This past week I have been reading through Hosea and ran across this verse. "For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings." (Hosea 6:6). This verse was in the context of God's rebuke for the nation of Israel concering their sins against Him. This isn't the only place that God makes this kind of statement. In Matthew, Jesus rebukes the religious leaders of his day by quoting from Isaiah. He said, "You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: 'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men'." (Mat 15:7-9).
The principle is clear. God values heart relationship over religious regulations. In both passages we see that God is primarily concerned with heart issues. Mercy, knowledge of God (referring to an intimate relationship), and the condition of their heart are what God is concerned about. Their sacrifices, their words and even their worship are all secondary issues in God's eyes. So, it made me wonder where we have failed in this area. While it is easy to sit in judgment on the Israelites who followed after false gods and the Pharisees of Jesus' day who were driven by man-made rules I wonder if modern Christianity is really any better?
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Afraid To Be A Christian
My wife and I have once again been ensnared in the clutches of an exciting, thriller-style TV show on Netflix. With 4 young children at home it is often difficult for us to watch a full-length movie on most evenings, but we have discovered that through Netflix we can watch a TV show commercial free and it lasts about 45 minutes. So we have got caught up in a show called "Prison Break." I am not recommending it for everyone, but we definitely enjoy it. The entire first season is about a brilliant engineer trying to break out his brother who has been unjustly framed for murder. In the second season they are now running from the local law enforcement, the FBI, and everyone who has seen the local news. As I watched the show last night it struck me how paranoid they had become. Anyone who looked at them twice had become someone to run away from, even though the reality is that most people wouldn't actually connect the dots. The fear was mostly in their own minds and they had become afraid of everyone and everything. What a horrible way to live. Constantly looking over your shoulder wondering if someone was going to rat you out and judgment would be around the next corner. But what I find most interesting about all of this is that I believe most Christians from conservative or fundamental backgrounds are living their lives exactly like these paranoid men on this show. I would like to propose that the Church has created Christians who are afraid to be Christians.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
The Christless Church
This is a continuation of my critique of the church in America. When I use the term "Christless" Church I am not referring to any particular congregation, but more to a mindset in general that I believe is prevalent in American Churchdom.
So, what is the "Christless" Church? I believe that this question can be answered by applying a test to our congregation or assembly. The question is this, "If Christ (or the Holy Spirit) were to be removed from our churches what difference would it make?" We have created so many programs and ministries that keep God's people running around busy and feeling like they are serving, but what do they have to do with Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit? How many people in our churches would still have their Sunday School classes, Vacation Bible School's, AWANA programs, basketball camps, ladies fellowships, etc. and never even notice that Christ wasn't really part of the picture?
Just look at the "tried and proven" method of creating a large church. Usually we get a team together of successful businessmen and businesswomen, effective entrepreneurs, shrewd retirees, and idealistic students to combine forces with a dynamic pastor and create a "successful" church. We need a few key elements to make this church a success. First we need a great performance. This requires a charismatic communicator as the teaching pastor. Even if we have to put him on a television screen this is an absolute must. Next we need an accomplished musician to lead the worship team with a strong band. Third, we need a place to hold the crowds that will come. Everything better be top notch, excellent and attractive. After all that is what we expect and deserve, isn't it? Fourth, once the crowds get there we have programst to keep them interested. So we start first-class, well-done programs for kids, teens, families, every age and every stage must be accomodated. We need professionals to run them. That way parents can drop off their kids and not have to worry about them. We should post a sign at the door that says, "Don't try this at home."
You may not like this picture, but isn't this what we honestly believe is a "successful" church? But notice what is missing? None of this - the dynamic speaking, the first-class programs, the great facilities - requires Jesus Christ. How many churches could continue running their programs, smoothly and effectively, drawing crowds each Sunday even if the Holy Spirit were virtually absent? That is my question for the church in America.
What if we didn't have any of these things? What if we just had the Bible? What if we said that we would meet at 8am (normal work hours during the week) on Sunday and open our Bibles and start teaching and discussing the Bible. Maybe we would go until lunch or maybe we would go all day. We would take time for questions and we would do our best to answer them. There would be no music, no piano, no band, no announcements, no programs, nothing but God's Word. Would we come? Would we be interested? I wonder.
So, what is the "Christless" Church? I believe that this question can be answered by applying a test to our congregation or assembly. The question is this, "If Christ (or the Holy Spirit) were to be removed from our churches what difference would it make?" We have created so many programs and ministries that keep God's people running around busy and feeling like they are serving, but what do they have to do with Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit? How many people in our churches would still have their Sunday School classes, Vacation Bible School's, AWANA programs, basketball camps, ladies fellowships, etc. and never even notice that Christ wasn't really part of the picture?
