| View Blog
|
|
|
I am frustrated.
And happy.
And impatient.
And excited.
Argh.
Or as Lea would say, "Harrumph."
It will take another week or so before I find out if I got the job. They have to check all my references, which takes 2-3 business days. And then they send my info over to the hiring managers and they decide if they will offer me a job or not.
I want to know now!
But...Oh well. Such is life.
I know I promised a blog about the church. But Lea has done such an amazing job at explaining how the church should be...that I would just be doing the copy cat thing again. Suffice it to say - I agree with her posts "Perspective" and "In the Name of Christ."
I will add a few words of my own though:
It's a damned shame our churches are so full of Christians. The church (for the most part) has done the complete opposite of what Christ did while He was on earth. We stay inside our cultural bubbles, satisfied with the fellowship of our Christian brothers and sisters – who just happen to look, talk, and act just like us.
Jesus came to teach all people…Jew and Gentile, slave and free, male and female…about His love and His Kingdom. He didn’t just hang out with His disciples all day up on the mountain. Or cruise around on His fishing boat. He was out with the people. Eating and hanging out with sinners and tax collectors. Come on people!…this isn’t just a nice story. This is the example we are meant to follow. God wants ALL people to be a part of His Kingdom and to receive His free gift of grace. Not just white, non-smoking, heterosexual, middle class, hard working people…ALL PEOPLE. All colors, with all our habits, all orientations, all classes, all manner of people are called to be a part of Christ’s body. So…why are our churches filled with the same ole folks?
Cause we're comfortable. We don't like change. Inviting "sinners" into our churches might mean they actually come! Then what would happen? Tell me this:
What would you do if a prostitute, decked out in full working gear, came into your church and sat down in your row?
Would you say hi? Would you tell her you are glad she's here? Or would you ignore her and hope she goes away?
Would you be uncomfortable? Good! Church shouldn’t always be comfortable. Church isn’t for perfect people. Church should be a place where people come to meet God. It’s not just a place of worship – it’s a place of meeting. A place where people can be shown and taught about the love of Christ. A place where people can become a part of His Kingdom and follow Christ as their Lord. THEN, and only then is when the changes will come. Christ is the judge – not you, not me, not the preacher, not the old lady in the front row who sings out of tune– but Christ is the judge of all. He will work in His children’s lives and bring about change as needed. He is the only one who can change anything anyway. We can certainly try to change people – but how many know that just doesn’t work?! God is the miracle worker, God is the healer. And the prostitute may dress in her working gear for a good year before God asks her to change. And maybe God cares more about other parts of her life than her dress code. Let us "leave the enormous job of judging to God." (quote by Lea).
You may think, ok...but what about the stumbling block issue? What if her clothing (or lack thereof) causes someone to lust? Shouldn’t we at least try to cover her up? I say – heck no! If you have an issue with lust, don’t look! You don’t need to be the person who comes up and starts a conversation (as long as someone else does). But even more than that you don’t need to be the one who causes this “sinner” to feel condemned. It would just be another reason for her to stay out on the streets where at least she is accepted for who she is.
I say we as Christians should try out this unconditional love thing. It might just change the world. |
|
Posted by pastorshannon on 2008-05-13 15:19:23 | Rating: | Views: 72
|
| |
|
|
| Blog Comments
|
|
|
|
|
I had a dream last night that I went and invited three homeless guys to come play cards at my friend's house instead of outside.
|
|
Posted by Lea
on 2008-05-13 17:28:41
|
|
|
|
|
|
