You have heard this cliche a thousand times, and maybe have said it.
"God wants a relationship, not a religion."
This is simply NOT TRUE. My prevailing thought in this is that 'Jesus does not hate religion. Jesus hates false religion.' Morality doesn't bring you close to God: Neither Sexual morality nor social morality. You can live a life where you don't do things wrong and still miss God. Or we can live a life where we help the poor, broken, hurting all day long, but don't share with them Jesus and we still miss the God.
The Bible's expression of the word 'religion' means for us to have reverent devotion to God internally, and show reverent devotion externally (that is through acts/good works). In my understanding of God, He clearly wants both. Relationship produces Religion. To put another way: Loving God always leads to Loving people.
I am not sure when it became popular or who made it so, but the church uses it ad nauseum. I think I understand why the cliche' has become so popular. There seemed to be such a strong tendency in the church to place over-weighted emphasis on things we had to do to be right with God. So, if a person went to church on Sunday, Wednesday and other days and did all those other "righteous acts" (you know--Sunday School; Bible Study; pastor outings; church choir events; singles meetings; gave their ten percent to God faithfully; read the Bible everyday; prayed everyday--sometimes all day--; did not smoke, did not chew, did not go with girls who do; did not drink; did not listen to any music but Christian radio; did not party; did not club; did not celebrate Halloween; did not like homosexuals; did not like pro-choicers; stayed "morally pure"; stayed married, wore long hair and long dresses for girls, did not wear earrings for guys, and on and on, and blah-say blah-say, yada, yada, yada and blah, blah blah--whew!!!) only then were they accepted into God's kingdom and love. I get that. I get why the cliche' may have become so popular. It was probably because someone finally thought enough to say that these things don't make God accept you. It's not that God wants things from you; It's just that God wants you. (Baggage, warts, zits, scars and all)
Now before I move on, I should say that I am not totally against all of the above mentioned items. I think we would be wise to do some of them, and more often. I just do not believe that performing or not performing any of the acts above should ever have been used to bring guilt on a person and push them away from God, or on the flip side give them the impression that doing these things somehow brought them closer to God.
Thankfully, someone told the truth and said that the God who loves all humans is more interested in a loving relationship with humans, than He is interested in humankind performing acts of sacrifice in order to get close to Him (Isaiah 1). Someone along the line must have said, "God is not interested in your religious behavior, but a real relationship with Him." And that's the truth of the story. But that is not all of the story. I mean, it is true that God does not want man's "religion" if we define religion by things we do to get close to him or to appear more holy to others. If we define religion as humankind working to earn God's favor in some way so that God might be moved to accept us, that definition does not bring us closer to God, but keeps us away from Him. Why? Because God has done all that is needed for us to be close to Him. He came close to us in the form of Jesus Christ. The only thing required now to be accepted by God is to trust in the work that Jesus has already done to bring us close to God. So, if by religion a person means following a prescribed set of activities in order to be accepted by God, then it's true, God wants a relationship, not religion. I am sure this is what people mean, but I rarely (if ever) hear anyone point out the other way that the Bible uses religion.
Let's note that the Bible, indeed, does use the negative way that we use religion today. The Bible says our religion can be self-made (this is not a good thing according to Paul (Col. 2:23) worthless (James 1:26) and in opposition to pure religion, impure (James 1:27) The pharisees were religious. The problem was not that they did ceremonial things outwardly. It was only that they thought those ceremonial things made them better than other people. In fact, they read their Bibles, prayed all the time, and went to the temple often.
But, it also should be noted that Paul used religion in a positive light (Acts 17:22) in connecting with the people on Mars Hill. He affirmed the portion of their religion that was commendable (The fact that they were seeking god/s and that they outwardly expressed their search by placing altars everywhere). In the same way some of the elements of our religion are commendable and necessary if we want to please God. James, Jesus brother, tells us specifically the outward expressions of religion that please God.
James 1:27
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
Do you see that? It is not religion that God dislikes. It is "impure" religion characterized by apathy toward the less helped, less loved, less able, less powerful. Pure religion is to help the fatherless, care for the widow, feed the hungry, care for the poor, love the down trodden. That is what your religion is for. You can be that person who has a relationship with the right kind of religion. But wait, just so we don't walk away thinking that we God is fine with me and my sin too, James says we should be morally pure. We should not do things that are sinful. Some of those things we should not do are included on the list above. There really are many other things that we should not be doing; otherwise God is unhappy with us. This does not mean that God doesn't love us unconditionally. Just because He does love us unconditionally, scars, and all; doesn't mean He approves the actions that will bring us continued scarring. To choose to live unstained lives comes from fact that we do really love Him. To visit the fatherless, and widows demonstrates His love in us to others.
