Therefore we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. ( 1 John 2:18-19) It sounds so daring, so dangerous, so brave...but it is nothing more than a lie told by those who want their freedom to be unhindered and applauded. No commitment, no responsibility, all options kept open. What is the lie you ask? Well it can be couched in many different forms, but the main one is this: "I love Jesus, but I don't want to have anything to do with his church." This negative sentiment about the community of believers is catching like wild-fire across the Christian landscape. One study reports, "While spirituality is flourishing, fewer people affiliate themselves with a particular denomination or religion. There is also a new phenomenon taking place in Christendom, it is called the 'Dones'. Researchers say roughly 30 million former churchgoers still maintain their faith, but they are no longer following Jesus in traditional church settings." I once heard a pastor say this akin to a person saying to you, "Dude, I really like hanging out with you, I think you are really cool, it is your wife I can't stand! Just don't bring her along." If you were a creepy husband this probably wouldn't bother you at all. But what if you really loved and admired your wife?How would this sound to you? Did you know Jesus really loves his wife? He died for her. It even says in Ephesians 3:8-11 that he has a grand purpose for her, "to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him." Why then do people leave the community of believers and go out on their own? What is wrong with Jesus' bride? First, I do think there are some real legitimate reasons why some people grow frustrated with their community of faith. Here are a few listed: (1) People are tired of being lectured to, especially when they are all expected to think alike. This is especially true when they know they know more than their pastor. (2) People want to participate, but instead they feel church is nothing more than entering into the same ole’ “plop, pray and pay” routine. (3) People are genuinely tired of top-down authoritarian control and sin-management. (4) Church seems more about maintaining a rigid tradition than fostering a real relationship with God. While these issues can bother and frustrate the average attender, it doesn't give validation to a person's desire to abandon the church of Christ altogether. There is much written in the New Testament about forgiving, persevering and loving one anther. And isn't love to be "patient and kind?" No, love is now interpreted as being set free to do whatever your heart desires. If the church isn't meeting your needs ask yourself, "Do I really love people? Have I been a change agent of grace or a critic? What does it mean to "treat one another better than yourself?" This brings me to some possible hidden and destructive reasons why I think people quit on God's bride; I offer two assessments: (1) People don’t like to get involved in the messiness of other people and their problems. (2) Consumerism: People like their weekends, it is when they can finally get away and do what they want, the church just doesn’t measure up in thrill, excitement and pleasure as my other options do. In my study of Luke 2:39-52 for this Sunday's message, I find a 12 year old boy who submitted to the customs and rules of a very traditional and rigid religious culture. It didn't make him bitter or feel mistreated. But rather he loved to be in the presence of the boring old teachers of God - - and he grew in favor with others. And let me tell you, this boy was brilliant. He definitely knew more than even his mom and dad, and yet he didn't act aloof like the "cool, smart, and hipster people" of our day do. He obeyed joyfully. What if Jesus quit on his disciples and community because they were just so ... backward? What if he was simply "done" with the non-sense of loving little, messy people? What if he decided to go back home to heaven because he was tired of the hassle of dealing with humanity? Or he could have made his own planet to go fly-fishing on? If Jesus would have said adios to us the truth would be stark, "We would all die in our sin."
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
August 2018
|