Christians in America aren’t starved for good teaching. We’re not slacking in our faith for lack of great worship music or places where we can gather to sing songs, talk to other Christians and hear the Bible preached. We’re not hurting for resources. We don’t lack freedom of religion. We aren’t persecuted. It’s not difficult to find a copy of the Bible, they’re pretty much everywhere.
So, since we are so richly blessed, I bet Christians in America are radically living for God. I bet we’re walking out the teachings of the Bible since there are so many great teachers and resources. I bet the church is firing on all cylinders, functioning passionately as the Body of Christ, constantly baptizing new believers and discipling people to truly live as Jesus lived.
Or, are we?
I think it’s pretty clear that the church doesn’t need amazing teachers, talented musicians and singers, nice buildings, and lots of money to thrive. In fact, I sometimes wonder if we would be better off if those things would be stripped away so that we would learn not to focus on them.
Neil Cole wrote, “Christians in America are already educated beyond their obedience, and more education is not the solution.”
Do you think that’s true? Or, do you think we just need more or better education to get the church to wake up and BE the church? Is that what sustained the New Testament church? What’s the next step?
Leonard Sweet says, “Christians have much to learn about faith as a lived experience, not a thought experiment.”
I can’t help but feel that we are sometimes missing the heart of what it means to be a disciple of Christ. I don’t mean just stuff like serving the poor or caring for orphans and widows. That stuff’s important, but it’s just a glimpse of God’s heart for people. What about the Sermon on the Mount for starters? Have you ever read Jesus’ words that day…reading slowly and seriously considering the depth of each part and what it would look like to actually obey Jesus’ teachings?
This is not simply obeying a set of commands, but living a certain life that can only be lived with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Things like Matthew 5:13-16… Being salt and light to a world that is hopeless and dark. Are we doing that here in Hampton Roads?
So, what’s the next step? I think we need to take our Christianity to the streets. We need to bring the light of Christ to our community, here in Hampton Roads. We need to be the church outside of our ‘church buildings’ and live as Jesus lived. This is not a moral lifestyle, but in fact is itself true life.
July 14, 2007 at 11:44 am
Perhaps Christians should indeed follow the “teachings” and discover for themselves what the words really mean rather than relying upon someone else to interpret for them. Live a proper and happy life filled with love and lead by example, not by putting others down or by trying to convert through the use of fear and threat. Walk the talk and others may ask why you are so happy.
July 19, 2007 at 9:04 am
Please hear my heart in this. I have thought about this one for some time now. I once stood on the fence and would shout error and hypocrisies of the church in america and those who attended those churches. I thought to myself I am so much better or I am doing and loving so much better than these that I have a right to talk about the church like this. But point in fact it was my way of covering over my deficiencies, my short comings, my lack. You see understand that as it goes I do not meet up to the standard of the Word. I do not live Matt 5-7. I as that if we are going to evaluate anything lets take a square look at ourselves. More rather if we are going to take a true evaluation lets take a look into the eyes of the Master and ask Him what He sees. I think that we might all be a little more surprised than we think. We look at all of these outside factors and say that they are wrong. And I dont necessarily disagree, but I do ask this question; Do we cover over the fear of reaching out to a God that loves us and desires us with more programs with more things because we all harbor a secret fear that He isn’t who He says He is? Take a look at Moses. The Israelites put him before God to talk to Him on their behalf because they were afraid, even though He had said He wanted to talk to them. And today we do the same, myself included. We say you go before God you talk to Him He likes you, then you come back and tell me what He said. That way I dont have as much personal accountability for it all. I think that if we want true christianity true church we need to get back to the seed bed of it all; Personal intimate relationship. We have to get past our secret atheism towards God and and say that we trust Him to be awesome. When was the last time you were in awe, I mean true awe of who God was. I have heard it said that if you want to change something dont focus on the thing itself but on the savior. Heres what I mean, and I will end with this, if you see in yourself a total lack of patience and go about trying to change it by focusing on how impatient you are I bet you bottom dollar that you will with in a week become the most insufferable person to be around. Yet if you choose to gaze on Jesus and ask Him about patience He might tell you about the time that He was patient with the roman soldiers that were beating Him, how He had all power in heaven and earth at His disposal but He was patient He chose love. I say that to say if you truly want to see change lets get back to basics; first commandment first second commandment second. Its really simple in theory but it will take a life to really figure out. I hope this helps. And that was my two cents. God bless.