One more thing. Someone might say that Jesus never really called us to be religious. But, I would look at James' definition of religion more comparatively with other words of Jesus and portions of the Old Testament. James' words to help the orphan and widow remind me of Jesus words in Matthew 25 when speaking of not just orphans and widows, but prisoners and beggars. "When you did it to the least of these, you did it to me." Jesus seems pretty serious about it there. Even though He didn't use the word, the concept of religion that James speaks of in James 1:27 is the same as what Jesus seems to be talking about in Matthew 25. The Old Testament also shows a similar hard edge in line with James' view of religion (that is, religion is to devotedly reverence God and demonstrate this by helping the less loved, less powerful, less fortunate, and less heard, and being pure from sin). In Isaiah 1and Isaiah 58 God shows that people are experiencing hardship from Him because of their apathy and treatment toward others. To say it plainly: I believe God would have you to be more religious; not less. It is only the purity of our religion that we should be careful to maintain.
Before I close, I have to say that when I see religion in this way I am actually overwhelmed. I personally have sometimes been apathetic to those around me. I am stained, not unstained by sin. Put as bluntly about my own self as I can be: I don't always care, I am not always pure from sin. While I seek to be careful to assist others when it is in my hand to do so, I have not always persistently been religious in this way (helping orphans and widows and others). I mean I believe that God has placed in me a pureness of religion. But I confess that I have religion that is self-made, worthless, and impure at times. So, I trust in the righteousness of Christ to justify me before God. His purity on my behalf will satisfy God. But in the meantime, I confess to you: I am trying to become more religious, not less. I hope that you will join me in this endeavor. Not because we need to work our way to God. Christ has reconciled those of us who trust Him to the Father God (2 Cor. 5:21; I Peter 3:18).
When a person says "I have a relationship and not a religion with God", they have essentially said, "My relationship with God is worthless". Instead, if we embrace the full biblical definiton of religion we will understand that God's will is not to keep us from being religious. No, God strongly desires both. He wants a real relationship that leads to pure religion. (An authentic) Relationship ignites (pure) Religion; (pure) Religion demonstrates (an authentic) relationship. Then we will see religion as a tool (1) to express our inner worship to God, outwardly; (2) to transform society and culture from chaos to shalom by loving the less fortunate (3) to open opportunities to touch people who are like us, who aren't like us, who don't like us and who we don't like for the sake of the Gospel as well as genuine relationships with those who reject the Gospel and (4) to demonstrate the proclamation that God loves all people in the same way He loves Jesus.
After understanding pure religion, is there any follower of Christ who does not want to become more religious?
I hope my thoughts are clear to you all. Please comment. I welcome your feedback.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
Eternal Life or Else? Thoughts about the Love and Wrath of God
The fact that we attempt to hold to the idea that God is loving by dismissing the idea of eternal wrath may speak of our own mistrust in a God who is good, and too much trust in our own feelings or philosophies, or righteousness (i.e. we think we know more than God). Or perhaps it is our misunderstanding of what love really is. Is it true that to be love one has to rid himself of wrath? Sure, when you think of it for you and I that makes sense. It is humankind's anger that does not work in full righteousness. (James 1:20) Isn't God different. God can be loving, joyful, caring, committed, angry, jealous, judgmental and wrathful holding it all in right/proper perspective: Right? If not, then why do we believe in Him. Could it be that we just don't understand God's eternal wrath, not that there is not a need for God's eternal wrath. In the same way; we don't fully understand God's love, not (by any means) that there is not a need for God's love.
People who desire to dismiss God's eternal wrath clearly should know that the only reason we hate the thought of people spending eternity away from God is because God hates this thought. (cf Paul in Romans 10:1; Peter in 2 Peter 3:9)
Do we do anyone a favor by giving them assurance that there is opportunity to come to God after the final judgment if there is no opportunity?
