I went to be at midnight, it's now 5:30 am and I am sitting in Starbucks on my day-off, what am I doing? Well, I am doing the only part of life that feels like ministry to me anymore; I am mentoring. I do this at least three days a week and I sure do hope it's making a difference in the lives of the men I meet. I know it makes a difference in mine. For nearly ten years I got up at 6am and wrote a daily devotion; thousands of essays written upon the Word of God. I don't know how they benefitted no one else, but they certainly built m faith and the absence of this discipline has weakened my faith (faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God). Life has been crowding out all but what is the most vital to my own existence as of late.
This is a strange time in which we live; an age of shattered relationships, non-commitment and individual asphyxiation; isolating ourselves to the point of suffocating the life out of our very beings. We live much of our lives based upon felt-needs, perceived “needs”; where we work, where we worship, how we live; many of us live to be entertained – What any I going to do today to have fun” we ask, rather than what ought we do today to prepare for tomorrow. We have become an id driven society of relaxation and rest rather than one of hard work and commerce. This explains the flippant way we discard relationships both inside and outside of the church. Our relationships as well as our worship experiences, as well as the rest of our lives are based upon “what will please me today?” rather than what do I need or what commitment have I made?
What we miss, in chasing our perceived needs, we neglect our real needs. In chasing after what we desire to do, we neglect the productive, life-giving things that we need to do. We recognize our innate need for community and relationship, but such endeavors require hard work and commitment and most of us with our pleasure mentality find it easier to continually shop around for the greener grass of every aspect of life rather than relax in the meadow where God has placed us. Jesus said, “HE WHO TRIES TO FIND HIS LIFE WILL LOSE IT, WHILE THOSE WHO ARE WILLING TO LOSE THEIR LIVES FOR MY SAKE WILL FIND IT.” The work of our salvation was finished on Calvary; the cost for our salvation was paid in Gethsemane, for it was there that Jesus made the hard commitment to do His Father’s will.
Ill you commit to doing the hard work of community and relationship or will you continue to look for the greener pastures which do not exist?
Friday, April 30, 2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010
True and Undefiled Religion
What is missing in the “Church” today? How about “true and undefiled religion”? While the word religion doesn’t sit well with me personally, this is the phrase that Jesus used and in this context it is right.
What is “true and undefiled religion” according to the Son of God? “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.” JAMES 1:27
By Christ’s definition of what it means to be a Christian, how are you doing? According to these words, how is your Church doing? How is the universal church doing?
I am not asking if your church gives money to other ministries. Personally what are you and the other members of your congregation doing to fulfill these words of Christ? When is the last time you personally visited a widow or orphan? Broadening this bit when have you last time you made a home visit to care for ad pray with anyone who is sick r hurting or lonely?
May I boldly say that I believe most of the institutional church is failing miserably on all three counts? Let me stress that having a “Home Missions Ministry” or “Outreach Ministry” or “A Care Ministry” does NOT fulfill your personal or the churches corporate need for pure and genuine, or as KJB say it “a true and undefiled religion”.
The church knows how to organize services and dinners, we know how to host car washes and pot lucks; we have Sunday Morning, Sunday Night, Wednesday Night, and Special Worship Services, but we have forgotten what it means to “care one for another”. Unless someone organizes it and the church bus drives us there, we don’t do it.
Here I a challenge for you, ask yourself, “When was the last time I entered a home of someone in need in order to pray or care or love them? When is the last time, I personally spent time with someone in the hospital or nursing home? What would the impact be on this Nation if every Christian believer adopted a widow or orphan to care for? Hey are all around us, lonely, hurting people that we don’ have time for.
I have found that as I am busy doing God’s commands, I find myself less tempted by the world’s demands. The more I give myself, my time, my finances and my energy into the lives of hurting- others, I have less struggle with the temptations of the world. I have also discovered as I give more of myself in Jesus name, the more others are drawn to Him.
Rather than plan another day of fun for yourself or your children, why not find an opportunity to serve someone who doesn’t have the family blessings that you do have?
“Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.” AMEN!
What is “true and undefiled religion” according to the Son of God? “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.” JAMES 1:27
By Christ’s definition of what it means to be a Christian, how are you doing? According to these words, how is your Church doing? How is the universal church doing?
I am not asking if your church gives money to other ministries. Personally what are you and the other members of your congregation doing to fulfill these words of Christ? When is the last time you personally visited a widow or orphan? Broadening this bit when have you last time you made a home visit to care for ad pray with anyone who is sick r hurting or lonely?
May I boldly say that I believe most of the institutional church is failing miserably on all three counts? Let me stress that having a “Home Missions Ministry” or “Outreach Ministry” or “A Care Ministry” does NOT fulfill your personal or the churches corporate need for pure and genuine, or as KJB say it “a true and undefiled religion”.
The church knows how to organize services and dinners, we know how to host car washes and pot lucks; we have Sunday Morning, Sunday Night, Wednesday Night, and Special Worship Services, but we have forgotten what it means to “care one for another”. Unless someone organizes it and the church bus drives us there, we don’t do it.
Here I a challenge for you, ask yourself, “When was the last time I entered a home of someone in need in order to pray or care or love them? When is the last time, I personally spent time with someone in the hospital or nursing home? What would the impact be on this Nation if every Christian believer adopted a widow or orphan to care for? Hey are all around us, lonely, hurting people that we don’ have time for.
I have found that as I am busy doing God’s commands, I find myself less tempted by the world’s demands. The more I give myself, my time, my finances and my energy into the lives of hurting- others, I have less struggle with the temptations of the world. I have also discovered as I give more of myself in Jesus name, the more others are drawn to Him.
Rather than plan another day of fun for yourself or your children, why not find an opportunity to serve someone who doesn’t have the family blessings that you do have?
“Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.” AMEN!
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