If professing Christians cannot be distinguished from the world now, they will not be distinguished from the world in the Day of Judgement.

~ Anonymous

A Challenge

Challenge yourself this week to spend as much time praying for someone in need of God’s salvation as you spend watching television or reading a book.

Were you converted to the Lord Jesus Christ or just talked into being baptized?

~ anonymous

Misconceptions about the Church

I find myself limiting “church” quite a bit, by certain expectations I have of what church should be and do. I bring this up, only because it was brought to my attention by doing a Google search under “church outreach ideas.” I begin to see the same list over and over and over again. Is this what church is all about?? Are my expectations and pre-concieved notions Biblical? I think it’s time to evaluate.

First of all, I don’t think church should be an activity center. We’re not supposed to be simply another organization to keep people’s schedules full. The church should be the BODY of Christ….something living….growing….etc.

Church literally means, “a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly” It is also referred to as the “Bride of Christ.”

But what comes to my mind when I think of “church?”

• Rallies
• Campouts
• VBS
• Fellowship dinners
• Sunday school classes
• Door to door calling
• Food shelves
• Clothing stores
• Visitor Greeters
• Weekly communion
• Song service, communion, prayer, sermon (in that order!)
• Kid’s outreach events
• Free stuff – car washes, ice cream, balloons etc

Sad, that these “programs” are what come to my mind first. I know that church should be about 

• worshipping God
• Grasping God’s word with a reality that can be lived out
• coming together in community and fellowship
• encouraging one another to grow
• sharing the same passion
• being led by the Holy Spirit 
• being amazed by Who God is and what He has done for us
• being inspired to live that out daily

But honestly, that’s not what first jumps to my mind.

When I did the online search for “Church outreach ideas,” basically all sites have the same ideas (with a few excpetions), no matter how old the site is. These appear everywhere:

• Car washes
• VBS
• Homeless ministry
• Super bowl parties
• Sponsor a child – a school – someone in jail – etc
• Family movie night
• Halloween alternative
• Easter something
• Christmas play – or songs- or food handouts
• Church yard sale
• Raking, mowing, etc
• Lock ins
• Lock outs
• Prayer rooms, programs, nights, lists

And I ask myself….”Is this what church is really all about?” What are we supposed to be DOING anyway?!

What is our purpose? Our goal? Our calling?

Is my goal to “get more people in the church,” or “get more ‘church’ into people?”

I know reaching out to people is important. But it is so saddedning and maddening to me, to see that “church” has become so PREDICTABLE. What are we offereing more than any other “good deed organization?” Shouldn’t the church be striving to fill a need in people’s live more than fill up their schedule?! I know at one point, that these were effective programs, getting “churched” and “unchurched” people together to mingle. But with our lives so busy now, why would people want to add more? Are we really seeking their/our needs, in God’s way?

I know the theme is, use these ideas and ADD God into it so they get that need filled. But I’m wondering, are these programs really effective right now? Should we be asking ourselves if there is another way God can use us right now?

And so I see….I need more compassion for the people, not an effort to have a large congregation. I see that the most effective way of sharing God, is building reltionships, almost outside of church. I see that I need a lot of prayer. And I need a shift in my “program orientation” so that I’m not doing SO MUCH that I forget our highest calling.

“Jesus replied, ” All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore, go and make disciples out of every nation; Baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you” Matthew 28:18-19

Step Into the Fire – Part 5

I read recently, an artice about Embezzling. It asked, “Are you an embezeler?”

To Embezzle: to appropriate fraudulently to one’s own use, as money or property entrusted to one’s care. (Dictionary.com)

Normally, when I think of embezzle, I think of high financial officers or corporate fiascos. But, the hard-hitting point of the article was, do I embezzle from God and/or do I embezzle from my employer?

Embezzle From God

Do I take God’s glory for my own? Do I take His gifts and services for granted? Do I take my talents at my own credit? Do I take encouragements to my profit?

When someone says, “Good job playing the piano this morning,” do I thank God?

When my husband commends me on accomplishing my list of tasks, do I allow that God entrusts me the time to do such lists? Or do I think I have acheived it on my own willpower?

When someone says, “You are always optomistic,” do I confess, not by my strength and not always.

When people say, “It’s inspiring to see what you can do for God,” do I admit, “By God’s grace!” ?

When a friend says, “That’s a great idea,” and I know it’s not my own, but came by prayer and reading, do I share the source?

In any given day, I am allowed so many opportunities to turn praise and thoughts to God, and yet so often I fall back on my own personality and strengths!

The Bible warns us of planning the future, without giving credit that God controls it.

Embezzle from Work

The other thought, is have I embezzled from work? It does not have to be monitarily….

• Have you consistently arrived late to work or use work time for other activities? You are embezzling time.

God asks us, as Christians, to set an example in speech, in life, in love, and in purity. It includes making sure you’re not an embezzler, of any sort. God wants us to be honest, trustworthy, and of noble character!

We can Step up to the Fire/Stand for the Truth, when we make a difference by not embezzling.

To catch up on the other posts, click the Tag “Step Into the Fire.”

I would not consider any spirituality worthwhile that wants to walk in sweetness and ease and run from the imitation of Christ.

~ John Climacus

 

Many who talk much say little.

Taking a closer look….

What is Worship?

Matthew 5:8-9

 ”These people honor me with their lips but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain. Their teaching are but rules taught by men.”

1. What is true worship?
2. When does it occur?
3. Is it spontaneous?
4. Is it planned?
5. How can you tell if it is fake or real?
6. What are some “self-checks” in order to make sure we are not “worshipping with our mouths, but our hearts are far from God?”

 

Step Into the Fire – Part 4

Last week, I made a list of truths and fires to study. The first truth, I think, is that there is a God. One God.

It amazes me as I step out into our culture, how more and more people actually don’t believe in any god….and if they do….there’s a “variety” to choose from.

1 Corinthians 8:6 says,

⁶yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

We went for a trip to the Natural History Museum in D.C. recently. While there was a lot to see, the part that has stuck with me the longest, is how prevalent evolution was in that museum, and how permanently displayed. There was a individual theatre devoted to Evolution. In almost every display, from fossils to jellyfish to plants and insects, billions of years was assumed and thus stated.

There were no suggestions that it was a theory.

There were no mentions of any other possible views.

It was taken for granted, that if you believe in science, you believe in evolution. It was presented as fact.

Yet, we know this not to be true. Genesis 1 describes creation. We know that no one knows the very beginning, before time beginning. We know that there are missing pieces and information that evolution is still seeking.

But why is it presented as fact?!

Fire #1 – Evolution is fact. The earth is billions of years old. God did not create the world. If you question this you are ignorant and unscientific.

Truth #1 - Creation displays a Creator. The earth is not billions of years old. There are many scientific people who believe in Creation or Intelligent Design.

The prevalence of evolution being taken for granted by the general public appalls me. It surprises me. It humbles me.

I see that this is one fire I can watch out for and work to “put out.”

• I can let people know, in common conversations, when evolution is referenced, that there are people out there who don’t take it for granted.
• I can study and research more on this topic, so that I am more equipped for the right answer.
• I can pray for those in schools and leadership, that they would stand for the truth.
• I can make every effort to teach in accordance to God’s word.
• I can show kids there is evidence in nature.
• I can make good books available on the subject in the church library.

Do you have any other ideas or real experience?

For verses about God in creation, see here.

For some interesting websites, check out these links:

• Answers in Genesis 
• Institute of Creation Research
• eXpelled DVD

Note to Self

Note to Self:

Don’t try to be a leader until you can learn to follow.