Church or Jesus?
#1
Posted 13 February 2012 - 10:40 PM
Times changed though, and I got wrapped up in church. I got wrapped up in what ministry I would be a part of, and who I would be friends with. I got wrapped up in which songs we would sing, and what message I would hear. I see it, we all here in America have become like this. WE are obsessed with how other people are living their lives, and which teaching we will believe. Who will be at church today? What kind of programs for my kids? What is the latest christian book you are reading? Have we become nothing more than a social club. I am not trying to say I am okay, God knows I see this and I am just as stuck.
What about Jesus? What about brotherly love? I think we are burned out and need a refreshing from the Lord. There are a few things I see though. So many people think that this is all there is, and that our calling is to meet on Sundays, and warm a pew. Jesus wants to fill us with His spirit. He doesn't need volunteers, He needs people who love Him and want to see Him move. WE have become comfortable with the ways we do things and forgotten that his ways are not our ways. I am not trying to guilt anyone, I am just realizing that we are in a famine spiritually, and that we need the presence of God!
- elizabethcog and chipped china like this
#2
Posted 14 February 2012 - 01:04 PM
I like your thoughts, and I have had the same thoughts, as well. Last week at church, I was thinking, what if we didn't have an overhead projector (or laptop), no sound system, no instruments. Would we make a joyful noise unto the Lord? Or would we be so reserved and "self"-conscious that we would sit by quietly?
I read a story this morning that will post by Friday on our Web site about a people group that recently had Scripture translated into their "heart" language. There was such a celebration - about 5,000 people singing and dancing for joy as they held up their new Bibles! Oh that American believers would have such uninhibited joy!
#3
Posted 14 February 2012 - 04:35 PM
Awesome I look forward to seeing that!Jimmy,
I like your thoughts, and I have had the same thoughts, as well. Last week at church, I was thinking, what if we didn't have an overhead projector (or laptop), no sound system, no instruments. Would we make a joyful noise unto the Lord? Or would we be so reserved and "self"-conscious that we would sit by quietly?
I read a story this morning that will post by Friday on our Web site about a people group that recently had Scripture translated into their "heart" language. There was such a celebration - about 5,000 people singing and dancing for joy as they held up their new Bibles! Oh that American believers would have such uninhibited joy!
#4
Posted 26 March 2012 - 04:51 PM
- elizabethcog and chipped china like this
#5
Posted 20 May 2012 - 03:39 AM
Amen,I too have some of the same issues and recently God has put on my heart just to stop all this trying and really let him, he really will work it all out and his way is far better than anything my little self could come up with.I don't know where he'll lead me but I know he will lead me.....good enough!God bless and thanks for being real=)I remember when I first came to Jesus when I was 16. I loved Him so much, and I tried to do everything I could for Him, and I didn't worry about who was watching or what someone was going to say about it. I shared Jesus with everyone, and I prayed and sang to him everyday. The bible was brand new to me, and I couldn't get enough of it.
Times changed though, and I got wrapped up in church. I got wrapped up in what ministry I would be a part of, and who I would be friends with. I got wrapped up in which songs we would sing, and what message I would hear. I see it, we all here in America have become like this. WE are obsessed with how other people are living their lives, and which teaching we will believe. Who will be at church today? What kind of programs for my kids? What is the latest christian book you are reading? Have we become nothing more than a social club. I am not trying to say I am okay, God knows I see this and I am just as stuck.
What about Jesus? What about brotherly love? I think we are burned out and need a refreshing from the Lord. There are a few things I see though. So many people think that this is all there is, and that our calling is to meet on Sundays, and warm a pew. Jesus wants to fill us with His spirit. He doesn't need volunteers, He needs people who love Him and want to see Him move. WE have become comfortable with the ways we do things and forgotten that his ways are not our ways. I am not trying to guilt anyone, I am just realizing that we are in a famine spiritually, and that we need the presence of God!
- chipped china likes this
#6
Posted 23 May 2012 - 03:57 PM
- Mark Wood, David Carter and elizabethcog like this
#7
Posted 24 May 2012 - 01:36 AM
- elizabethcog and Kenny like this
#8
Posted 30 May 2012 - 05:56 PM
- Lori Smith and elizabethcog like this
#9
Posted 13 April 2013 - 08:01 AM
- elizabethcog and Kenny like this
#10
Posted 13 April 2013 - 04:35 PM
I remember when I first came to Jesus when I was 16. I loved Him so much, and I tried to do everything I could for Him, and I didn't worry about who was watching or what someone was going to say about it. I shared Jesus with everyone, and I prayed and sang to him everyday. The bible was brand new to me, and I couldn't get enough of it.
WE are obsessed with how other people are living their lives, and which teaching we will believe. Who will be at church today? What kind of programs for my kids? What is the latest christian book you are reading? Have we become nothing more than a social club. I am not trying to say I am okay, God knows I see this and I am just as stuck.
What about Jesus? What about brotherly love? I think we are burned out and need a refreshing from the Lord.
I have felt like that in the past. In this fast paced world with all it's activity and business, we don't find the time to be still and hear the still small voice of God. I have developed a habit to combat the feeling that God seems far away. I get up about an hour earlier than necessary each morning and start my day with God. I go into my prayer closet and pray that God will speak to me and then I open my Bible in the silence of the morning before all the business starts. There are no sounds, no honking horns, no sound of cars, or kids. Just me and God. It's during this time that God speaks to me through prayer and meditating upon His word. God fills me with His presence and joy during this time. The joy of God's presence I receive during this time spent alone with God is more precious than any time I ever spend in Church. Even Jesus went to be alone with His Father and spend time with Him. I am not saying Church isn't important. I'm only saying that my joy comes from God alone, and is not dependent upon people at Church. I do however love Church and worshipping God through songs of praise, as well as having fellowship with my brothers and sisters in Christ. They are a very important part of my life. But for me, nothing can compare to the time I spend alone with God in the quiet early morning hours when I have one on one communion with Him.
- elizabethcog likes this