Friday, January 6, 2012

Confusion

Ok, this is an article written from the heart, not something to consider and not an observation. I find myself at a loss in the modern Christian life, it's like trying to choose a resteraunt and being overrun with choices and styles. For over 20 years I was pastored and taught by a dedicated man of God. He tended his congregation carefully and even with sacrifices by his family. Every Sunday we could count on a Spirit led teaching, not only in the Sermon delivered but if you were a die hard and wanted more, he was there an hour early to teach a Sunday School class also.
     Now there are churches that specialize in Prayer, or Revival, or Healing, or Praise and/or Prophecy to name a few. Where are the churches that just want to grow closer to God and follow His path? Churches that want to live His word out? I long for a simple church where you can go in, love one another, love God, praise God, learn His word, grow deeper. The churches that are popular always have elements of these things, but leave me hungry. While one of the things that upsets me in our churches is the way they point fingers at each other and say "they don't have the truth, we do!", I also want to point my finger and say, "this isn't the way it's supposed to be!".
     At our church if you're not strong, healthy and vigorous, you are left feeling as if you've been measured and found "wanting", yet as I read God's word, it says that He will use the weak of this world to confound the strong?
     "1 Corinthians 1:26-28 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are"
     One of our experiences at this church was when we went to the meeting for New Members we had a question and after the class was dismissed we approached the minister giving the class, he appeared affronted that we would inconvenience him with our question or conversation, even our presence seemed to offend him! The minister had the title "Pastor", meaning one who cares for the congregation, yet caring to answer our question was the least thing he appeared to desire. I see this church(even though the establishing ministers are sincere in their pursuit of God, and I do respect them a great deal. I have no desire to slander any of the leaders in any of the churches, I believe they are doing the best they know how.) as a machine that draws people in and either bends them down to serve their purpose or chews them up and spits them out.
     At another church that is an option (which disagrees with the first church's end time beliefs), they are strong in prayer and even have a 24 hour area with constant praise sang to God available to anyone that wants to sing, and people come from all over the world to attend and be involved here also, yet they seldom greet each other?
     Both of these churches are sincere in their pursuit of God, but they leave me hungry...where is the fellowship? The early church sold everything and cared for one another. These churches are so large, the members don't even know one another? But, we are all to be united in Christ, if we are successful in that uniting, how do we avoid becoming so large we don't know one another? Christ said to "Love the Lord your God" and "to love one another". I think we need to not focus on one part of that at the loss of the other. I have more to add later, but my time of writing is over for now.

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