Years ago someone handed me this book called "Loose Change", since then it has become one of the many books I have read regarding change in the churches of christ. I found it interesting in some ways but somewhat funny in other ways.
A lady that worships with us at Port City said that one of her friends from another church gave her a copy and wanted her to read it, saying "It could save your soul." Apparently this book is now floating "loosely" through our area. Trying to "equip" people against our evil ways. This saddens me. I am struggling with this because of some of the comments I have heard from it. I am dissapointed because I am blown away at the fact that we just can't seem to be unified in our goals to seek and save the lost. Why do we feel that if another church or brother does something different than what we are used to (comfortable with) then they are obviuosly in error. Why does that have to be? Why have we sought to bind others where God has not bound anything.
I am OK with people who feel like they need to set themselves some boundaries for their own personal needs, that I think is fine. I am not OK with those who have declared that since they need such boundaries everyone else must too.
I am really struggling right now with our hearts. I have read much lately in regard to the heart, and have even been dealing with heart issues of sorts in my own church. One thing that I have made a part of our weekly worship time at PC is sharing some thoughts on where our heart needs to be in worship. I have struggled to come to the realization that not everybody comes to church ready to have an awesome worship experience like I do.
But it isn't even about the worship, it's about the daily heart;
"But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart,"
That is what Jesus said.
I guess often I am discouraged, not becaue I think people have bad hearts, but because lately I have found my self so concerened about the hearts of some that I know. Especially when I hear statements like; "read this, it could save your soul." Is a book going to get it done? No way! Until we start looking at the heart....a book adds up to a bunch of useless words, no matter what you believe or what it says.
"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing."
I am glad that God loves me enough not to care about what others think about me. I am glad that if I live in a lifestyle of love then God is pleased with my life.
Father, thank you for your willingness to love me for who I am. I know I don't have it all together, I know I am weak. Through you I have been made strong. Thank you for blessing me daily with your spirit and your love, may I pass it on to everyone that I know, and especially those that don't know you! Amen.
JD said...
Chris, you are expressing a lot of things on my heart right now. We are forced to walk on egg shells around each other because we have forgotten where we came from. I have been rolling around a thought in my mind for a few days that I'm sure will land on a blog somewhere on how the church has killed christianity. How long will God bless us when we no longer care to connect with the lost world around us? When it comes to religion we are basically a monastic order that would rather gather and chant than risk breaking our traditions in order to save one soul. Loose change isn't our problem ... but a tight-fisted heart is. Sometimes even mine.
CL said...
Jon, you are so right. It is quite frustrating, the thing right now is that I know God has great plans for His people, I just want be on the train when it leaves the station. One thing that I think is the most sad though is the fact that some are being used for Satan's handy work, and I pray that their eyes may be opened, God bless you brother.
Jeff said...
Hang in there, Chris. My family and I went through a very difficult time with a church almost two years ago. But God was faithful and brought us through safely to the other side, and blessed us more that we could have ever imagined. God is good and He's good all the time!
Hey -- did you try that French Toast recipe I posted on my blog (http://jeffslater.blogspot.com)? If so, how did it turn out?
Jeff
Jason Retherford said...
Chris,
I am right there with you brother. You ask some great questions, questions that we as a movement need to be asking more regularly. Keep asking those questions!