If we question God's eternal wrath then mustn't we question whether their is eternal life/love? Many of the same writers and speakers who speak of God's love, are the same one's who speak of God's wrath. They seemed pretty clear that God is love, but that God has and will surely exercise eternal wrath. Most of us who definitively say God loves us learned of this love from the words of Jesus, Peter, Paul, and John. We strongly affirm and declare the goodness and the love of God. We point to scripture, and even other contemporary appearances (people who've loved us, events) of God's love. Yet it is Jesus, Paul, Peter and John who also tell us of God's wrath. We despise or belittle those who point to scripture and cite perceived contemporary examples that God may be demonstrating anger sometimes. {though I admit, I also tend not to agree with people who assume to know that because certain events happened it was because God was judging--eg. Japan, Katrina, etc--We simply can't know that it was God's judgment and we must refrain from attaching God to tragedy because we are angry with moral, economic, or social standings. It is insensitive and unloving, in my opinion}. I digress. Many people have come to Christ because they feared the eternal flame. But they soon learned of God's love and follow Him because of it. Many others have received Christ because of His love. But they also learned to respect the wrath.
The fact that God is "unbelievably exclusive" does not relegate Him to being falsely loving, but hopefully would enact a reverence for God and the urgency of time in light of a coming wrath. And the fact that He is "fantastically inclusive" should not produce in us a false hope for eternity, as if opportunity will cycle around again somewhere in eternity.
Some have asked if we don't speak of eternal judgment what will that do for the motivation for mission. As in, "If we don't speak of hell Christians won't be motivated to share God's message" or "If we don't speak of eternal damnation, unbelievers will be less motivated to accept Christ." Christians must understand that we do God no favors by preaching eternal judgment as an impetus for Christian mission. People can be just as, if not moreso; motivated to come to God because of His kindness, as His wrath. However, both God's eternal kindness and wrath in eternity, are sure. It is the kindness/goodness of God that leads to repentance. (Rom. 2:4) We speak of eternal judgment because it is sure to come. (2 Thessalonians 1:5-12 note verse nine) We speak of eternal damnation/separation because God wants no one to experience it. (2 Peter 3:9) God does not need us to frighten people into His kingdom. However, God would take those who are frightened about eternal life and give them His assurance and hope that as they trust him, there is no need to fear the eternal judgment. (John 3:16-18)
Can we answer the questions about what will happen to people who have died before or after Christ? I don't think so; not fully. Can we shrink back, when we say to Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Bahai, nominal Christians, etc that Jesus is NOT the way, the truth, and the life because it offends them. Still, no. We believe the words of Jesus. It may offend them, but they are His words and it is our belief. It may be that they do not agree with us and do not respect our belief because it seems/is exclusive. But at least (as we ought to for them-and sadly have failed in doing so) they should respect our right to this faith/belief system without judging us, as many assume we judge them. If we shrink back to only tell people of God's love then perhaps we are not as successful at engaging culture as others might consider us to be. Perhaps they come because we preach a message of what they feel Christ should be. Hence, we preach a false Christ and false gospel. Likewise, if we preach a Christ that is full of anger and wrath, only; then we feed into both, the self-righteous morality that many of us tend to fall into and the misguided idea that God wants to strike down as many people as He can just to show He's boss, and still; we preach a false Christ and Gospel. Instead, let us all continue in loving dialogue and action with those who are outside as often as we have opportunity to; and let us preach the Christ who loves the world that He someday must judge in righteousness to bring glory to God.
Some say that we see hell on earth now. It is necessary to note that though hellish activity may be on earth, it pales in comparison to the pictures of weeping and gnashing of teeth for whatever agonies that may be behind the veil of this present life. That if we are experiencing hell on earth now, as some say; then it stands to reason that we are experiencing heaven on earth now, too. Take serious note: There is a worse day coming. But there is also a better day coming, too. There is fire and brimstone (though we may not know the literal make-up of this fire) But, there is also a city with streets of gold, and a tree with leaves to heal the nations. This present earth will NEVER see the fullness of heaven, nor the full tragedies of hell. Far be it from us that we think our activity can bring heaven on earth, or likewise hell. However, our activity can demonstrate to whom we are sons: Sons of God or sons of Hell. God, himself will destroy all of this and foster the new creation (heavens/earth) where He will come and bring heaven to earth (not us) by his activity (not ours).
The fear in having an ultimate judge who displays eternal wrath ultimately seems to be that of power, justice, fairness and of course, love. Of power, in that we want to know why the one who is judging, gets to judge. "Who is he to judge me"? and "Why does he judge me this way?" Of Justice because people have been wronged; rules have been broken; systems, unjust. And of Fairness because "At least I didn't live like her/him", "How can you judge me when I didn't know", or "Why does he get this when I worked so much harder", etc. Of love because "if He loves me how can he eternally, judge me?" I certainly don't have all the answers. These are just my thoughts.
