stay committed, I promise you the pounds will fall off in a hurry. Good luck.
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ReplyDeleteUnderstand addiction. Just as addiction to certain foods make change hard the church has many addictions that will hurt to give up.
ReplyDeleteUnderstand how destructive not giving up these addictions are.
A twelve step plan to church change would be good.
For starters, good luck with the lifestyle change! It is a very rewarding process, once you make it through the toughest withdrawals. For starters though, no more of your favorite Starbucks drinks... those things are just full of calories! Yummy calories, but still calories!
ReplyDeleteAbout the church changes...
I'd like to see the church make a BIG shift in the way they spend their money! And when I say "church" I mean the organizations as well as the individuals. I believe that more thought and prayer needs to go into each dollar that a church (or an individual Christian) decides to spend. Asking...
-How could this money be spend OUTSIDE the church instead (or OUTSIDE my home?)??
-Could this money help the poor, the needy, the orphan or the widow? (as God calls us to take care of those people!)
-Is this money going to tell visitors (to our buildings and our homes) that we care more about ourselves or more about others?
Ultimately, we need to be seekers of how we can spend our money to further God's kingdom and make a difference in this broken world, rather than spend it on things that we cannot take with us into eternity! I am totally speaking of myself here too, so don't think I'm on some soap box, but the point is, this change needs to be seen in the individuals that can then impact the church! We need to be speaking up! Sermons need to be about this... convicting and challenging! We need to be living differently...
-taking care of our bodies, the temples that God gave us!
-living within our means and not in debt
-giving abundantly!
One quote I'll leave you with that I want to write on my bathroom mirror and inside my checkbook and on the top of my budget sheet:
"Quit asking 'What can I spare' and start asking 'What's it going to take, God?' "
Then, we need to LISTEN and OBEY! Seriously consider how we are giving... are we giving FIRST, or only what we can 'spare'?
Oh, and one more thing: We visited a church that I won't name, but it was EMBARRASSING! We attended a meeting in only one of their 5 youth rooms, this one labeled '2nd and 3rd grade'. You know what we saw? A stage, with a sound booth full of top scale equipment, an amazing amount of lighting for that stage, two screens for viewing whatever it is they show, 3 foosball tables, 2 air hockey tables, and... brace yourself... 35 televisions, each with their own Xbox, along with 2 controllers and a set of games for each of the 35 tvs. REALLY you ask... YES! Is that not insane? You know what the first 'slide' was of the presentation we went to? It said, "BIG churches can make a BIG difference" HAHA! So my first thought was, what did all that technology (for just one of their 5 youth rooms) cost them and how could that money have better served God's kingdom?
Now yes, I do agree that church should have some bit of a "fun" factor for children so that they desire to go and then can learn "why" we go and continue on in their faith... but REALLY??? All that money spend on entertainment? What are they teaching those kids and parents that choose to attend that church? I can tell you (and this is seriously a prayer of mine) that if OUR church ever starts to grow so much that we change our standards and start spending like that, I hope more of us would be able to stand up and say, this isn't right! It was embarrassing!
Now that I've told Dustin all that I know about eating healthy, I guess I will answer the church part of his question.
ReplyDeleteI think the church needs to understand its role in this earth. The church needs to understand both what it IS and what it is NOT.
The church functions to serve as the hands and feet of Jesus. The church does NOT function to serve the its members a dose of comfortable luxury.
Let's say that you're from France and you've come here to America for one month. During that one month, you can make as much money as humanly possible with one caveat...once you board the plane back to France, you cannot take ANYTHING back with you. No luggage, nothing. However, while you are in America you do have the option of wiring your money to your bank in France.
So, what do you do? Do you buy a large apartment for your one month stay in the States? Do you put up expensive paintings on the wall and furnish the apartment with luxurious furniture? Do you eat out at high-class restaurants every day? No! Let me rephrase that, HELL NO! You would be a fool to waste your time and resources on furnishing a one-month lease.
So, I ask you church (myself included since I am a member of the church), why do you live in such luxury? Are you going to take your fancy cars, houses, clothes, electronics and other "stuff" with you when you die? No? THEN WHY ARE WE STORING UP "treasure" HERE ON EARTH WHEN WE CAN BE STORING UP TRUE TREASURE IN HEAVEN?
