Spiritual Bankruptcy

As many Americans struggle to pay off loans, and business file for bankruptcy, they find themselves joined by another group, churches.  Some might say American churches need to take a lesson in economics.  However, is misunderstanding how business works the real reason record numbers of churches have foreclosed this year?  No, the root of the issue goes much deeper than that.


Many churches who find themselves in dire economic situations partook in the super church craze.  As congregations grew, churches moved to build larger and more extravagant church buildings.  Many installed cafés, workout rooms, etc.  Now I am definitely for Christians fellowship with eachother, but are plasma screen TVs necessary for that fellowship?  In an effort to make themselves more attractive, churches have turned themselves into beautiful locations of social gathering.  Now banks have grown wary of churches asking for loans.  They have seen those who represent Christ's name behave no differently than the rest of the world.  Churches build extravagant worship centers only to have the congregations disappear (and the money with them).  

Luke 14:   ²⁸ “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? ²⁹ For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, ³⁰ saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

Churches ought to attract visitors with their love, honesty, and good will, not large TVs, imported carpeting, and gym memberships.  In this modern culture of materialism, the church has lost sight of what is truly valuable.  Instead they continue marketing themselves as cool, with the times, and entertaining.  They soften the message of Truth and speak only of happiness in order to obtain more members.  Christ addresses these types of churches with some harsh words in Revelation 3:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. ¹⁵ I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! ¹⁶ So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spew you out of my mouth. ¹⁷ You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. ¹⁸ I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

A church is not a building.  Yet, today many congregations wish to define what they believe by the building they have.  Must they be reminded that the early church had no buildings to meet at and drink coffee?  Instead, they secretly worshiped in their houses, hiding in small groups from the Roman guards. Brothers and Sisters, do not define yourselves with things, but rather with the love of Jesus Christ "who made Himself nothing, taking on the very nature of a servant... he humbled Himself."  Forget the cafés, multi-million dollar facilities, the gymnasiums, prosperity doctrine, TVs, and thousands of members.  Jesus had none of that.  His disciples had none of that.  The early church had none of that.  It is a sign of your desire to be of the world, and it has become a distraction from your call to servanthood.


Wall Street Journal:  Article 1   Article 2

Can't Steal Love and Forgiveness

A church in Spokane Washington was robbed this past week (see articles here & here).  Police say the thieves made away with thousands of dollars of equipment including sound boards, computers, TVs, microphones, and hearing impaired devices.  Now many people will react by saying, "that's disgusting who could do that?"  But, that is what sin is, disgusting.  The same can be said about what you said about someone at school, or what you thought about your neighbor's wife, or how you ignored the need of a friend.  All sin is disgusting in God's eyes.  What those thieves did is no worse than what we do every week in churches across America.  We tear one another down, teach falsehood, etc.


The response the pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church has been praise-worthy.  Instead of accusing and judging those who looted the church, he has opened his arms to them.  "The church isn't the equipment or the pews or the building it's the people," said the pastor.  That is exactly right.  The family of God is not material goods, nor a building where people meet, but the people themselves.  The pastor of Redeemer Lutheran has a clear understanding of Matthew 6:19-21:  

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

 Redeemer Lutheran has invited those very same thieves back next Sunday with an understanding that people who do wrong as that, need a Savior like all of us.  Jesus Himself gave us guidelines to forgive as we have been forgiven:

  “‘Our Father in heaven, 
hallowed be your name, 

¹⁰ your kingdom come, 

your will be done, 

   on earth as it is in heaven. 

¹¹ Give us today our daily bread. 

¹² And forgive us our debts, 

   as we also have forgiven our debtors. 

¹³ And lead us not into temptation, 

   but deliver us from the evil one.’"

-Matthew 6:9-13

 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”  Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.  -Matthew 18:21-22

A real understanding of the commands Christ has given us, allow us to see that Love and Forgiveness cannot be taken from us for they are gifts from above.  Let us remember to forgive those who have done us the greatest wrong, just as God forgives the greatest sinner.  

Blessings.

