Further Comment On The Church
These are just a few thoughts about the Church.
I think God would be awfully disappointed at how inaccessable the Church is. As a whole we have managed to seclude ourselves from our own culture and alienate the lost.
I don't drink alcohol (I'm too holy for that)
I don't listen to "secular" music (I'm too holy for that)
I don't watch MTV (I'm too holy for that)
I don't watch R-rated movies (I'm too holy for that)
I burn books with stories about witches (I'm too holy for that)
I make a point to praise the Lord publically (so everyone knows I am full of God's love)
I realize this may come accross a bit antagonistic. While we may not do this intentionally, we really do do it. Are we getting better? Yes. Are our morals slipping? No. Am I suggesting we abandon all moral foundation just to save souls? No. I am not suggesting we start having sex to be able to relate to sexually immoral... or start getting drunk to relate to alcoholics. What I am saying is we can embrace our morals and our culture at the same time. When we pretend we are holy and perfect we make ourselves completely inaccessable to others.
We have to be real people to real people in need of God's love. If we avoid our own cultural common ground and seclude ourselves...or to use a Christian phrase...make ourselves "set apart" how does that help us minister to the lost?
We must meet non-Christians in the common grounds of life...through culture. This is the pattern Christ showed us. I will come love you where you are just how you are. And when my love becomes apparent to you, you will be changed...because my love is perfect.
I hope this made sense. A bit of a ramble. I may have to tidy this post up a bit later.
I think God would be awfully disappointed at how inaccessable the Church is. As a whole we have managed to seclude ourselves from our own culture and alienate the lost.
I don't drink alcohol (I'm too holy for that)
I don't listen to "secular" music (I'm too holy for that)
I don't watch MTV (I'm too holy for that)
I don't watch R-rated movies (I'm too holy for that)
I burn books with stories about witches (I'm too holy for that)
I make a point to praise the Lord publically (so everyone knows I am full of God's love)
I realize this may come accross a bit antagonistic. While we may not do this intentionally, we really do do it. Are we getting better? Yes. Are our morals slipping? No. Am I suggesting we abandon all moral foundation just to save souls? No. I am not suggesting we start having sex to be able to relate to sexually immoral... or start getting drunk to relate to alcoholics. What I am saying is we can embrace our morals and our culture at the same time. When we pretend we are holy and perfect we make ourselves completely inaccessable to others.
We have to be real people to real people in need of God's love. If we avoid our own cultural common ground and seclude ourselves...or to use a Christian phrase...make ourselves "set apart" how does that help us minister to the lost?
We must meet non-Christians in the common grounds of life...through culture. This is the pattern Christ showed us. I will come love you where you are just how you are. And when my love becomes apparent to you, you will be changed...because my love is perfect.
I hope this made sense. A bit of a ramble. I may have to tidy this post up a bit later.
Labels: faith
posted by Sean | 6:14 PM
3 Comments:
Sean,
It seems that you have met some of these or seen it in yourself, I am not sure. But in listening to the Gospels, one has to come to the conclusion that much of what Jesus spoke of was finding people in the muck of life. This didn't mean he entered into it with them, but understood it and tried to make them understand the futility of sin in their lives in relation to what God wished for them. I felt this the first time I experienced a begger dive into a dumpster for a sandwich outside my 3rd story window in Denver. I was 19 yoa at the time and it changed my life. I long to be with them, in many ways, for they are so close to God.
Peace and All Good, Augustine
Hi Sweetie. I went ahead and corrected your spelling/grammar errors.
I agree with you that the church, as we have known it, would be a disappointment to God. However (and I think you mentioned this) it is making progress toward learning how to interact with those outside it's walls. There are churches out there that are trying to just reach out and help the community around them - interact & serve without an agenda. Still a long way to go though. There are also lots of churches that seem more wrapped up in building new additions, creating flashy teaching programs and providing cappuccino and cool music than first paying attention to the needs of, and interacting with, the community around them. They seem to be further secluding themselves. . .which is fairly easy to do these days when we are so self-absorbed. I know that first hand. Maybe one day we'll all get our priortiies right.
Agustine,
Thank you for the post! It is good to hear from you!! Hope all is going well.
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