I've been thinking a lot about the state of Christianity and have even gone so far sometimes to say that I don't want to be called a Christian because of what being a Christian has become. It's become too much about social issues and wealth and not about Jesus the Christ who came to give His life for us and draw us into relationship with Father and with His Spirit. I saw a great blog post on Ted Dekker's blog. He has some compelling things to say. Here are a few quotes from his post. If you want more check out the link.
"Unfortunately, in the eyes of many, Christianity is now far better known for much more and much less than love. Not all of the associations are bad, mind you, but they are a far cry from the message of love that ultimately cost Jesus his life."
"Our stories are not about pot-lucks and Sunday school playground squabbles, but about that monster called hate and his futile attempts to dash the hopes of the Great Lover. Perhaps you could call us post-Christian Believers, defined solely by the man we follow, not the institution that bears his name."
I love this last quote because I don't want to be defined by an institution. In fact I believe that is exactly what Jesus came to destroy: the institution. I want to follow Christ and have relationship with Father and with His Spirit.
In another article by Francis Chan he talks about being like Christ. Here is one of his quotes.
"As Christians in America, we often complain about how antagonistic people are toward Christ. Personally, I'm not sure that Americans are really rejecting Christ. Maybe they just haven't seen Him."
May we be and show Jesus to people who need Him!
5.12.2009
Hopeless
This past week my oldest son was very sick (with some sort of virus) and had to go to the E.R. once; the hospital once and the Dr.'s office numerous times. Suffice it to say it wasn't a very relaxing or fun week for my wife and I. There were many times when my son was throwing up what he had just drank and other times when he was throwing up nothing (dry heaving). To see my son in such pain and agony was incredibly hard. I felt absolutely hopeless because I couldn't help him at all. Here was my son, who I would give ANYTHING to switch places with, so sick he was gagging on his own spit and I didn't have anything in my power to be able to change the situation. It is amazing how hopeless something like that makes you feel.
You have no control over the situation-all you have control over is how you respond to what's given to you. How are you going to handle this situation? Thank God for Facebook. My wife and I were able to post our frustrations with his sickness on there and literally hundreds of people were praying for him. And now exactly a week later he is doing much better. I am very thankful for everything that everyone did to help us from the nurses and doctors to all the people who prayed-Thank you!
So going back to my thought on feeling so hopeless-I realized that even in the midst of seemingly hopeless situations (and trust me I realize on a level with some people's hopeless situations its not even close) it is up to us to choose how we respond to that situation. God gives us a choice how do you want to respond to this situation I'm allowing in your life? Are you going to look to me for guidance, help, wisdom or whatever you need? Or are you going to complain and whine and get hurt or bitter with the situation and with life?
I'm definitely not the best one to give advice, cuz I have my shortcomings, however just wanted to share what I went through and what I gleaned from my situation.
You have no control over the situation-all you have control over is how you respond to what's given to you. How are you going to handle this situation? Thank God for Facebook. My wife and I were able to post our frustrations with his sickness on there and literally hundreds of people were praying for him. And now exactly a week later he is doing much better. I am very thankful for everything that everyone did to help us from the nurses and doctors to all the people who prayed-Thank you!
So going back to my thought on feeling so hopeless-I realized that even in the midst of seemingly hopeless situations (and trust me I realize on a level with some people's hopeless situations its not even close) it is up to us to choose how we respond to that situation. God gives us a choice how do you want to respond to this situation I'm allowing in your life? Are you going to look to me for guidance, help, wisdom or whatever you need? Or are you going to complain and whine and get hurt or bitter with the situation and with life?
I'm definitely not the best one to give advice, cuz I have my shortcomings, however just wanted to share what I went through and what I gleaned from my situation.
5.05.2009
Where I've been...
So 2008 and the start of 2009 have been an interesting year for me. I have been rocked to my core about the “traditions” I had always held as biblical values. Let me explain myself. I grew up in Christian house-hold (which I am extremely grateful for) and went to a Christian school till I graduated from high school and then left home to go to (you guessed it) a Christian college. Pretty much my whole life I’ve been involved with what most people would title “lay-ministry”. Working outside the church and yet volunteering or ministering in the church.
This past year I spent a lot of time researching some different “traditions” of the church. Stuff I had actually assumed was bible or at least New Covenant. I am finding that what has been passed down from generation to generation in the church is not necessarily stuff that Jesus wanted passed down. In fact I think a lot of what He came to demolish and destroy has crept back into the religious structure of our day-the American church. Jesus despised the religious structure in His day because it took something that should have been a relationship with His Father and made it into a bunch of rules and regulations that you had to strictly follow to be a part of. I’ve seen that creeping back into the American church and it’s wrong.
I do not believe the church as we know it - is living up to its full potential. I’m not even sure the church as we know it should be in existence-but that’s another post for another time. Where is the relationship? Where is the love? So many times we hear preachers talk about getting the church back to its origins and yet nothing changes, everything remains the same. This is the origins of the church:
Acts 2:42-47:
“They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.”
This is our heritage! Am I saying let’s scrap what we have right now and go back to only meeting in homes? Maybe; to me it depends on the situation i.e. church. Some “churches” should be dismantled. Some are living out the calling that God has placed on them. All of them are called to lead people to Jesus Christ, the Son of God who in turn leads them to relationship with Father. The church is not called to place ridiculous rules and regulations that lead a person to follow a thing rather than Him.
Let’s follow Him and let Him change us into His image. Let’s not wait till He has to come in and destroy our religious structures. Let’s seek Him and ONLY Him!
This past year I spent a lot of time researching some different “traditions” of the church. Stuff I had actually assumed was bible or at least New Covenant. I am finding that what has been passed down from generation to generation in the church is not necessarily stuff that Jesus wanted passed down. In fact I think a lot of what He came to demolish and destroy has crept back into the religious structure of our day-the American church. Jesus despised the religious structure in His day because it took something that should have been a relationship with His Father and made it into a bunch of rules and regulations that you had to strictly follow to be a part of. I’ve seen that creeping back into the American church and it’s wrong.
I do not believe the church as we know it - is living up to its full potential. I’m not even sure the church as we know it should be in existence-but that’s another post for another time. Where is the relationship? Where is the love? So many times we hear preachers talk about getting the church back to its origins and yet nothing changes, everything remains the same. This is the origins of the church:
Acts 2:42-47:
“They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.”
This is our heritage! Am I saying let’s scrap what we have right now and go back to only meeting in homes? Maybe; to me it depends on the situation i.e. church. Some “churches” should be dismantled. Some are living out the calling that God has placed on them. All of them are called to lead people to Jesus Christ, the Son of God who in turn leads them to relationship with Father. The church is not called to place ridiculous rules and regulations that lead a person to follow a thing rather than Him.
Let’s follow Him and let Him change us into His image. Let’s not wait till He has to come in and destroy our religious structures. Let’s seek Him and ONLY Him!
5.04.2009
Welcome Back
Welcome back to my blog. If you've been gone like I have for awhile you'll notice that I'm going to be getting back to the whole reason that I started this blog. To discuss relevant topics. These last few months have been an amazing time on my journey as a disciple of Jesus Christ. I feel like I've learned more these past 6 months than the rest of my life combined. I've read so many good books-we'll be discussing some of those books-that I can't wait to share them with you! So let's walk together in grace and be a part of what God is doing on this earth!
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