A few months ago I was asked the question. Why are so many Christians in the western world not attending church? At the time I did not have an answer that captured the true reason for this. Months passed and as I would share my faith with people they all seemed to give similar answers. “I do not go to church because I do not find it relevant and I have been hurt more by them than by anyone outside the church.” This response can have you take on two responses. 1. Everyone gets hurt so get over it. 2. The bible tells us to go to Church. But if we continue to respond with the same answers nothing is going to change. Yes it is true that people can get hurt in church. Yet many believe that church should be a place of restoration not a place that hurts and leaves you wanting. The word says that it is the goodness of God that leads a man to repent. Romans 2:4 If people are leaving because of hurt are we the church truly walking in Gods goodness? The second response is just as important. Are we relevant? I have to be honest and say I agree with most of the people I shared with. The church today is not being relevant. Now before you get on the defensive let me explain why. The church has become a place to entertain, a place which gives instant gratification; it’s become a place where all the work is done for you. Today in most churches you do not see a cross, and the power of the Holy Spirit is not evident, nor do you see many bibles as the verses shared are placed on a screen. I believe this causes people to not look in their bible at church and this is then replicated at home. The lack of the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit is not evident in many churches and I believe this is what has made the church irrelevant. Why have we denied the power and are happy to dish out a watered down Christianity that is not relevant to a dying world? Most churches are preaching to the masses to make them feel good, the response given by many that the church has become not relevant is true. Why would you want to go to a church that has no power and is appearing to be no different than what you see in our world leaders? The songs sung are ones that say we are not there yet, we need to try harder. We are longing for God to come, or draw me close, wrap your arms around me. Come on guys how much closer can God get if you are born again? He lives inside your spirit by the Holy Spirit? The word says Eph 1:21 That we are already seated in Heavenly places far above principalities and powers and rulers in wicked places. 1 John 4:17 (KJV) That we are as Christ we have the anointing. Yet how many songs do you sing thanking God for the finished work? And how many sermons do you hear that tell you what you are in Christ? Honestly not that many. We are bombarded from every angle. Just turn on the TV and religion in the most part is put down. And while I am on this subject how many so called Christian movies depict God as He really is? For example the movie Heaven is for real. Was a great movie in the fact that it had no bad language yet the fundamental story line was that no one really believed that Heaven was real? They thought that God was a God that is there to get you through the tuff times and they even thought that it may have been Him who brought the trials, and you can never know what life will throw at you, so just struggle through and one day you will get out of here. The movie Noah had God as a vindictive God, and Noah had to do the dirty work for Him. When I read the Bible I see a God of love and Jesus who is God one who longs to have fellowship with his creation, and desires them to live a life of abundant blessings. So I suppose the answer is we all stay home and forget about church? I do not think so. The answer is we really need to get off our blessed assurance, and become who God says we are. We are to represent Jesus. I believe we need to have a true encounter with the God of love. Not leave our bible study up to others from the pulpit to force feed us one or twice a week. It is time to grow up and become the heirs of salvation. And as an heir we are to act and know what we are responsible for. The bible is not a little dab will do you it is a book that we are to live by. We are not poor and down trodden just barely getting by till one day we might go to heaven. We have been given this planet to take dominion over Genesis 1:28 (KJV) 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth. We have not been left without divine help John 14:26 (KJV) 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. If we are to reach a world that thinks the church is irrelevant, truly we need to wake up face reality, show the world how relevant Christ Jesus is and take our place. It is important to be in a church that allows you to share your victories achieved through the week and then allows you to come to church to celebrate them with believers of like minds. And even when your week has been tough let the church be a place that heals and pours words of healing over its congregation. We need to become the church that never kills its wounded, a church that is not interested in the look at me, but look unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. The bottom line is we are to be kind to others; the church is not about you, it’s about Jesus and us being his representative. When we ALL do this we will become relevant. James 5:8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draws nigh. By Pastor Kathy Clark
Posted on: Sat, 16 Aug 2014 21:52:30 +0000
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