I don't know what this will end up being, probably because I am mad. I mean real mad at the moment. Have you ever been that way? You see something that just really chaps you "lips" and you just can't get over it. Anyway, there's really nothing wrong with anger as long as it doesn't lead to sin. Jesus himself even got angry when people disrespected the house of God. I mean he tore the place up, turning over tables and physically beating men with a whip. You know, that's how I feel today!
I'm not angry at the water problems in Kenya, the homelessness in Atlanta or even that I had to spend $130 on my "stray" cat yesterday. Even though all of these bother me, they are not the cause for my unsettled spirit this morning.
I AM ANGRY AT THE CHURCH!!!!!!!!
I am angry because we operate without vision and passion. We suppose that the Gospel is safe and that our environments are supposed to follow suit. We are a safe place for safe people and any compromise to that plan sends us into survival mode. We supply children with coloring pages, youth with ski trips, college kids a covered dish, and adults get the very best part....meaningless worship and shallow messages. I dont' know why this is bothering me more today than yesterday, but it is. Maybe it's because of the study I have been doing every morning about the Kingdom of Heaven.
Matthew 11:12 says that "From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing..."
The kingdom of heaven is a force to be reckoned with and it is advancing throughout human history. But we find ourselves like those teacher of the law in Jesus' day. He said to them in Matthew 15 "You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men."
I am just weary of working the harvest fields for church membership and another prospective tither. Jesus would have us havest souls and not numbers then he would actually have us walk with them on a discipleshp process that finds them victorious in their faith. But, that's a little to dangerous you see. That kind of radical Christianity calls us to stick out a little to much. It makes us appear as if our faith is more important than who wins the ballgame on Friday night.
This kind of barbaric faith resulted in the death of Jesus and all of his disciples.
WHAT HAS IT COST YOU?
Matthew 5:10-16, 8:18-22, 9:35-38, 19:16-26
PG
1 comment:
Ok, since no one else is commenting, I guess I will! I took Greg's advice and have been spending some time in the word--not tithing yet, but more time than usual. Some while at work--(pretty good access at Christianity.com) and a little at home. Today I was reading about Vision as it pertains to leadership (I have a Leadership Study Bible) and came across these verses:
1 Chronicles 28:
* 9.
* "And Solomon, my son, get to know the God of your ancestors. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and with a willing mind. For the LORD sees every heart and understands and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.
* 10.
* So take this seriously. The LORD has chosen you to build a Temple as his sanctuary. Be strong, and do the work."
This reminds me of what Greg, Mark, and the rest of us are doing--building our age's version of the temple. Notice, though, that David says to know and serve the Lord FIRST--then build. The final admonition is to "do the work." It won't just come, you have to "pay the price!"
May everyone be blessed in this week! Scot
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