Over the last few weeks I have posted less and less on my blog. I have been spending just a little bit of time trying to figure out why. Is it that I have nothing to say? Is it that I don't have any time? Is it that what I say will have no profound effect on anyone? Why does that matter? Shouldn't my blog be about me anyway? As you can see a myriad of questions popping up left and right. Either way here is what I am going to do.
I am going to continue to post, but I am going to get back to my original formula 0f sharing my heart and asking tough questions. The reason is, I often realize I have lots of things in my mind and heart I need to put down. All of you folks will only be fortunate enough to read it - if you so choose and respond if you feel a need. So that is where this will lead - I have some things on my heart that I will share but right now I will start with this:
On my heart lately has been the thought that we are inept. It's true. I have thought about it from this standpoint:
Will God get over us? I mean really - is it possible for him to feel about us like he did the Israelites.
I find my self in sadness over the fact that our world looks like this:
Hosea 5:1-5
1 "Hear this, you priests!
Pay attention, you Israelites!
Listen, O royal house!
This judgment is against you:
You have been a snare at Mizpah,
a net spread out on Tabor.
2 The rebels are deep in slaughter.
I will discipline all of them.
3 I know all about Ephraim;
Israel is not hidden from me.
Ephraim, you have now turned to prostitution;
Israel is corrupt.
4 "Their deeds do not permit them
to return to their God.
A spirit of prostitution is in their heart;
they do not acknowledge the LORD.
5 Israel’s arrogance testifies against them;
the Israelites, even Ephraim, stumble in their sin;
Judah also stumbles with them.
Is that what we have come to? Is it just me or do our churches not look much different?
I have found myself in prayer that this is not the case:
Hosea 5:6-11
6 When they go with their flocks and herds
to seek the LORD,
they will not find him;
he has withdrawn himself from them.
7 They are unfaithful to the LORD;
they give birth to illegitimate children.
Now their New Moon festivals
will devour them and their fields.
8 "Sound the trumpet in Gibeah,
the horn in Ramah.
Raise the battle cry in Beth Aven£;
lead on, O Benjamin.
9 Ephraim will be laid waste
on the day of reckoning.
Among the tribes of Israel
I proclaim what is certain.
10 Judah’s leaders are like those
who move boundary stones.
I will pour out my wrath on them
like a flood of water.
11 Ephraim is oppressed,
trampled in judgment,
intent on pursuing idols.£
I fear this what we have become - trying to serve an awesome God who is growing angry and weary of us...
I am examining so many things in my own heart right now, so much of what I have been taught. A gospel that is self serving and really doesn't separate us from the world. Yet Jesus life and teaching was so revolutionary. I have been praying a lot about how this is all presented to our teens. And I feel bad for so many of them who attend MCS, because I know what they are being taught and how it is being presented and then they come and are a part of what I am teaching - and I know these things have to conflict for them so much.
The main question I am asking is: Is Jesus truly the focal point of all of our teaching and everything we do?I feel like we have watered things down in so many ways that we have sort of allowed Jesus to wait until the invitation to get his mention. I'm not talking about presenting things in a positive relevant way, I am talking about centering everything on Jesus. In my opinion, I think a lot of our churches aren't growing because people are over the health and wealth and just want to be led to a loving, caring, radical savior who loved people enough to buck the norm.
The other problem - we don't live and follow that Jesus. We follow the very nicley placed in my pocket and he's there when I need him Jesus who gave up his life
just for me and I serve him on Sundays when I show up to punch my ticket and didn't you know I have no problems and that everything in my world is perfect and I would never share any real problems with you cause what would you think of me?
And here I am,
guilty as charged...
I don't want to serve that Jesus anymore - I want to serve the Jesus that was honest, open, focused on the big picture, didn't care if you were offended by his meesage, loved everyone because he is everyone's savior, Not just mine.
Father, break the old Jesus out of me - the untrue Jesus - Make me like your real Son. I am not worthy to be called a child of God, but I want to be like your Son if you will allow me. May I truly die to myself and become what He has called me to be = His hands, and His feet in the truest form. Not in my perfectly translated, just has to be this or that way form. But His! May you break our churches - all of them - remake them into something that Jesus would want to associate with as His true bride. I love you. Amen.
Donna G said...
Amen!!
JD said...
Chris, today's post is an excellent example of WHY you need to keep writing on your blog. Excellent.
JD said...
Knock Knock.
