I think today in AC (american christianity), Church and Christianity has been turned into a pastime. People go to church to get pumped up and to feel better. They are after words that please their ears just as it is written in 2 Timothy 4:3 . Church is not a place for pep-talks. To be a follower of Christ you must die to yourself, you are a new creation. Are you? A lot of people go to Church on sunday and forget about it all week. That leads to an empty life and maybe no life at all. Being a Christian is not about "feeling good", it is about living your life in a way that glorifies God. Christ wants to live in us, not only on sundays, but in every breath we breathe. The powerful work Christ accomplished on the cross should not be taken for granted it should be cherished. Do we take Christ for granted in America?? Just think... thousands of Christians die each year around the world for their faith in Christ. They attend secret churches and have to hide out. But in AC we get mad if a pastor preaches the need for repentance or tells us that our lives are off course and never see the blessing we have in a Church fellowship. We should examine ourselves and Jesus. Christ died so we may live. What more do we need to follow him? Do we need houses, cars, clothes, and money to be happy? NO! that is what the world tells us. All we need is Jesus Christ. What does Christ want? Christ wants our life. Our whole life.He says to pick up your cross and follow him. Christ also wants to love on us. He gives unending joy and life...things that have no price. Why then do we continue to ask "whats in it for me?" We need to truely love God with ALL our heart, ALL mind, ALL our soul, and ALL our strength. Lets take hold of the power of the Holy Spirit that dwells in us and be a true light to the world wherever we go.
That's a very valid point that you bring up. Has Church become the new night club, or local hangout? Possibly. For most at VBF it seems more like a lifestyle made by choice then a fleeting visit to appear holy; which is awesome. I think the issue on how money is related to happiness not only stems from idolatry, but is also confused with financial security. I know I would take financial security provided by my God, over the money=happiness equation that continues to fail and devour its worshippers. On that however, there has to be a great deal of trust in Christ, plus financial sanity, and in a world of uncertainty and unemployment, that trust is easily shaken for most; myself included. It's easy to be a believer when the checks keep coming in and the outgoing is minimized, but what happens when you lose your job? Is your foundation on sand or bedrock? Thus the money=happiness idea becomes more prolific and that's all that is focussed on. Saying that money=happiness is like saying 5=9 but when times get hard, the god of the world becomes the one chased after the most. Folks equate happiness by the amount of junk in their life, and since money is the vehicle to acquire said garbage, M=H. How do we fix that? Financial insecurity is an issue for us all. Keeping Gods economy alive is one way to store blessings for yourself. After all, if you haven't given to him, how can he give to you and justify it? It's his money, right? Awesome post Sterling!
21Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
22(AV)But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
23For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;
24for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.
25But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
26If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless.
27Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
James 1:21-27 (New American Standard Bible)
This is one huge frustration that I have and I have to constantly fight my flesh who wants to explain all the time in anger how people still dont get it.... so I will end this comment now.
sterling, i agree with you whole heartedly. we as a church need to not only go to church but be the church. it seems to me that in a lot of congregations today that it's all about entertainment value. i was going to a church that was like that and when i tithed i felt i was paying for entertainment and getting my ears tickled with what i thought i wanted to hear. we as believers today i feel, have in part left the word of god and given into emotions instead of being lead by the spirit. we are too busy trying to keep up with the newest fad that the world puts out that we quickly fall into the snare of looking just like them. the world see's a lot of us as equals when it comes to god. we can not stand idley by and let this happen. the church needs the word, not sermons. we need to be taught hermenuetics(the art and science of biblical interpretation), and also to be taught how to read it. so many times we sit in the pews and just absorb what ever is being said without really understanding where the speaker is going. we need to test all things, yes, all things according to the word of god to see if it is right and true. i pray we all strive to keep the word of god at the forefront of our thoughts, hearts, and minds. let us be sober minded and not easily moved by strange doctrine. let us pray we make the word of god the final court of arbitration. god bless you all
Being A christian is not all about feeling good nor a church should preach only feel good sermons. ' All scrpiture is the inspired word of God for teaching, for correction, for training in righteous that every man is equiped". "No one comes to the father but by me'" The foot of the cross is on sloid ground... Very nice Sterling Calvary Chapel was a blast... Back to preaching Jesus and solid Bible Teaching... for those of you who know me ..I left VBF due to their Seeker Sensitive Movement teaching. Phil
Christianity is THE "feel good" religion! The hope of glory!
Colossians 3:1-4 1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is your[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Dennis, you are raining on my parade man! (lol) All this talk of the church in crisis is overblown IMHO. I think it's always been like this. But it's also good that folks like Sterling strive to see the church grow closer to the Lord and do better at being Christ's body!
yes church is a business...we're busy doing Gods work.Thank you for your comments. One thing i would add, is that i belive more personal responsibility should be preached. We cant just go to church to be fed. we must be eating every day. Thank you and God bless you all
There is a silent revolution of Christianity growing in the halls of academia - to the chagrin of the atheists and humanists who occupy the humanities departments. During the sixties, consumers were exposed to the pessimistic side to this question when Time Magazine released the following abysmal issue lamenting the death of God in the university:
Three years later, due to the growing trend of Christianity's influence in the philosophy departments, Time released another issue:
Christianity is making a comeback among intellectuals, but the fight is far from over!
The word "God" is comming back to life but not Jesus and thats wrong. Jesus is the answer and our hope and the only way to God of the bible. 4 words you wont hear in a seeker sensitive church 1. Sin 2. Repentance 3. Hell 4. The Cross Phil
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