Just look at the "tried and proven" method of creating a large church. Usually we get a team together of successful businessmen and businesswomen, effective entrepreneurs, shrewd retirees, and idealistic students to combine forces with a dynamic pastor and create a "successful" church. We need a few key elements to make this church a success. First we need a great performance. This requires a charismatic communicator as the teaching pastor. Even if we have to put him on a television screen this is an absolute must. Next we need an accomplished musician to lead the worship team with a strong band. Third, we need a place to hold the crowds that will come. Everything better be top notch, excellent and attractive. After all that is what we expect and deserve, isn't it? Fourth, once the crowds get there we have programst to keep them interested. So we start first-class, well-done programs for kids, teens, families, every age and every stage must be accomodated. We need professionals to run them. That way parents can drop off their kids and not have to worry about them. We should post a sign at the door that says, "Don't try this at home."
You may not like this picture, but isn't this what we honestly believe is a "successful" church? But notice what is missing? None of this - the dynamic speaking, the first-class programs, the great facilities - requires Jesus Christ. How many churches could continue running their programs, smoothly and effectively, drawing crowds each Sunday even if the Holy Spirit were virtually absent? That is my question for the church in America.
What if we didn't have any of these things? What if we just had the Bible? What if we said that we would meet at 8am (normal work hours during the week) on Sunday and open our Bibles and start teaching and discussing the Bible. Maybe we would go until lunch or maybe we would go all day. We would take time for questions and we would do our best to answer them. There would be no music, no piano, no band, no announcements, no programs, nothing but God's Word. Would we come? Would we be interested? I wonder.
Monday, June 28, 2010
The Separated Church
This week we will examine The Separated Church as another problem with the American Church today. This probably doesn't need to be said, but the Bible cleary teaches that there is only One Church and only One Body of Christ. What I am presenting in these blogs is the idea that individual local churches often pick up certain "flavors" that characterize their attitudes, their ministries, and their members. So this week we will look at The Separated Church.
Monday, June 14, 2010
"The Holy Church"
"The Holy Church" in this blog is to be distinguished from "The Separated Church," which I will talk about next week. Although they are very similar and usually go hand in hand, the distinction I would make is that The "Holy" Church discussion has to do more with personal and individual holiness from all that is percieved to be sinful or worldly while The "Separated" Church has to do more with separation from Christians or non-Christians that participate in any of these activities.
Let me begin by making some things very clear. First of all the Bible calls all Christians to be holy. 1Peter 1:14-15 says, "As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, (15) but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct." So there is no question that we, as believers, are called to be holy people. The question that must be answered is "What does it mean to be holy?" The word "holy" in both the Hebrew and Greek simply means "to separate." This is why the angels in Isaiah 6 as they circle the throne of heaven cry out "Holy, holy, holy" to God Almighty. The angels are perfectly pure and sinless, but God is still separated from them because of His very nature. That is the definition of holy - to be separate. In the Scriptures it is very clear that this holiness is in relation to sin. We are to be separated from the sin that comes from Satan, our flesh, and the sinful world system around us. Remember that we are never called to be separated from sinners (cf. I Cor 5:9ff), but from there sinful activities. So this is the biblical definition of holiness. A truly "Holy" church is one that encourages and teaches its people to separate from sin, but also teaches them to interact with the culture around us and love the people of this world (kind of like God does in John 3:16). I have no problem with this kind of church. So why did I entitle this critique "The Holy Church."
Let me begin by making some things very clear. First of all the Bible calls all Christians to be holy. 1Peter 1:14-15 says, "As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, (15) but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct." So there is no question that we, as believers, are called to be holy people. The question that must be answered is "What does it mean to be holy?" The word "holy" in both the Hebrew and Greek simply means "to separate." This is why the angels in Isaiah 6 as they circle the throne of heaven cry out "Holy, holy, holy" to God Almighty. The angels are perfectly pure and sinless, but God is still separated from them because of His very nature. That is the definition of holy - to be separate. In the Scriptures it is very clear that this holiness is in relation to sin. We are to be separated from the sin that comes from Satan, our flesh, and the sinful world system around us. Remember that we are never called to be separated from sinners (cf. I Cor 5:9ff), but from there sinful activities. So this is the biblical definition of holiness. A truly "Holy" church is one that encourages and teaches its people to separate from sin, but also teaches them to interact with the culture around us and love the people of this world (kind of like God does in John 3:16). I have no problem with this kind of church. So why did I entitle this critique "The Holy Church."
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
The Comfortable Church
Last week I wrote about the Social Club Church. I decided to turn this into a kind of series and each week I will write about a different "Church" mentality that we have created (at least in the USA, that is). Today's church is called The Comfortable Church. All you have to do is talk to a few people looking for churches or people who really enjoy their church and find that the issue of being "comfortable" is a big deal for American Christians. I hear phrases like this all the time. "Well, we just weren't comfortable with that church." "The preaching at that church made us feel uncomfortable." "So and so's church wasn't very welcoming and we didn't feel very comfortable there."
Being comfortable is big business in our society. We have all sorts of gadgets and electronics that are designed to make it easier for us to cook, clean, live, etc. This all translates into making us more comfortable. We are not used to discomfort in America. If something makes us feel uncomfortable it must be a problem and we will change the channel, put the book down, walk away from the conversation, or leave our church to find one that is more comfortable.
