This Blog as you may have noticed has been focused on pointing people to the true Jesus. The Jesus described in the Gospels, and throughout the New Testament. We are also focused on directing people to the Churches original purposes which were modeled for us in the book of Acts. The model that seems to contradict the church in America today, 2011. It's for churched people who have a disconnect from religion and desire a meaningful relationship with the Jesus that they read about in the Bible.
It's also geared towards the unchurched. People who for whatever reason have never stepped foot in a church. For the people who have failed to see the relevance of todays church in society. For those of you who are intrigued by this man called Jesus but don't like what you see in church or the way Jesus is represented there.
The life Jesus led is so foreign to our way of life. It literally goes against everything we are taught. Jesus said if you want to live die, SAY WHAT? Want to be first: Be last. Want to be exalted: Humble yourself. Want to be rich: give everything away. Want to save your life: lose it. Want to be a leader: Be a servant. If someone persecutes you: pray for them. If someone strikes you: turn the other cheek. Want to be blessed: be cursed. Jesus said and did many more things to confound people. He had the nerve to say Love your enemies and He led by example. He turned the world up side down or you could say right side up. His early followers shook things up as well. If you were faced with the real Jesus you would want to have him as a friend. The way He would treat you, you would want to follow Him and His teachings. We represent this same Jesus. We invite you to follow this Jesus. Welcome to the Backward Life.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Do Church or Be Church
The Church in the book of Acts was a living, breathing organism. It was a way of life, a movement that attracted thousands of people almost daily. It was exciting to be a part of what God was doing in and through His followers. This seems so far removed from the Church in America in 2011. Instead of a living, breathing organism, we've become a brick and mortar organization and institution of rules, programs, tight schedules and committees.
Acts 2:42-47 describes what daily Church life was like and it's no surprise that it grew into critical mass. When you compare the first Church and our latest version of Church in 2011, if we are honest with ourselves, we have to admit that there is no resemblance. If we break it down into its basic form and function, the difference becomes all too obvious.
Then: They devoted themselves to the apostle's teaching (study scripture, the Word of God)
Now: We devote ourselves to our jobs, to the pursuit of money, luxury, keeping up with the Joneses, sports, music, technology, Hollywood. We just don't have time to study scripture, let alone devote ourselves to it.
Then: They were devoted to fellowship, breaking of bread (sharing a meal together and prayer.)
Now: We have become a fast food society in our quest for prosperity. Texting has taken the place of meaningful fellowship; prayer has become a 911 call to God.
I don't know if Jesus would recognize the Church of 2011. I wonder if Churches care if Jesus shows up or not... and would they recognize Him either.Would they chase Him away? I am not a Church basher. I love the Church. We are the bride of Christ. Parts of her are not healthy though, and we must be part of the cure. Are you tired of doing Church? Are you willing to step up and BE the Church; the body, the hands and feet of Jesus? If the Church of America is the body of Christ, then Jesus is paralized from the neck down. In our quest to change, let's encourage the body to be what Christ called us to be.
Love the Church through this illness. Be the Church to the world.
Acts 2:42-47 describes what daily Church life was like and it's no surprise that it grew into critical mass. When you compare the first Church and our latest version of Church in 2011, if we are honest with ourselves, we have to admit that there is no resemblance. If we break it down into its basic form and function, the difference becomes all too obvious.
Then: They devoted themselves to the apostle's teaching (study scripture, the Word of God)
Now: We devote ourselves to our jobs, to the pursuit of money, luxury, keeping up with the Joneses, sports, music, technology, Hollywood. We just don't have time to study scripture, let alone devote ourselves to it.
Then: They were devoted to fellowship, breaking of bread (sharing a meal together and prayer.)
Now: We have become a fast food society in our quest for prosperity. Texting has taken the place of meaningful fellowship; prayer has become a 911 call to God.
I don't know if Jesus would recognize the Church of 2011. I wonder if Churches care if Jesus shows up or not... and would they recognize Him either.Would they chase Him away? I am not a Church basher. I love the Church. We are the bride of Christ. Parts of her are not healthy though, and we must be part of the cure. Are you tired of doing Church? Are you willing to step up and BE the Church; the body, the hands and feet of Jesus? If the Church of America is the body of Christ, then Jesus is paralized from the neck down. In our quest to change, let's encourage the body to be what Christ called us to be.
