Let me begin by asking that if you are reading this blog to please take the time to make a comment. I am not looking for praise but rather a headcount. I would like to know how effective this tool is for communicating with you the members of TRBA.
Having said that let me ask you another one of those thought provoking questions? ”When did being a Christian become all about me?” It has always been my understanding that being a Christian has never been about me. But in today’s church it has become all about me. (You do know that I am talking about the generic “me” not “me” specifically.) It seems that in today’s church it is no longer about Christ but about “my wants” and “my desires”. And in doing so we have lost something very significant — the Lordship of Christ. Today we no longer show the kind of reverence and fear of the Lord that is needed and required. It is more about “our” preferences, “our” wants, and “our” comfort than about serving and worshipping a Holy God.
For example, “How many times have we heard people argue about worship music?” The arguments rarely concern how the music glorifies God. It is more about what kind of music “I” like. Or what about church having to be comfortable and non-threatening or I won’t attend? I have literally seen situations where people would rather have their church die rather than return to it being about Christ. Remember, I attend a lot of different churches — not just TRBA churches but many churches from other places as well. So maybe I have seen more of this than some of you may have noticed.
Is it only me that sees this or do you see it as well? If so what are some of the things that you see? (Without being negative or derogatory to anyone in particular) What steps can we take to return to it being about Christ and not about us?
In the churches that I have been a member of, so often it seems like petty jealousies and church member politics have been the focus of the membership, rather than the love of Christ, evangelizing, or most things relating to Jesus Christ and His message to the world. So, I would suggest that this is not a new phenomenon, but rather that the “blanketing” of what we do in the church beginning and ending in Jesus is starting to wear thin. It’s not wearing thin because it’s wearing out, but rather because we as people would rather focus on the pieces of the quilt instead of on the stitching that holds it together.
I read your blog everytime you post. Keep posting!
Darcy and I have been blessed with the opportunity to attend many many different churches across the country and it has taken us out of our “me” ness and into a stronger and more open relationship with God. We have worshiped in hotel meeting rooms where your cost of entering was a hug and we have walked out of churches where the Pastor is the main focus instead of God and you can feel the tension in the air from the membership.
I would have to say that we were once very focused on what WE were looking for in a church and not what we could offer to a church body.
We were also taught that when we go to church we are to go and do all for Christ with Excellence! He deserves our best every moment of every day and that can’t include the pettiness.
Thanks for the reminder Pastor Dan
Last year Pastor Doug and I attended a training meeting at TRBA. I went to the Sunday School leadership training session (I am the adult Sunday School teacher). When I returned to the church I asked my class if they wanted to “change the two cities we live in for Christ?” I heard a resounding “YES!” We started writing prayer request on the fellowship hall’s walls (that’s right we write on the walls). We decided that if we (we average 9 in our class) get on fire for Christ, Satan will notice and come after us (he did). Our class is still studying the “Life words book from fall 2008. There is just too much GOOD STUFF there to run through it in an hour on Sunday morning. We also took a month to six weeks in the middle of Sunday School (I ramble too, Dr. Don.) to study the Armor of God, which we are going to come back to in a few weeks (there’s a great gal in our class that is a great teacher, that I use when I can). Hopeful very soon we are going to study Angels which will lead us to study about Satan (we need to know our adversary).
Is church about me (I)?
No, but it is about me so God can move me where I need to be.
If you want to be on fire for Christ, be ready for a fight. if your church isn’t going anywhere Satan isn’t worried about it. Make sure you do at least the following things:
1. Pray, Pray, Pray. The first prayer request we wrote on the wall was for our pastor and family. Satan will surley go for him. Did I say pray?
2. Be in the word. We are never in His word enough.
3. Be in church every chance you get.
4. Did I mention to pray.
5. If something comes up, and it will, and you are at odds with the believer/s. Take care of it as soon as possible.