Faithful Endurance

Our Christian brothers and sisters in China continue to encounter persecution.  Yet as they endure torture, jail time, and even death, they remain steadfast.  Despite, or rather, as a result of the persecution they have received, the church there continues to grow.  Their numbers have been reported to be greater than 100 million.  They are considered the most unified organization of people in the nation.

If you compare and contrast the Chinese church with the American Church what do you see?  I see a difference in fervor.  The Chinese church stops at nothing, enduring persecution to spread the gospel.  I see a difference in unity.  The American church has been fractured beyond repair.  The thousands of denominations within protestantism prove this point handily.  I also see a greater sense of orthodoxy in China.  Due in part to both the trails and the unity they have there, the purity of faith the Christians in China have should be an example to us as we struggle with churches fracturing over fundamental doctrinal issues.

What can we learn from the Chinese?  We can learn, patience, perseverance, Love, hope, faith, and more.  They live out Romans 12:

 ¹ Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. ³ For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. ⁴ For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶ We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; ⁷ if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸ if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. ⁹ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. ¹¹ Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹² Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³ Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. ¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.  Do not be conceited. ¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹ Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. ²⁰On the contrary:“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."  ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Continue to pray for the Chinese church, for their growth, endurance, and faithfulness.  But, let us also pray we can adapt lessons from them and apply them to our lives, enduring all for Christ, because:

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.  -James 1:12

Stop Planning Your Life

"What will you do when you graduate?"  


That is a question I hear a lot.  My sincere response is: "I don't know for certain."  


None of us know the future.  I could die tomorrow.   Death is a very real possibility when any of us step into a car.  Yet, we behave as though we are able to have some control over our situations, enabling us to plan our lives years into the future.  We plan for school, for work, for family, for retirement.  When do we plan to let God lead us?  When I say I know what I would like to do after school, I am inherently saying I know what will happen between now and then.  I am saying, I can do fine without following God, but following myself.


I am so arrogant, so foolish, and so head-strong, when I plan my life, when in truth, my life is so brief.  I am spitting in the face of the best possible Planner, of the Creator, of my Savior.

¹³ Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” ¹⁴ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. ¹⁵ Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” ¹⁶ As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.  -James 4

My life is a "mist," something that dissipates quickly.  Why do I care if I can plan my life, if God has it in His hands?  When I try to take it from Him, I declare myself to be the Alpha and the Omega, the All Knowing One!!!  What a sin.  The worst sin.


What I ought to do, is let him plan, lead, and provide.  

⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  -Philippians 4  

By declaring ourselves Christians we proclaim Christ as the center of our lives.  Do we behave as such?  Are we concerned about the physical when it was created through Him?

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?  -Matthew 6

Therefore, let us acknowledge Him in everything.  Not claiming Him as simply our co-pilot, but the manufacturer, road constructor, pilot, and everything else.  We are simply here for a moment to serve, not plan our lives.  Let us help one another in remembering that.

Blessings.

Count It All Joy

In a recent article by the Houston Chronicle, which can be found here, a christian couple from Houston are being told by city officials that they will be required to shut down their food outreach to the poor.  Bobby and Amanda Herring have been feeding the homeless in Houston for over a year, that is until this past month when police informed them that permits are required to feed the homeless.  Apparently city laws require anyone publicly producing food to obtain a food dealer's permit.  The requirements include a licensed food preparer and approved location for the preparation of that food.  [All the requirements and laws can be found here, here, and here.]

I can only imagine the heartbreak the Herrings are now experiencing after having worked with the homeless in Houston.  Now that the city of Houston has told the Herring "thanks but no thanks" for the work they have down within the community, they must choose their next move.  This cold shoulder to people who have actually taken action to help those who are in need may come across as silly, unproductive, or perhaps hypocritical.  But, I urge you not to think of the wrong that has been done to the Herrings or the homeless by the city of Houston, but rather encourage people like the Herrings and perhaps the Herrings themselves to press onward.  Though we may encounter trails of many kind, we must "remember the poor"(Galations 2) for "when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed"(Luke 14). 


In a situation the Herrings are experiencing we must remember James 1 where we are told: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."  Instead of giving up on living out our lives for Christ when early things get in the way, let's press even harder.  Encourage one another to keep the faith, keep persevering with an understanding of what the true future holds.


Blessings.