What is it going to take for us to wake up to the reality that there are 4.5 BILLION people on this earth who do not know Jesus and are doomed to an eternal hell? When are we going to wake up to the fact that EVERY DAY there will be 30,000 children who die from either starvation or preventable disease? When are we going to wake up to the fact that there are 1,000 people in our small city that live in TENTS out in the woods?
Are those people not worth more than our houses, cars, clothes, stuff?
Matthew 15:32 - "And Jesus called His disciples to Him, and said, "I feel compassion for the people, because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way."
Jesus had compassion for the people, so he fed them, he met their needs? Shall we, as a people who have been given so much not do the same?
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ReplyDeleteSG -
ReplyDeleteWithout running the risk of offending someone (heaven forbid :)), can you please elaborate a bit more on what you mean? I'm sure I can name a handful of "traditions" off the top of my head that you're referencing, but I would like to know more specifically what you think should change. You say "We won't allow women to have a voice". Do these limits apply only to corporate Sunday and Wednesday worship?
BTW, I'm not trying to put you on the spot and chances are I will be on the same page (or at least very close) to you and Dave. Feel free to send your response to me in an email if you feel that is more appropriate, or not. Just interested.
Dave - I agree we need to teach our members to be Disciples (followers) of Jesus. My question is this; How do we train the people to be disciples? What does it take to convict someone to be a disciple? Also, I wounder how strong the Church would be if ALL Churches could work together?
ReplyDeleteDarin - Let's get to work on a "Celebrate Recovery" Program for the church. Great insight.
Jessica - I love the quote, I may have to borrow it. I think the problem with money is that we see it as "ours" and not a blessing from God. When we see it as a blessing from God, I think then peope will view the dollar different. Also, I have a book in my office called "Passing The Plate" it gives some crazy stats on if each church person gave 10%. Remind me and I will show it to you.
Jeffery - Great post and I will give you an AMEN!!! As I said in my original post the church has become to inward focused (not that it is a bad thing). I think we have a hard time understaing what Compassion is also. Those numbers you gave are staggering (maybe I need to get off my laptop and do someting about it?).
Lady Willy - Tradition absolutley kills us. We have become more and more like the religious leaders of Jesus's time. We care more about the traditions than we do the Scriptures. Thanks.
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ReplyDeleteDustin... you want a crazy stat?
ReplyDeleteYou know that if each church in the United States (not church member, but just CHURCH) took care of or provided the home/care for ONE foster child or orphan, then there would not be one orphan left in the United States!
Seriously... one church per orphan!
I don't know about you, but I think that's pretty amazing!
I'd be very interested to see the book you are speaking of. I've heard people make comments that "Well, it doesn't actually SAY 10% so you should really just give what you can." or "Oh, it is just SO hard to write that check some months, but I know God wants me to." Where is the joy in THAT kind of giving??
Great post btw. I thought about this one a lot. I agree with all of the posts so far, except about giving up fast food. That's just heretical!
ReplyDeleteSeriously, I think true change has to start with us. We gotta let God change us. We need to change how we see. We need to change how we love.
We need to see people as Christ sees people. We get less bogged down in all the minute details and squabbles. We don't get trapped in religious arguments. I keep coming back to the woman at the well. She tries to throw out religious arguments because he's hitting a little too close to home. But Jesus never bites. He just keeps going deeper. He keeps seeing who she is and what she needs. I see churches today spending MILLIONS on buildings while people around them are hungry! That's a fundamental vision problem! We don't see the world the way Jesus sees the world!
We gotta change how we love. I heard a great sermon Sunday about loving my enemy. I thought I was pretty good at that, mainly because I don't have a lot of enemies. But what about the guy who disagrees with you. (On women's roles, musical instruments, health care reform, or whatever!) What about the guy who abused your child? What about the parent who beat you? The more I think about it, the more I realize we don't truly know how to love like Jesus. In fact, I'm kinda scared of it.
I need spiritual change. That's the change the church needs to seek. I need to change myself before I can be an agent of positive change anywhere. If I can't change my sight and change my love, what am I but a clanging gong?
Dustin asked the following questions...
ReplyDelete"1. How do we train the people to be disciples? 2. What does it take to convict someone to be a disciple?"
1. I think we could use a real, in-depth study of what Jesus says it means to be His disciple. Luke 14 comes to mind. All the while, we can provide opportunities for people to put their faith to action. ie. feeding the local poor at the park.
