Let Me Be Honest
13 Jul 2011 11 Comments
in The Life
I’m sure you’ve noticed…a lot of people have a bad taste in their mouth about Church. Capital c.
Some say they’ve been hurt by the church, some don’t like the rules, or the music, or the pastor, I think most don’t like the people, which I get. But I don’t know, you always hear conversations about church. I’ve had my questions too and miles of tangled up thoughts. I know this though… Jesus came to earth and while he was here, he founded the church. He believed it to be something of paramount importance and so if he think that, I think I ought to as well if I claim to follow him. I’m not a church basher. I think the church is God’s woman and we need to be careful how we talk about his woman.
I had this thought today…feel free to add on.
If we believe in a message and in a God that is counter-cultural, why do we put so much energy into making everything culturally relevant, popularized, and palatable? It is the Spirit of God that draws a person to himself, that prepares a heart for his keeping. We can’t woo people into salvation. We can connect them to God, but we can’t manipulate them into heaven no matter how awesome our music and stage lights are. Who cares if we have a rock star preacher, a hip coffee shop, a killer worship album, or if we think its okay drink beer. Our becoming more assimilated to the unchurched world won’t make them think we’re any cooler. The heart of it hasn’t changed. It’s still about Jesus. It’s still about laying down your life as a sacrifice. It’s still about the very things that are oxymorons compared to the world’s standards. I’m afraid we’re trying to morph our churches into christian country clubs, marketing ours as if it is better than the church down the street. I’m afraid we’re missing it for the sake of being cool and culturally acceptable.
Don’t you think we’ve made it too complex? We’ve made it too fancy and entertaining. God isn’t entertaining, He isn’t some program we buy into. He’s all powerful and great and we’ll never fully understand Him. I feel we’ve tried squeezing him into our 15 minute worship slots and 30 minute comedy preaching, and sometimes, we don’t even acknowledge or touch Him. Is all the elaborate programming worth a hit-or-miss encounter with Jesus?
I just want to get back to the basics. I want to just meet with Jesus. I want to just be.
Jul 13, 2011 @ 11:19:47
“If we believe in a message and in a God that is counter-cultural, why do we put so much energy into making everything culturally relevant, popularized, and palatable?”
Call it seeker-sensitive or contemporary or relevant or whatever hip words we can come up with (contempervant?), Jesus calls it lukewarm – Rev. 3:16. We must get back to the basics – authentic spirit-filled community for His renown.
Jul 13, 2011 @ 11:59:42
Exactly! I Love my Wife, she is not perfect, but if you talk bad about her or do her wrong in word or deed, I will defend her with everything I have. I will also go out of my way to advocate for her, I will take “her side” at her work, in our church, at our kids school, with my family & friends. if she has any needs I will strive to meet them to the best of my ability or help them get met another way.
Isn’t that how most men treat their “Woman” ?
so isn’t that how we should treat “our” church, Jesus Church (Bride) ?
Jul 13, 2011 @ 12:42:59
AMEN AMEN AMEN AMEN!!!!!!! Thanks for posting-could not AGREE more!!!!!! Bless you Nicole. This is my passion in a HUGE way. And I tend to feel more out of place with with “Christians” than anyone else!! My unsaved friends kind of expect the counter-cultural living…I think they even look for it.
Jul 13, 2011 @ 12:54:25
I agree…I get tired of hearing every excuse out there as to why church isn’t worth going to. I just say no person is perfect so no church can be perfect, if you’re looking for a problem you’re going to find one. It’s about Jesus and sacrificing a little time on your weekend to say this time is for meeting with and learning about him. Thanks
Jul 13, 2011 @ 13:03:58
I think you’ve hit it right on the head. The Church are those called out of this world to be “in” the world, but not “of” the world. The message of the Gospel is not a comfortable message. It blasts the very core of our being with the truth that Jesus is the only way to the Father. We can’t afford to “play” church, we are called to “be” the church, the bride of Christ. Thanks, Nicole. Great post.
Jul 13, 2011 @ 16:36:14
I like your thoughts Nicole… sometimes we just make it too complicated.
Also I hear people say they can’t come to church cause the people there are either hypocrites, or too judgemental. I suppose there are churches like that, or even individuals like that in churches, however I think by and large, these “non-church” people become convicted of something in their life, don’t want to change, thus in their mind it’s the Christians who are judgemental.
In the end it’s about Jesus, cultivating that relationship with Him, then with our fellow believers, and shining our (Jesus’) light for others.
Jul 13, 2011 @ 22:30:07
This is so true, I couldn’t agree with you more!! I also like what you said tonight at Mosaic, can’t remember exactually what you said but it was something along of what was said in your blog.
I remember when I was yonger and attended a diffrent church, it wasn’t all lights, guitars, drums, pianos etc. It was just hyms and the organ. Yea it was boring at times but it was great just to meet with god with out the glits and glamer that our world offers us today!! I think in today’s culture we try to be “people pleasers” and we amp everything up just so it will be pleasing and inviting to people that don’t like church. I have been thinking about this more and more while working on my discussion & reading my book “Called To Worship”. I think what we need to do is go back to the basic, take everything else away!
Jul 14, 2011 @ 00:27:48
I agree 100%. The Chruch is God’s bride, His proud possession; we ought to respect her.
People usually cross the correction line over to condemnation of the Church’s imperfections.
(**sigh**) Thank G0d for grace.
Jul 14, 2011 @ 09:20:31
Good thoughts Nicole. Keep thinking! Keep writing! Keep Jesus at THE center. Dave
Jul 14, 2011 @ 10:01:45
Love this!!! BUT
I don’t think the flash or all the “cool” stuff is bad, but you need to look at the reasoning behind it. I think a lot of Churches become entertainment for people. They come to Church looking to be entertained by the music, lights, sweet youth rooms, they aren’t looking for an encounter with God, or to be spiritually fed…which I have been guilty of in the past. I think these “cool” things are a greattttt way to get people into the Church. Once they are there though, you can give them the Word and talk to them about Christ and what He’s done. This is the big debate in youth ministry. Do you focus on programs or discipleship…I am all for programs, but not when discipleship isn’t in the future. My job as a youth pastor in my mind is to disciple students and point them to Christ, but I can’t do this if students don’t want to come to my ministry, and they aren’t going to want to come to my ministry if it’s lame. So I believe the “cool” stuff or whatever you want to call it is okay, as long as it’s sole purpose is to bring people into the Church and not to entertain people…
Jul 14, 2011 @ 22:13:33
Great post! Love all the comments too. This is a message that needs to be brought forth by young leaders. Bless you!
It seems to me that there is a chip on some shoulders and that is called “unforgiveness” or “resentment” in scripture and that is what needs to be dealt with, not the Church.