Love the Church through this illness. Be the Church to the world.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Where are the crowds?
The Bible tells us that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. When I am invited to speak at churches I always start out by asking the congregation if they believe this statement and I've never had anyone say they disagreed with that. In fact they all nod in unison, and some even shout Amen.
I remind them how people of all ages followed Jesus for days on end, thousands of people. Men, woman, children. and yes believe it or not even teenagers. They laugh at this, only because they don't know what's coming. I tell them how these very same, massive crowds, followed him for days on end, forsaking food, shelter, the comforts of home and maybe even water. These crowds hung on His every word. I ask them if this is true. Once again they affirm, this is true. Here's where things start to get uncomfortable. Here's where I'm sure, and this is just speculation, that they start to wonder why they invited me to speak at their church.
No I don't start ranting and raving like a deranged lunitic, I simply ask them this. If Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever and 2000 years ago people followed him for days on end, forsaking food, shelter, water and their big screen TV's just to hang breathlessly on His every word, how come 2000 years later we can't even get a teenager to come to church for one hour a week. We barely want to come ourselves let alone invite our friends and neighbors. Jesus was a box office hit. He could draw an audience. If He was in a movie it was a blockbuster success. Why can't Jesus draw a crowd today? We already agree He is the same yesterday. today. and forever. The problem must be us, the church, the body of Christ. It's how we represent Jesus or should I say misrepresent Him. What will it take to for the church to show the world the real Jesus, not the counterfeit that we've created?
I remind them how people of all ages followed Jesus for days on end, thousands of people. Men, woman, children. and yes believe it or not even teenagers. They laugh at this, only because they don't know what's coming. I tell them how these very same, massive crowds, followed him for days on end, forsaking food, shelter, the comforts of home and maybe even water. These crowds hung on His every word. I ask them if this is true. Once again they affirm, this is true. Here's where things start to get uncomfortable. Here's where I'm sure, and this is just speculation, that they start to wonder why they invited me to speak at their church.
No I don't start ranting and raving like a deranged lunitic, I simply ask them this. If Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever and 2000 years ago people followed him for days on end, forsaking food, shelter, water and their big screen TV's just to hang breathlessly on His every word, how come 2000 years later we can't even get a teenager to come to church for one hour a week. We barely want to come ourselves let alone invite our friends and neighbors. Jesus was a box office hit. He could draw an audience. If He was in a movie it was a blockbuster success. Why can't Jesus draw a crowd today? We already agree He is the same yesterday. today. and forever. The problem must be us, the church, the body of Christ. It's how we represent Jesus or should I say misrepresent Him. What will it take to for the church to show the world the real Jesus, not the counterfeit that we've created?
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Gone Fishing
Jesus called us to be "fishers of men," not cleaners of fish, but most churches today want their fish cleaned, gutted, deboned and served on a silver platter with a side of garnish. But that's not our job, our job is to simply be a GPS and point to Jesus. It's the Holy Spirit's job to transform lives. "He also said, this is what the Kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain--first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come." (Mark 4:26-29)
Why do we feel that we can do the work of the Holy Spirit? Our job is to get people as close as possible to Jesus, and Jesus knows what to do from there. We are simply called to be rope holders, like the four men who lowered the paralytic through the roof to be brought near Christ to be healed. (Luke 5:17-26)
A section of scripture which further validates this truth is the story of the woman at the well, who after having a brief but life-changing encounter with Jesus, went back to her hometown and said "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?" (John 4:29) In response to this one "unclean" woman, "Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony" (John 4:39) But more important than her words, were His, "And because of His words, many more became believers. They said to the worman, 'We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.'" (John 4:41-42)
We are not called to be judges and lawyers, but to be WITNESSES.
Why do we feel that we can do the work of the Holy Spirit? Our job is to get people as close as possible to Jesus, and Jesus knows what to do from there. We are simply called to be rope holders, like the four men who lowered the paralytic through the roof to be brought near Christ to be healed. (Luke 5:17-26)
A section of scripture which further validates this truth is the story of the woman at the well, who after having a brief but life-changing encounter with Jesus, went back to her hometown and said "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?" (John 4:29) In response to this one "unclean" woman, "Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony" (John 4:39) But more important than her words, were His, "And because of His words, many more became believers. They said to the worman, 'We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.'" (John 4:41-42)
We are not called to be judges and lawyers, but to be WITNESSES.
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