"Is it just me, or does anyone else find it amazing that our government can track a cow born in Canada almost three years ago, right to the stall where she sleeps in the state of Washington, and they tracked her calves to their stalls. But they are unable to locate 11 million illegal aliens wandering around our country. Maybe we should give them all a cow."
Some churches mirror the government; they seem unable to locate millions of people desperately in need of God, but have no problem finding all kinds of entertaining activities and various self-help programs for those already in the church.
We build huge ostentatious buildings with eye-catching spires, gorgeous stained glass windows, and dress in our best black suits, then sit complacently in our comfy pews worshipping God in grandiose style; perhaps the beauty of the building and the worship ambiance will entice the poor and downtrodden souls in our communities to knock the doors down in order to worship with us; WRONG!
Until we commit to going out into the fields to the harvest, rather than waiting for the harvest to come to us, we are in a losing battle. Saving the lost in our communities without getting our hands dirty is a pipe dream!
Perhaps like our government that can't find the illegal aliens, we don't put enough effort into reaching the lost either. I'm not recommending we buy a cow for all the lost souls in the world, but we may need to rethink our Christian priorities. Waiting for the lost at the "church building" doesn't work now, and never has; going into the neighborhoods and telling others about Jesus just might be the ticket.
6 comments:
I agree with you--so I read this and took a while to reflect--what do I need to be doing on this that I am not doing. I try to be very aware that I am the only Bible some people will read--I have unsaved neighbors and co-workers--amd I pray that the Holy Spirit works through me to impact these people--but I am going to start praying more specifically--I doubt these people will just wander into a beautiful church building--but hopefully they will see something in my life that atrracts them to Jesus.
Do you have any other ideas???
JB
JB...
Your comments about being a Christian role model for the "unchurched" is very important; telling people about Jesus has little impact if we don't reflect His image ourselves.
Deciding how to take Jesus to the community is difficult, however, there are many programs developed by smarter people than I that seem to work, but they require hard work and vision.
Door knocking ministries don't work for me, and I know of many other people that don't like to be contacted in this manner. It may work for some, but I really dislike packaging Jesus at some ones doorstep when it's obvious they dislike the process as well! I'm not knocking anyone utilizing this means of taking Jesus to their neighbors, it just doesn't work for me.
All of us have friends who are not Christians; if we live our lives before them in Christian love and pick the right opportunities to speak to them of Jesus, I believe many will, over time, give their hearts to the Lord.
Door knocking does not work for me either---and I soooo agree with your last paragraph--it give me so much hope!
JB
Larry,
To see our self as the "church" misses that literally the word, "ekklesia" in the Greek comes from the root meaning "a calling out" and another word meaning "one's gathered together".
Typically we took those words and made it congregation or church. It then became a lifeless institution.
I see it as "those called out gathered together".
This gives the Body a new feel... It loses its walls. It gains a pulse. We become the Bride, and Jesus the Bridegroom, who has called us out because He loves us.
I know this radical.... but what do you expect from me. (Wink).
Blessings to my brother and fellow called out one in Christ Jesus.
iggy
Iggy...
Often "church" is considered the building, or we go to "church" on Sunday morning; both uses in this context are wrong.
Occasionally I use the phrase "church building" referring to the place where the church meets, but I realize this combination of words is incorrect, and might give the reader the wrong impression of what "church" actually means.
Most identifying themselves with the CoC are well aware of the meaning of "church," and generally use the term properly....There's no telling how I might use the word. :)
wow I am sooo confused! I usually say church building when I am referring to the building--and that's incorrect??
I rarely say "church" meaning the building. (I was taught better!) ((LOL))
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