Showing posts with label The Church. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Church. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

"There's No 'I' in Team"

Who's team are you on? I have always been under the assumption that as Christians, we are all on the same team. Obviously, with all the different denominations around now, we lost the concept of "church."

Many church leaders and teachers express wanting to change lives. But the truth is that WE cannot change anything, it is only by the Holy Spirit lives are radically changed. Reading a certain book today reminded me of this concept. The author talks about what they do in the 60 minutes on Sunday affects the lives of people. Do I totally agree with that statement, NO. To be honest, I know that I need to prepare powerful worship services, but I cannot let my selfishness and pride come before God's perfect will. I have witnessed first hand lives changed when everything on my end of the spectrum was WAY off! Walking off stage thinking, "wow, we really stunk today...that was not pleasing to God." Then, when a congregation member comes to me and says, "I just wanted to tell you I was so blessed by today's worship. It's the best you guys have ever sounded, and I really see the Spirit working in your leadership." WHAT? Is this a joke? 2 seconds ago I was thinking about how bad we stunk, and this dude is telling me his life was changed by it? THAT'S THE POWER OF GOD NOT MAN!

Many churches today are competing with each other. They may not come out and say it, but it's obvious that they want to be the next big thing that's happening. Do I want to be part of a church that's doing awesome things no one has ever dreamed of, of course. But at the cost of Christ? NO WAY! Christ came to seek and to save, that what we should be doing. Whether you are black, white, tall, short, Methodist, Presbyterian, or Baptist we are all on the SAME SIDE! SAME TEAM! Here for the SAME PERSON. Proclaiming Christ crucified for the world to forgive us ALL.

How are we going to save the world when we, as "believers", can't get the big picture?

to live-
cg<><

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Falling in the Whole

I often ask myself why Christians compete with each other. It seems that every one of us falls in the hole of thinking we are better than other churches and or other believers. Why do we do this? When are we going to fall into the whole?

We are ONE BODY of believers. There are many parts to the body, and we all have different attributes that distinguish what we do as part of the body. Some of us are ears, some of us are mouths, some of us are even feet. If we cut off one part of our body, we would not be able to function correctly, thus resulting our inability to share the gospel. So many of us are constantly back-biting ourselves are we don't even realize it. I cannot say that I have never done this myself. I have talked badly about people, talked badly towards people, thought things I could never repeat, and so on. I have to constantly stay on my toes regarding this subject, and I am sure I'm not the only one.

Don't forget that unbelievers are watching everything we as Christians do. "The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable" -Carman

to live-
cg