How we love to sing our own praises.
(Don’t we?)
Much of the “Christian” stuff I read nowadays is just filled with super-sweet-fluff, talking, talking, blah, blah, blah… about how “spiritual” we in the church are.
Really?
I shake my head and think to myself, “Have you read the latest statistics about how there is little difference between how we “the church” live, and our current society?
(Those of us who are talking to, and coming clean, to the pollsters anyway.)
We have just as many serious problems in the church as those out. We struggle with the same demons “the worldly” do. Sexual promiscuity, sexual abuse, pornography, addictions, not to mention the “little” stuff, like gluttony, gossip, and marital meanderings. Hang out on any given Sunday listening carefully to the casual conversations among church-goers about the politicians, radicals, and the anti-church folk, not to mention, those worldly sinners who are going to hell in a handbasket, and you will get an ear full! (But doubtful you would call it loving.)
When I read most of the stuff… (not all to be fair) but most, of what passes for Christian? I think, “Who are we fooling?” And when will we be honest enough, or brave enough, or just plain Christian enough, to tell the world who we really are?
I guarantee they are hip to our act!
If we really want to save the world… which surely we should all want, (for we are the ones who are supposed to know where this whole thing is headed!) then maybe we could lose the plastic Jesus routine, with all our pretenses and pretending, and just get real with people.
Starting with ourselves maybe?
Should there be any such thing as homeless, in a country with this many churches, and bank accounts such as ours? Should there be any such thing as an unwanted child, here or abroad, in a country claiming this many Christian Believers?
I think if I read one more blog, or hear one more sermon, on “glorious grace” I shall vomit!
Of course the grace of God is glorious. I am not saying it isn’t…
What I am purposing is that we first—stop abusing it!
Do not tell me you actually care about “saving” the world, while people are starving, believers are murdered for their faith, women and children are being “trafficked” as sexual merchandise to any pervert with a few bucks, and you are planning on taking another “Christian cruise” at a price tag of $1500.00 to $4500.00 a pop!
Nope.
We love to trumpet the word values don’t we?
Blowing our own horns about what we say we believe?
So where are our values?
Look carefully at your bank statement and you will have a crystal-clear picture, of what and who you value. Check your schedule. Where is your time spent? And with who?
That’s where your heart is.
We in the Western Church like to talk a good game… but living it?
Doesn’t the word of God say, that when He begins to clean up this planet He will begin first with us, those in His church?
I guess I am suggesting we clean up our own backyards, and start living-grace to the broken, downtrodden, and fallen all around us. Not to mention behave in a more loving manner to those who vociferously disagree with us!
Jesus, who was the epitome of grace, and is our only and true model of grace (not ourselves) led by example. And we all know the kind of people he hung out with, spoke to, and oh my goodness, actually loved!
Is this grace we love to sing and talk about just for ourselves alone?
How about a few less sugary blogs for the choir… and instead, a more consistent redeemed-reality-walk for ourselves? Being Jesus to a desperate and hurting world, instead of just regurgitating our own tired rhetoric, endlessly singing the praises of ourselves, to ourselves.
Or, we could just keep doing what we’re doing…
(Yeah, that’s really working.)
On the choir, for sure.
The DREAM-MAKER’S Promise:
“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.” Revelation 3:14-19 NKJV
The Caterpillar’s Prayer:
Abba, my prayer is simple: Unstop our ears, open our eyes… before it’s too late.
Women With Destiny 