Many people believe that something is missing in church in America. We have tried very hard to make church interesting, comfortable, sociable, and and exciting. We use techiniques that fit the culture, and more technology at our disposal for outreach than ever. So why are the numbers dropping? What is different? Why is Chrsitianity not pulling at the hearts of people like it used to? These are questions I have and if you disagree that this is not the case at all, then the rest is moot. However, if you agree that you notice this too, then let's look at somethings that might account for this change or apostacy (leaving of the church).
I want to first look at the issue of money and talents of the early church. I pose a question. Can someone say that they are wholly submitted to Christ, be filthy rich? Before this is an attack on money and rich people, let me clarify, because this point is secondary to a much more impactful point i'll make later. If we want to see the Kingdom furthered and be a part of Christ's work in the hearts of people around us, Can someone have millions while brothers in Christ struggle to eat? I mention this because I absolutely believe that church in America has abandoned the idea of community all together. We come to church listen to the sermon, and then take on the world and look out only for number 1. In the Early church believers would sell their land and donate the money from it. Paul talks about what an outreach giving is. Christ frequently talks about leaving our lives to follow Him. Paul says this...
9 As the Scriptures say,
“They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”[a]
10 For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity[b] in you.
11 Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. 12 So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem[c] will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God.
13 As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. 14 And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you. 15 Thank God for this gift[d] too wonderful for words!-New Living Translation
In the early church. brothers and sisters in Christ should look after each other. We are to use our time, talents, and money to build the church as a body of believers. I think it is easy to say most people after reading this will want to defend not sharing money, or the idea of it being bad to be rich. My point is this. Own a car, it is a means of transportation and necessary to make a living in our culture. Does it have to be a $50,000 BMW? Is it safe to say most of us find our success and our identity in the things we own and the number on our bank statement. If our Identity is in these things and we don't want to let go of them even if it furthers the Gospel we should CHECK OUR HEARTS. That cannot be a life submitted to Christ. So the early church lived as a community that was much more active in each others life. I'm certain most would agree that lving this way would persuade people that Christanity is truly different,
The kicker. How many disciples died of natural causes? The answer is one. Only one died a peaceful death. Every other disciple of Christ was martyred! Many of us have been told how lucky we are to not face persecution in America. It's true we are blessed. I want to shine light on Andrew, one of Jesus' twelve and his death.
Andrew was crucified on an x-shaped cross in Greece. After being whipped severely by seven soldiers, they tied his body to the cross with cords to prolong his agony. His followers reported that when he was led toward the cross, Andrew saluted it in these words: "I have long desired and expected this happy hour. The cross has been consecrated by the body of Christ hanging on it." He continued to preach to his tormentors for two days until he died.
Now, Stop and take that in. He was first beaten severely. then tied to a cross to further torture him. He then hung there, and preached for two days until he died! In this moment He thinks only of Christ's glory and not of his own suffering. How many of us could do this? And if you think you would, I'd lovingly like to point out that most of us "piss and moan" to God when even the smallest of things don't go our way. Think about it. Lose a job, we get mad at God. Loved one gets sick. We blame God or don't like God or throw a fit. He died preaching. Clearly Andrew see's something in the Gospel of Jesus Christ that is worth more than his own comfort and even his own life.
I want just ask a few questions and I want you to wrestle with them as I have. Is the Gospel of Jesus Christ Different or somehow less important than it was in the early church? I want to think about what is stopping us from abandon pursuing othe things like status, wealth, prestige, money, and things to pursue Christ like this. I think most people have consider some of these things. We have tried to give "everything" to Christ, but we are really just toeing the water. We won't jump in. Could we ask the Holy Spirit to show us that people are hurting and broken all around us, and their only saving Grace Is Jesus. He wants save and restore. Reconcile us to Him redeem us for the Father, and Heal our hearts from the pain of our hearts and the world. Would it change us? And will we jump?
Please let me know what you think...
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Paul and the rest of us... Why is my faith so retarded?
