No More Re-Mixes
It has been a long time since I posted anything, not that anyone cares, but I have decided I needed to write down my thoughts on an issue that is driving me crazy.
I have read many "Christian" books as of late on the state of the "church" in America and they all seem to come to the conclusion that what we need is a RE... Any of you who are in church culture know the re I am speaking about and for those of you who are not lets just say we need a 2.0 (little tech savvy term). All I read is statements like Re-invent, Re-surge, Re-connect, Re-interpret, Re-define, Re-think... and many, many more other Re's. As I see it all the Re's are just to market new philosophers offering the same opinions on the same subject with updated rhetoric.
We do not need a Jesus 2.0, a Great Commission 2.0 or a Vision 2.0. What we need is to follow the original commands to love God and others and share that love. We need not spend out time discussing our differences, we need to start lining up to our calling. At some point the church (that's you and me who are in Christ) will have to stop worrying as much about being hip and cool and start being real (I know that starts with a r and e). Hopefully, we agree that like Jesus we have to meet people where they are. We need not escape from culture into our irrational reality but rather be mobile and living inside the culture that so desperately needs the love of Jesus shared and given to it.
There is no need to Re-state the Great Commission but there is a need to live it out. I think Peter stated it best when he said in 1 Peter 2:8b-9 "They stumble because they disobey the word... But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." We've been set apart to do good and proclaim the love that has so lavishly been given to us. And for those of you who don't know who the stumblers are they are the religious. And the word he speaks about is the gospel, which is to be shared. Jesus says that the healthy do not need a doctor. My fear is all we've become are a bunch of "healthy" people who are doctoring one another and none of the doctors are going to help the sick.
Here's where I am going to be different then all those authors I started talking about. I am going to live out that calling to GO!! This means in my work place I treat people right and when given the opportunity I share with them why I act the way I do I share the real reason. This means when given the opportunity to spend time with my neighbors I do and love them and respect them as fellow people who have been created in the image of the most high God. This means when my daughter has friends over instead of being worried as to how weird I might be thought of I will make it a point to open the Bible in front of them and discuss that which I am studying with my daughters in front of their friends. This means I will walk along side friends who are hurting or are in need and give them freely what has been given to me. And I will disciple those who God places in my life that are willing to learn and I too will be willing to learn from those who have gone before me.
I guess what I am trying to say is I AM THE CHURCH AND THE ONLY WAY FOR THE CHURCH (ME) TO START LIVING OUT THE GREAT COMMISSION IS FOR THE CHURCH (ME) TO DO AS I HAVE BEEN COMMANDED AND LIVE IT OUT.
It is my prayer as fellow people of His own possession you too will GO!!
I have read many "Christian" books as of late on the state of the "church" in America and they all seem to come to the conclusion that what we need is a RE... Any of you who are in church culture know the re I am speaking about and for those of you who are not lets just say we need a 2.0 (little tech savvy term). All I read is statements like Re-invent, Re-surge, Re-connect, Re-interpret, Re-define, Re-think... and many, many more other Re's. As I see it all the Re's are just to market new philosophers offering the same opinions on the same subject with updated rhetoric.
We do not need a Jesus 2.0, a Great Commission 2.0 or a Vision 2.0. What we need is to follow the original commands to love God and others and share that love. We need not spend out time discussing our differences, we need to start lining up to our calling. At some point the church (that's you and me who are in Christ) will have to stop worrying as much about being hip and cool and start being real (I know that starts with a r and e). Hopefully, we agree that like Jesus we have to meet people where they are. We need not escape from culture into our irrational reality but rather be mobile and living inside the culture that so desperately needs the love of Jesus shared and given to it.
There is no need to Re-state the Great Commission but there is a need to live it out. I think Peter stated it best when he said in 1 Peter 2:8b-9 "They stumble because they disobey the word... But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." We've been set apart to do good and proclaim the love that has so lavishly been given to us. And for those of you who don't know who the stumblers are they are the religious. And the word he speaks about is the gospel, which is to be shared. Jesus says that the healthy do not need a doctor. My fear is all we've become are a bunch of "healthy" people who are doctoring one another and none of the doctors are going to help the sick.
Here's where I am going to be different then all those authors I started talking about. I am going to live out that calling to GO!! This means in my work place I treat people right and when given the opportunity I share with them why I act the way I do I share the real reason. This means when given the opportunity to spend time with my neighbors I do and love them and respect them as fellow people who have been created in the image of the most high God. This means when my daughter has friends over instead of being worried as to how weird I might be thought of I will make it a point to open the Bible in front of them and discuss that which I am studying with my daughters in front of their friends. This means I will walk along side friends who are hurting or are in need and give them freely what has been given to me. And I will disciple those who God places in my life that are willing to learn and I too will be willing to learn from those who have gone before me.
I guess what I am trying to say is I AM THE CHURCH AND THE ONLY WAY FOR THE CHURCH (ME) TO START LIVING OUT THE GREAT COMMISSION IS FOR THE CHURCH (ME) TO DO AS I HAVE BEEN COMMANDED AND LIVE IT OUT.
It is my prayer as fellow people of His own possession you too will GO!!
Comments