I've been involved in church ministry for over 30 years... primarily in music and creative arts. And I've noticed a disturbing trend over the years that has seeped it's way into just about every aspect of "church life."
Control.
For some odd reason - call it ego - many well-intentioned believers feel the need to control - to take charge of - to help God with - what goes on in churches.
We form committees who debate about things that really, in the end, don't have that much importance - well, not compared to Salvation.
We try to regulate the use of certain songs or prayers or practices - anointing them as "holy" when, in fact, they are not holy. They are just - songs... or prayers... or practices. The only reason they have any sacred importance is because we have labeled them as such.
We feel the need to control what goes on in our churches, in our services, in our Sunday school classes - and more!
But - - the last time I checked - - God is the one in charge. And, He does not really need our help, thank you very much.
He just needs our unarguable loyalty, trust, obedience and worship.
We common saints must do much less controlling - and far more committing...
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Here's The Thing...
Assuming that all of us are, at some level, just a common saint, walking this planet, trying to live out what we believe the Bible teaches, trying to be "little Christs" to the world... then it seems to me that we portray that ID in ALL aspects of life - not just "church."
So, to all my Christian friends who have jumped aboard the "hate wagon" during this Presidential Campaign, can I just say - enough!
Each person has their "fav" who they want elected to the office of President. So be it. Not everyone shares the same passion YOU do for YOUR candidate. Thus we have the multi-party system in this country. That's one of the really cool things about America - - unity in diversity.
Well, that's what we SAY... but rarely do we live it out.
Enough with hammering someone JUST to show you are better... back in my school yard we called that "being a bully." And as I recall, the bully was usually the first to get paddled by the principal.
Every candidate has problems. All of them. Not one is above reproach. And NO candidate is worthy of the amount of blind loyalty some seem to be handing them. McCain is not God's appointed president. Obama is not the Savior of the nation. Palin is not gonna usher in the apocaplypes. Biden... uh, Biden... hmmm. I'll think of something later - once he does something.
How about this... shut your pie hole about your candidate -- vote as you feel led -- let the chips fall where they may -- and, for once in your life, learn to trust the ONLY one who really cares about this country.
God '08!
So, to all my Christian friends who have jumped aboard the "hate wagon" during this Presidential Campaign, can I just say - enough!
Each person has their "fav" who they want elected to the office of President. So be it. Not everyone shares the same passion YOU do for YOUR candidate. Thus we have the multi-party system in this country. That's one of the really cool things about America - - unity in diversity.
Well, that's what we SAY... but rarely do we live it out.
Enough with hammering someone JUST to show you are better... back in my school yard we called that "being a bully." And as I recall, the bully was usually the first to get paddled by the principal.
Every candidate has problems. All of them. Not one is above reproach. And NO candidate is worthy of the amount of blind loyalty some seem to be handing them. McCain is not God's appointed president. Obama is not the Savior of the nation. Palin is not gonna usher in the apocaplypes. Biden... uh, Biden... hmmm. I'll think of something later - once he does something.
How about this... shut your pie hole about your candidate -- vote as you feel led -- let the chips fall where they may -- and, for once in your life, learn to trust the ONLY one who really cares about this country.
God '08!
Sunday, October 12, 2008
How Big is God?
No, I mean that. How big is God?
I was talking with a comic recently - she happens to be a Christian - and we were bantering about how many Christians have elected to make their God so small that anything outside of a certain set of parameters just simply does not fit and, therefore, is not "of God."
But God is very big.
God created The Beatles. The Beatles never led anyone to Christ that I know of - but that does not discount that God created them and, I will go so far as to say that God even created their music. Anything "devilish" in their music is due to their own twisting of the beautiful creation of God's called music. And if God created music - it CANNOT be evil.
We Christians are great at building walls - and our walls keep outsiders out. And then we complain why nobody comes to church - or tithes. Guess what? They don't like us!
How big is God?
He's big enought to build bridges - and that's why I follow Him.
I was talking with a comic recently - she happens to be a Christian - and we were bantering about how many Christians have elected to make their God so small that anything outside of a certain set of parameters just simply does not fit and, therefore, is not "of God."
But God is very big.
God created The Beatles. The Beatles never led anyone to Christ that I know of - but that does not discount that God created them and, I will go so far as to say that God even created their music. Anything "devilish" in their music is due to their own twisting of the beautiful creation of God's called music. And if God created music - it CANNOT be evil.
We Christians are great at building walls - and our walls keep outsiders out. And then we complain why nobody comes to church - or tithes. Guess what? They don't like us!
How big is God?
He's big enought to build bridges - and that's why I follow Him.
Friday, October 10, 2008
T MINUS 10 SECONDS...
And - - - it's LAUNCHED!
Not sure how long this blog will last - time will tell.
Hopefully this will be a place for church-going folks who share my passion for "outside the box" thinking to share ideas, passions, dreams, visions and more related to how "the church" today is ineffective in impacting the lives of those they are called to impact and then offer solutions to solve this problem.
This is not "Gripe Central" - this is "Fix-It-Ville."
So, if you are just arriving, join the adventure and let's see if it might not be possible to become architects of bridges, rather than builders of walls...
Not sure how long this blog will last - time will tell.
Hopefully this will be a place for church-going folks who share my passion for "outside the box" thinking to share ideas, passions, dreams, visions and more related to how "the church" today is ineffective in impacting the lives of those they are called to impact and then offer solutions to solve this problem.
This is not "Gripe Central" - this is "Fix-It-Ville."
So, if you are just arriving, join the adventure and let's see if it might not be possible to become architects of bridges, rather than builders of walls...
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