2. Only the Holy Spirit can convict someone to get off their blessed assurance (Ed Stetzer's words) and be a disciple of Jesus. Truly, a great sermon may spark some enthusiasm, but an emotional high will fade after a couple of days. Giving your time, your money and your life to serve as Jesus' disciple is contrary to our human nature. Therefore, we must deny ourselves and submit to the Holy Spirit in all things.
Jesus plainly say "If you love me you will obey me." When will we obey? And if we are not obeying, do we really know Jesus?
Sometimes difficult questions need to be asked.
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ReplyDeleteI have actually heard a pastor say to his congregation during a Sunday sermon the following...(paraphrased),
ReplyDelete"If you are going to be a member of this church, then you are going to join a ministry. You are going to serve not just this church body, but the community as well. If your idea of church is to show up on Sundays and nothing else, then you need to find another church. We have no place for you here."
I wonder what the reaction would be if this was spoken to the church. Seriously, Jesus said that if you love me you will obey me. Why not get in the pulpit and plainly say, "This church is going to send its members out into the community to be the hands and feet of Jesus. This church is going to serve and if you're not interested in serving then you need to find somewhere else to go."
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ReplyDeleteI understand your argument completely Dave. I wasn't REALLY advocating the idea of telling people to get the heck out. But I do question some people's motives in why they attend church.
ReplyDeleteIn fact, church on the whole has become very selfish when I believe God established the church to be completely SELFLESS.
Let me explain.
When Jesus called his twelve disciples, did He first make sure that they had a complete understanding of Scripture before sending them out into the world? Did He help them get their affairs and families in perfect working order before sending them out? No and No.
Jesus rounded these guys up and basically said 'Go to all nations and preach the Gospel. By the way, don't worry about what to say because the Holy Spirit will be there to help you along.' (New Jeff Version)
That's what the church was in the first century. Yeah, a body of Believers would meet from time to time for encouragement. But, the rest of the time, they were out amongst the world proclaiming the Gospel.
So, where and when did we get off course? Church today feels more like a social club. Let's go meet with other like-minded people who look and dress like us. We can hang out, shoot the breeze and mark 'church' off our lists as we drive to Luby's for lunch. Oh, and make sure the A/C is set to 71.5 degrees because I like to worship in luxury.
You ask , "Is there a way we can train people to get busy working for Jesus without telling people to hit the road?"
Yes, we can teach what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. If we took a poll of our church on what it means to be a disciple of Jesus, I think the answers would be very enlightening. Because, truth be told, I don't think many people really know what it means.
Also, we can continue to push outward-focusing ministries like feeding the poor, CASA, the prison ministry, etc. And we can create new outward-focusing ministries. Any suggestions?
I certainly do not have everything figured out. In fact, I have things that I am wrestling with in my own life that pertain to being disobedient to the call of the disciple. However, I do know this...the church does not exist to serve its members. The church exists to serve God. And God has commanded us to take His message of truth out into the world.
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ReplyDeleteI agree completely David. I think that maybe part of the problem is that too many of us view salvation as a "I get into Heaven" card and then leave it at that. I think this misses the point. Yes, salvation assures you a seat in God's kingdom, but that's not all.
ReplyDeleteEphesians 2 says:
"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."
I think we all too often forget the second half of the above verses. "Created in Christ Jesus for good works." God has called us to Himself to serve and obey His commands. He has prepared works for us to do and I think we need to focus more on this aspect. That's part of the reason that I earlier stated that the church had become selfish.
And I'm guilty of this too. Too often I have viewed my salvation in the sense of "Whoo hoo, I'm going to Heaven. I have been declared righteous by God. Alright, what's on TV?" My focus is currently changing because the Holy Spirit has been convicting me of my laziness.
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ReplyDeleteWhich circles around to the original question; What are some areas you think the Church needs to change in? Too often our churches are focusing on the exterior. Kinda sounds like the points we're making about the indivuals within the church, right? People are not looking for the best gym, coolest worship, or the flashiest programs. People are not crying out for better projection systems, more complete kitchens, or more fashionable buildings. People are looking for real, relevant, life changing, soul touching, relationships. Relationship with other people as well as relationship with their creator. As long as our churches focus on creating better consumer presentations, don't you think our church members will focus on simply being consumers?
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