But what Christians can say about our belief in God through Jesus is that when judgment takes place is that there will be no one who is eternally damned who does not deserve eternal damnation. Likewise, there will be no one who is eternally accepted who can say they deserve it. No child will be unjustly lost, no criminal (murderers, rapists, kidnappers, pedophiles, and all who we consider to be worse sinners than us) will be unjustly exonerated, no sin will go unpunished, no deed will be unexposed. Everything will be reconciled to its rightful place. There will be a right judgment by the right judge; for all the right reasons, with all the right desires, interest, and intentions, by THE ABSOLUTE most qualified, thorough judge to offer love, mercy, comfort, grace, justice, punishment, sentencing, and wrath who ever was. This is the Holy One in whom Christians are said to trust: Jesus the Christ. (Revelation 15:3; 19:2)
People who desire to dismiss God's eternal wrath clearly should know that the only reason we hate the thought of people spending eternity away from God is because God hates this thought. (cf Paul in Romans 10:1; Peter in 2 Peter 3:9)
Do we do anyone a favor by giving them assurance that there is opportunity to come to God after the final judgment if there is no opportunity?
If we question God's eternal wrath then mustn't we question whether their is eternal life/love? Many of the same writers and speakers who speak of God's love, are the same one's who speak of God's wrath. They seemed pretty clear that God is love, but that God has and will surely exercise eternal wrath. Most of us who definitively say God loves us learned of this love from the words of Jesus, Peter, Paul, and John. We strongly affirm and declare the goodness and the love of God. We point to scripture, and even other contemporary appearances (people who've loved us, events) of God's love. Yet it is Jesus, Paul, Peter and John who also tell us of God's wrath. We despise or belittle those who point to scripture and cite perceived contemporary examples that God may be demonstrating anger sometimes. {though I admit, I also tend not to agree with people who assume to know that because certain events happened it was because God was judging--eg. Japan, Katrina, etc--We simply can't know that it was God's judgment and we must refrain from attaching God to tragedy because we are angry with moral, economic, or social standings. It is insensitive and unloving, in my opinion}. I digress. Many people have come to Christ because they feared the eternal flame. But they soon learned of God's love and follow Him because of it. Many others have received Christ because of His love. But they also learned to respect the wrath.
The fact that God is "unbelievably exclusive" does not relegate Him to being falsely loving, but hopefully would enact a reverence for God and the urgency of time in light of a coming wrath. And the fact that He is "fantastically inclusive" should not produce in us a false hope for eternity, as if opportunity will cycle around again somewhere in eternity.
Some have asked if we don't speak of eternal judgment what will that do for the motivation for mission. As in, "If we don't speak of hell Christians won't be motivated to share God's message" or "If we don't speak of eternal damnation, unbelievers will be less motivated to accept Christ." Christians must understand that we do God no favors by preaching eternal judgment as an impetus for Christian mission. People can be just as, if not moreso; motivated to come to God because of His kindness, as His wrath. However, both God's eternal kindness and wrath in eternity, are sure. It is the kindness/goodness of God that leads to repentance. (Rom. 2:4) We speak of eternal judgment because it is sure to come. (2 Thessalonians 1:5-12 note verse nine) We speak of eternal damnation/separation because God wants no one to experience it. (2 Peter 3:9) God does not need us to frighten people into His kingdom. However, God would take those who are frightened about eternal life and give them His assurance and hope that as they trust him, there is no need to fear the eternal judgment. (John 3:16-18)
Can we answer the questions about what will happen to people who have died before or after Christ? I don't think so; not fully. Can we shrink back, when we say to Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Bahai, nominal Christians, etc that Jesus is NOT the way, the truth, and the life because it offends them. Still, no. We believe the words of Jesus. It may offend them, but they are His words and it is our belief. It may be that they do not agree with us and do not respect our belief because it seems/is exclusive. But at least (as we ought to for them-and sadly have failed in doing so) they should respect our right to this faith/belief system without judging us, as many assume we judge them. If we shrink back to only tell people of God's love then perhaps we are not as successful at engaging culture as others might consider us to be. Perhaps they come because we preach a message of what they feel Christ should be. Hence, we preach a false Christ and false gospel. Likewise, if we preach a Christ that is full of anger and wrath, only; then we feed into both, the self-righteous morality that many of us tend to fall into and the misguided idea that God wants to strike down as many people as He can just to show He's boss, and still; we preach a false Christ and Gospel. Instead, let us all continue in loving dialogue and action with those who are outside as often as we have opportunity to; and let us preach the Christ who loves the world that He someday must judge in righteousness to bring glory to God.
