The Emerging Relevant Church

In so many circles today we hear of the church's relevance. Some say that the church has become irrelevant because of out-dated worship, practices, mentality, etc. Most of these arguments I would agree with in that the church has become steeped in man-made traditions and dogma that is irrelevant to the gospel of Christ. Such is the ebb and flow of life; all things on this temporal plain change, degrade, and decay. Some groups go even further and say that a shift in doctrine is required for the church to remain relevant. They say that we need to have a paradigm shift in the core of the gospel message. They say that the gospel message itself must be changed, that we must focus more on the experience and the journey than the destination. They say that the gospel is outdated…

However what truly makes a church relevant or irrelevant is the gospel of Christ found in scripture. The gospel is the center of who we are and what we do as believers. We cannot change that gospel without changing the God of the gospel. Scripture says the "gospel is the power of God unto salvation…". We can't just change what God has ordained for eternity; God is not bound by social relevance or by changing fads. God's ways and thoughts are higher than ours. As Job says, "who can understand Him?" Scripture says in Romans 3:10 "There is no one good; no not one." And Jesus says also that there is no one good but God. Why do we take man's opinion over God's command?

I am fine with changing our approach to ministry and trying to keep things fresh in our churches; provided that the gospel is not betrayed in the process. It can also be fruitful for a church to examine why we do what we do. It is important for the health and well-being of a church to examine all practices and determine if they are in place because of the traditions of men or the commands of a holy God. However, the Gospel is unchangeable. No matter what creed you claim, the gospel must be at its center. Traditions age and fade away, but truth, the truth of God, is timeless…

The Blood

What Can Wash Away My Sins??
Nothing But the Blood of Jesus!!!
What Can Make Me Whole Again??
Nothing But the Blood of Jesus!!!

We Christians often find ourselves distracted by the things of the world. We often make minor things major and vice versa. We far too often stray and leave our first love. We try and transform the God who IS into the God whom we want him to be!

Christians of every creed and color must wake up! We must stop prostituting ourselves to the world; trying to imitate it to "reach" people… They say that imitation is the highest form of flattery; so why are we trying to imitate the world?? We attempt to reach the world by starting in their shoes and "convincing" them that Jesus will solve all their problems and make their lives easy with a with: a big house, 2 cars, 3 kids, & 2.5 dogs… And don't forget all the warm fuzzy feelings you will feel inside; telling people that choosing Jesus makes you feel like you are drinking a hot cup of cocoa on a cold winter day. We want to sing "Jesus Loves Me" and play patty cake with the world.

This is what is killing the church!

The Bible says that the cross is a stumbling block to many. The blood is offensive; it strikes at the core of our humanity, our pride. It screams, you are NOT good enough on your own! No matter what Oprah or Dr. Phil say; you cannot be "good" enough for God."There is none good; NO NOT ONE." Romans 3:10.

When will the church start being the church and stop trying to be like the world? I am not sure that it will ever fully regain its purity. We have become an impure bride, tainted, & unclean. A time is coming, I know not when, in which the church will be tested and found standing neck deep in its hypocrisy.

We have become our own worst enemy. We are participating in a system that spits in the face of Christ and His death on the cross.

Oh, Christ come quickly, do not tarry; please save us from ourselves!

I Grieve…

I grieve for you
I grieve for me
I grieve for the church
I grieve for mankind
I grieve for this planet
I grieve for nature
I grieve for those who think they have eternal life
I grieve for those who believe they have it all figured out
I grieve for those who believe yet live as if they do not
I grieve for those few who suffer daily for the sins of many
I grieve for all, everything, nothing

I grieve because of war
I grieve because of hate
I grieve because of pride
I grieve because of greed
I grieve because of falsehoods
I grieve because of jealousy
I grieve because of strife
I grieve because of envy
I grieve because of depravity
I grieve because of sin
I grieve because of my sin

I grieve knowing that man is utterly lost with God
I grieve knowing that man will never admit he is wrong
I grieve knowing that the one thing man needs, he doesn't want
I grieve knowing there is a lost world waiting for me to tell them about Christ
I grieve knowing that sometime I care more about my selfish desires than the needs of others
I grieve knowing that I can't save the world
I grieve knowing the one who can but is rejected by the world
I grieve knowing there is a better way, a higher way

I grieve wanting to see the world be a better place
I grieve wanting Christians to care about their fellow man
I grieve wanting to be the change I expect in others
I grieve wanting bigotry & hatred to die
I grieve wanting to be better than I am
I grieve wanting the church to stop denying its purpose
I grieve wanting America to wake up
I grieve wanting the murder of unborn life to end
I grieve wanting to fix the damage we have caused this planet
I grieve wanting Christians to be salt & light
I grieve wanting to make a difference

I grieve for mankind
I grieve because of sin
I grieve knowing the one who can truly change this world
I grieve wanting to be change I want in the world
I grieve…

In the Light

"The disease of self runs through my blood, it's a cancer fatal to my soul. Every attempt on my behalf has failed, to bring this sickness under control.
What's going on inside of me? I despise my own behavior. This only serves to confirm my suspicion, that I'm still a man in need of a savior.
I want to be in the light, as you are in the light. I want to shine like the stars in the heavens. Oh, lord be my light and be my salvation.
For all I want is to be in the light!"

This song by dc Talk so describes our condition as human beings. No matter how hard we push and try, we can do nothing apart from the power of God.
So often I am saddened by people who boast of their accolades and accomplishments. They do not realize they are not their own. They belong, regardless of who they believe in, to a higher power, the highest power, Jehovah.

Proverbs says "The fool says in his heart there is no god". We sadly so often fall into this mold; not by our words but by our actions. The "disease of self" is a tireless, terminal blight that can only be cured by the love and power of Christ. It causes us to focus on the temporal things of life instead of the timeless needs of eternity.

May our focus never shift and our resolve never fail concerning the love of Christ and His Word.

The Tyranny of Urgency

Today in his sermon, my Pastor, began to talk about this plague that has infected humanity down through the ages. We as believers must be especially aware of this "Tyranny of Urgency" because this can easily throw us off track in our Christian walk and witness.

On the surface this concept doesn't sound so bad… Why not do, what is urgent? Why not do, what is pressing? It seems that we have confused urgency with importance. In modern life and vernacular the two have become synonymous, however they are not. For urgency is born out of emotion while importance is born out of wisdom.

Today's world is constantly screaming of things that must be urgently handled while scripture and Christ proclaim that which is important, the gospel. If we do not have a set of things, chiefly the gospel, that are important which structure our lives, then we are at risk of being taken hostage by the Tyranny of Urgency. If we are not grounded in those things which are important; then urgency will ever toss us to and fro, because we have no foundation in which to stand.

Let us not be tossed about from day to day ruled by the temporal urgencies of the day but grounded in the eternal importance of the gospel…