The problem with all of this is that Christians are never called to be comfortable (contrary to Joel Osteen's message). Actually you find that the most common illustrations of the Christian life have to do with hard work, enduring through trials, and focusing on the prize. Illustrations about athletics, a soldiers life, or the hard work of a farmer abound in Scripture (Eph 6, 1 Tim 2). We have made "comfort" a new idol of America. We don't want to be made uncomfortable and we will fight for our comfort at all costs. This comes across in several ways.
First, we see it in a lack of commitment. People are comfortable. They don't want to be bothered with committing to serve in a church body. They don't want to volunteer their time to serve at a homeless shelter or make meals for a rescue mission. They are too busy with their own life to be inconvenienced with loving someone else who has needs in their church. We have replaced a sacrificial love for others with a love for own comfort.
Second, we see it in the preaching. Pastors want people to leave every Sunday feeling comfortable. Unfortunately we see no biblical precedent for this. Every time the Apostle Peter or Paul preached it was very direct and created a division between those who chose for Christ and those who chose against Christ. I have actually told my people that if my messages make them feel uncomfortable then that probably means we are on the right track. We should be made to feel uncomfortable. The church isn't a petting zoo, but a training grounds. Our primary purpose is to build people up. We must love others, but true love will also involve dealing with sin and holding people accountable to their commtiment to follow Christ and be more like Him every day.
Third, we see it in our lack of discipleship. We toss this word around, but do we really mean it. Do we really believe that the last command given to us by Jesus Christ was to make disciples (Matt 28:19-20)? If we do, then why aren't we more serious about it? Attending a service once (or twice) a week isn't a commitment to discipleship. That is a commitment to be fed each week by your local pastor and hang out with Christians (called "fellowship" to make it sound more spiritual). Where is our commitment to disciple others? Where are the men and women stepping up to train others in one-on-one situations or small group sessions? This is where true discipleship will take place. This is where you can get to the heart of the matter and discuss personal sin issues and hold people accountable for their actions, while also encouraging them and loving them on a personal basis.
Enough of being comfortable. I don't want to be comfortable; I want to be Christ-like.
Being comfortable is big business in our society. We have all sorts of gadgets and electronics that are designed to make it easier for us to cook, clean, live, etc. This all translates into making us more comfortable. We are not used to discomfort in America. If something makes us feel uncomfortable it must be a problem and we will change the channel, put the book down, walk away from the conversation, or leave our church to find one that is more comfortable.
The problem with all of this is that Christians are never called to be comfortable (contrary to Joel Osteen's message). Actually you find that the most common illustrations of the Christian life have to do with hard work, enduring through trials, and focusing on the prize. Illustrations about athletics, a soldiers life, or the hard work of a farmer abound in Scripture (Eph 6, 1 Tim 2). We have made "comfort" a new idol of America. We don't want to be made uncomfortable and we will fight for our comfort at all costs. This comes across in several ways.
First, we see it in a lack of commitment. People are comfortable. They don't want to be bothered with committing to serve in a church body. They don't want to volunteer their time to serve at a homeless shelter or make meals for a rescue mission. They are too busy with their own life to be inconvenienced with loving someone else who has needs in their church. We have replaced a sacrificial love for others with a love for own comfort.
Second, we see it in the preaching. Pastors want people to leave every Sunday feeling comfortable. Unfortunately we see no biblical precedent for this. Every time the Apostle Peter or Paul preached it was very direct and created a division between those who chose for Christ and those who chose against Christ. I have actually told my people that if my messages make them feel uncomfortable then that probably means we are on the right track. We should be made to feel uncomfortable. The church isn't a petting zoo, but a training grounds. Our primary purpose is to build people up. We must love others, but true love will also involve dealing with sin and holding people accountable to their commtiment to follow Christ and be more like Him every day.
Third, we see it in our lack of discipleship. We toss this word around, but do we really mean it. Do we really believe that the last command given to us by Jesus Christ was to make disciples (Matt 28:19-20)? If we do, then why aren't we more serious about it? Attending a service once (or twice) a week isn't a commitment to discipleship. That is a commitment to be fed each week by your local pastor and hang out with Christians (called "fellowship" to make it sound more spiritual). Where is our commitment to disciple others? Where are the men and women stepping up to train others in one-on-one situations or small group sessions? This is where true discipleship will take place. This is where you can get to the heart of the matter and discuss personal sin issues and hold people accountable for their actions, while also encouraging them and loving them on a personal basis.
Enough of being comfortable. I don't want to be comfortable; I want to be Christ-like.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Social Club Church
One of my great concerns with Christianity is our view of the Church. I believe that if there is one single doctrine that has been misunderstood, misinterpreted, and just plain twisted it is the doctrine of the Church (Ecclesiology for any theology buffs). There are many different aspects to our "heretical" view of the Church. The one I would like to discuss today is the Social Club mentality.
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