Some say that we see hell on earth now. It is necessary to note that though hellish activity may be on earth, it pales in comparison to the pictures of weeping and gnashing of teeth for whatever agonies that may be behind the veil of this present life. That if we are experiencing hell on earth now, as some say; then it stands to reason that we are experiencing heaven on earth now, too. Take serious note: There is a worse day coming. But there is also a better day coming, too. There is fire and brimstone (though we may not know the literal make-up of this fire) But, there is also a city with streets of gold, and a tree with leaves to heal the nations. This present earth will NEVER see the fullness of heaven, nor the full tragedies of hell. Far be it from us that we think our activity can bring heaven on earth, or likewise hell. However, our activity can demonstrate to whom we are sons: Sons of God or sons of Hell. God, himself will destroy all of this and foster the new creation (heavens/earth) where He will come and bring heaven to earth (not us) by his activity (not ours).
The fear in having an ultimate judge who displays eternal wrath ultimately seems to be that of power, justice, fairness and of course, love. Of power, in that we want to know why the one who is judging, gets to judge. "Who is he to judge me"? and "Why does he judge me this way?" Of Justice because people have been wronged; rules have been broken; systems, unjust. And of Fairness because "At least I didn't live like her/him", "How can you judge me when I didn't know", or "Why does he get this when I worked so much harder", etc. Of love because "if He loves me how can he eternally, judge me?" I certainly don't have all the answers. These are just my thoughts.
But what Christians can say about our belief in God through Jesus is that when judgment takes place is that there will be no one who is eternally damned who does not deserve eternal damnation. Likewise, there will be no one who is eternally accepted who can say they deserve it. No child will be unjustly lost, no criminal (murderers, rapists, kidnappers, pedophiles, and all who we consider to be worse sinners than us) will be unjustly exonerated, no sin will go unpunished, no deed will be unexposed. Everything will be reconciled to its rightful place. There will be a right judgment by the right judge; for all the right reasons, with all the right desires, interest, and intentions, by THE ABSOLUTE most qualified, thorough judge to offer love, mercy, comfort, grace, justice, punishment, sentencing, and wrath who ever was. This is the Holy One in whom Christians are said to trust: Jesus the Christ. (Revelation 15:3; 19:2)
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
The Fear of not knowing enough, Overcoming it by knowing what matters
I think I was around 19 (years old) when a one of the most clear thoughts that I have ever had came across my mind. No matter how much you know, you'll never know everything there is to know. The thought gripped me so firmly, but gently. I feel as if it was the Lord speaking to me. So since that time, I have attempted (sometimes failing) to be a learner in every place in my life. And have always had this sense that God is preparing me for something that I am not really ready for. And for as often as I might seek to speak boldly and confidently, I know in my heart that I just don't know enough.
But, I confess, sometimes my ignorance grips me in such a way that I feel inadequate. I know God did not intend to make me fearful by telling me I'll never know it all, but I sometimes I am fearful. There is always something more to know, in my head. I feel strongly sometimes the dreaded (unofficial) sociological phenomena called "the imposter syndrome". I just know that people will find me out to be the fraud that I am. They think I know more than I do. And wrestling with my own personal sin does not help matters either. I feel like Paul, "I am the chief of sinners".
So my night is not over (it's 10:42pm). I am transitioning from family to academic reflection. I spent 50 hours a week (most weeks) in the library last semester and sensed that my papers were still less than adequate for doctoral work. The grades said otherwise but I know there is tons more to learn and the learning curve is stratospheric. My inadequacies seemed to get the better of me last semester. And even while I have a much firmer grasp on studies this year, I still know there is so much that I don't know. In the end of this program, when I shall have learned "enough", I suppose I will then be able to consider myself "competent" in Culture and Missiology. No matter, I hold on to these next few thoughts in the hymn written by Daniel Whittle in 1883 (the Apostle Paul slightly earlier - 1 Timothy 2:12).
I don't know why God's wondrous grace to me He has made known, nor why unworthy Christ in love redeemed me for His own. But I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.