2Corinthians 11:21-30
I’m ashamed to say that we’ve been too “weak” to do that!
But whatever they dare to boast about—I’m talking like a fool again—I dare to boast about it, too. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. 24 Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. 26 I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not.[a] 27 I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.28 Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger?
30 If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am.
-New Living Translation
A man of tragedy, but contentment. He suffered greatly and often. Without clothing, shelter, warmth, beaten countless times. stoned, shipwrecked, left alone in the cold waters, starving and thirsty. Then, states his overall contentment.
11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ,[a] who gives me strength. 14 Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty. Philippians 4:11-14 NLT
He is content in EVERYTHING! Times of plenty, but more often times of little. Why then is it so Impossible for me as a Christian to follow. Why is my faith so retarded? It is clear Christ wants the Heart of Me, and yet I insist on bartering. I offer my study, offer to learn more, offer to be better, offer everything but to simple let Him have my heart. This struggle is so pitiful! It leaves me a hypocrit, a legalist. How to submit? Jesus still saves radically does He not? The problem isn't with Christ. "My Grace is all you need. My power works best in your weakness." (2Cor 12:9 NLT) The problem isn't with church. It's with Me. I won't submit, I try to maintain the flesh. Try to obey in my own strength, and it seems the last thing I will do is Cry. Cling, just be broken and desperate for Jesus to restore me. To take my heart and transform me. I fear that I read, worship, attend church, and mask my evil deeds, and completely avoid engaging into that relationship with Christ to this point that Paul is at. Absolute devotion . I don't believe Paul is different from us. Made out of something different than we are, He is just willing to follow, submit, and be second. What would it look like If my Life was really lived where God was ultimate and My needs and wants were secondary? My faith is retarded. It's lacking, and I hate it. I desperately want to confess, but fear I won't change. I'm tired of words that hold no power. These are just thoughts. Ones that are often not shared. Ones that only are seen when I am honest. Christ desires a horrifing thing. He wants us. All of us. To be everything we need. Will I let Him change me?
I’m ashamed to say that we’ve been too “weak” to do that!
But whatever they dare to boast about—I’m talking like a fool again—I dare to boast about it, too. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. 24 Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. 26 I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not.[a] 27 I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.28 Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger?
30 If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am.
-New Living Translation
A man of tragedy, but contentment. He suffered greatly and often. Without clothing, shelter, warmth, beaten countless times. stoned, shipwrecked, left alone in the cold waters, starving and thirsty. Then, states his overall contentment.
11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ,[a] who gives me strength. 14 Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty. Philippians 4:11-14 NLT
He is content in EVERYTHING! Times of plenty, but more often times of little. Why then is it so Impossible for me as a Christian to follow. Why is my faith so retarded? It is clear Christ wants the Heart of Me, and yet I insist on bartering. I offer my study, offer to learn more, offer to be better, offer everything but to simple let Him have my heart. This struggle is so pitiful! It leaves me a hypocrit, a legalist. How to submit? Jesus still saves radically does He not? The problem isn't with Christ. "My Grace is all you need. My power works best in your weakness." (2Cor 12:9 NLT) The problem isn't with church. It's with Me. I won't submit, I try to maintain the flesh. Try to obey in my own strength, and it seems the last thing I will do is Cry. Cling, just be broken and desperate for Jesus to restore me. To take my heart and transform me. I fear that I read, worship, attend church, and mask my evil deeds, and completely avoid engaging into that relationship with Christ to this point that Paul is at. Absolute devotion . I don't believe Paul is different from us. Made out of something different than we are, He is just willing to follow, submit, and be second. What would it look like If my Life was really lived where God was ultimate and My needs and wants were secondary? My faith is retarded. It's lacking, and I hate it. I desperately want to confess, but fear I won't change. I'm tired of words that hold no power. These are just thoughts. Ones that are often not shared. Ones that only are seen when I am honest. Christ desires a horrifing thing. He wants us. All of us. To be everything we need. Will I let Him change me?
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