I know not how this saving faith to me He did impart, nor how believing in His Word
wrought peace within my heart. But I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.
You know, I hope you know it too,
The Lord Bless You.
But, I confess, sometimes my ignorance grips me in such a way that I feel inadequate. I know God did not intend to make me fearful by telling me I'll never know it all, but I sometimes I am fearful. There is always something more to know, in my head. I feel strongly sometimes the dreaded (unofficial) sociological phenomena called "the imposter syndrome". I just know that people will find me out to be the fraud that I am. They think I know more than I do. And wrestling with my own personal sin does not help matters either. I feel like Paul, "I am the chief of sinners".
So my night is not over (it's 10:42pm). I am transitioning from family to academic reflection. I spent 50 hours a week (most weeks) in the library last semester and sensed that my papers were still less than adequate for doctoral work. The grades said otherwise but I know there is tons more to learn and the learning curve is stratospheric. My inadequacies seemed to get the better of me last semester. And even while I have a much firmer grasp on studies this year, I still know there is so much that I don't know. In the end of this program, when I shall have learned "enough", I suppose I will then be able to consider myself "competent" in Culture and Missiology. No matter, I hold on to these next few thoughts in the hymn written by Daniel Whittle in 1883 (the Apostle Paul slightly earlier - 1 Timothy 2:12).
I don't know why God's wondrous grace to me He has made known, nor why unworthy Christ in love redeemed me for His own. But I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.
I know not how this saving faith to me He did impart, nor how believing in His Word
wrought peace within my heart. But I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.
You know, I hope you know it too,
The Lord Bless You.
Monday, January 24, 2011
May be we could all just stop going to church
Well, today I hope that every follower of Jesus Christ stops "going to church". [Yeah, take it with a grain of salt]
A while ago I talked to a person who said they trusted in Christ and so "they want to get back in church". And you know, I applaud the desire to do what is right in the Lord. But, my applause is nothing. I think what people want to know is whether God is applauding them for "going to church". What I think people really mean is they want to begin going to a building on Sunday and be in attendance. Perhaps they would participate in the singing, saying amen, and listening to a Sunday message. Some people assume that by doing this every week, God is pleased and they get spiritual brownie points. In truth, it is the church who has caused this myth to gain full momentum in the lives of nominal Christians. But what's even more true is that God won't love you any more or less if you go to church or not. And while there is the possibility of more favor being placed upon you (because you are around the Body of Christ where God promises to show His presence-not because God is happy you got up out of a sense of duty to come see Him), there is no condemnation if you don't.
Now, I must make it plain to you. I AM AN ADVOCATE OF GETTING UP ON SUNDAY (or whatever day your assembly meets) AND GOING TO CHURCH. More plainly, going to be WITH the church. But I believe we have missed it when we simply want to go to church.
Instead, Jesus did not intend for us to go to church, rather He intended for us to BE the church. Put another way, Jesus did not intend for us to go to church. He intended for the Church to GO! That is, where ever we are, that is where the Body of Christ is.
So, my prayer is that we (I) learn how to BE the church by being like Jesus to those around us (me).
A while ago I talked to a person who said they trusted in Christ and so "they want to get back in church". And you know, I applaud the desire to do what is right in the Lord. But, my applause is nothing. I think what people want to know is whether God is applauding them for "going to church". What I think people really mean is they want to begin going to a building on Sunday and be in attendance. Perhaps they would participate in the singing, saying amen, and listening to a Sunday message. Some people assume that by doing this every week, God is pleased and they get spiritual brownie points. In truth, it is the church who has caused this myth to gain full momentum in the lives of nominal Christians. But what's even more true is that God won't love you any more or less if you go to church or not. And while there is the possibility of more favor being placed upon you (because you are around the Body of Christ where God promises to show His presence-not because God is happy you got up out of a sense of duty to come see Him), there is no condemnation if you don't.
Now, I must make it plain to you. I AM AN ADVOCATE OF GETTING UP ON SUNDAY (or whatever day your assembly meets) AND GOING TO CHURCH. More plainly, going to be WITH the church. But I believe we have missed it when we simply want to go to church.
Instead, Jesus did not intend for us to go to church, rather He intended for us to BE the church. Put another way, Jesus did not intend for us to go to church. He intended for the Church to GO! That is, where ever we are, that is where the Body of Christ is.
So, my prayer is that we (I) learn how to BE the church by being like Jesus to those around us (me).
Monday, January 17, 2011
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