Comments on: Hidden Messages of American Christianity Wrap-up http://ceruleansanctum.com/2005/12/hidden-messages-of-american-christianity_19.html Looking for the 1st century Church in 21st century America Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:49:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Dana http://ceruleansanctum.com/2005/12/hidden-messages-of-american-christianity_19.html#comment-3089 Dana Wed, 21 Dec 2005 17:24:00 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/?p=390#comment-3089 This series has been incredibly interesting to read, not the least because so many of the observations are easily seen in most churches in America. Often, a sober and honest review of the actions at large of the American church will reveal a number of behaviours that fall far short of accurately depicting the message of Christ. In fact, it seems that most Christians (not to mention non-believers) begin acquiring lists of wide-ranging failings of the church as a whole. Some of us begin to gather these lists even before we set foot inside a church. My major concern with this practice is that so often, problems are revealed without solutions. There are so many problems in the church that are inherent to human behaviour en masse. Often, Christians compare the modern church with the church described in the book of Acts and lament that we have made moved only backward, falling only farther from God. From there, many Christians jump to the conclusion that the church of America has only to mimic the church of Acts in order to regain their lost footing. Others say that we only need to alter our teachings as a whole, or be more unified, or perhaps if we stayed truer to doctrine to keep it pure, or if we were more willing to interpret the spirit of things. The problem I see with most of these solutions is that they are painfully general, and almost all of them absolve the individual of responsibility. In my experience, when I feel that God is showing me a problem with the church, it is almost always accompanied by a feeling of conviction. If I am part of a body that is failing, I should do everything in my power to pick up what slack I can. If I feel that the problem with the church is a lack of unity, then I should work to be one with as many Christians as I can. Unfortunately, many Christians are more willing to point the blame that work hard individually. Of course, this is actually a re-statement of your earlier comment that we each represent Jesus, but this phrase is used so often that a restatement may be necessary so that we understand in everyday language. In the end, if any part of a body is unable or unwilling to function, the entire body is compromised. Each of us must understand that we have a function to perform and a destiny to fulfill. Since realizing this, I have read each indictment of the church as a personal challenge. My goal as a Christian has been "don't be that guy." If I hear that churches are unkind, I feel that it is my responsibility to be as kind as it is possible for me to be. It is very important for us to understand that the earth-shattering message of the bible is that YOU can be redeemed and saved, and that it is incumbent upon YOU to follow Jesus to take best advantage of that redemption. There is a reason we call it a PERSONAL relationship with Jesus. I encourage those around me to grow as individuals and strive as individuals to reach farther toward our Lord. If all of our attention is focused on our inward walk with Christ, not only will much of the hypocrasy for which our church has become notorious be alleviated, but our God-ward growth would also affect those around us, essentially making effective evangelism fall effortlessly into place. There is no more effective an evangelism tool than a life utterly changed by the power of God. Unfortunately, this is often hard work, and I have noticed that many people are more willing to compare themselves to the world or to the rest of the church than to Jesus Himself, who told us to be perfect, even as He was perfect. The bar is never lowered, our goal is always His perfection. I just hope that each person, as an individual, will learn to take responsibility for his or her part of the body of God. We are all called out, unique, and important to the kingdom of God. I have enjoyed your series immensely, and am very glad of your common sensical take of modern Christianity. I look forward to your next posting. This series has been incredibly interesting to read, not the least because so many of the observations are easily seen in most churches in America. Often, a sober and honest review of the actions at large of the American church will reveal a number of behaviours that fall far short of accurately depicting the message of Christ. In fact, it seems that most Christians (not to mention non-believers) begin acquiring lists of wide-ranging failings of the church as a whole. Some of us begin to gather these lists even before we set foot inside a church.

My major concern with this practice is that so often, problems are revealed without solutions. There are so many problems in the church that are inherent to human behaviour en masse. Often, Christians compare the modern church with the church described in the book of Acts and lament that we have made moved only backward, falling only farther from God. From there, many Christians jump to the conclusion that the church of America has only to mimic the church of Acts in order to regain their lost footing.

Others say that we only need to alter our teachings as a whole, or be more unified, or perhaps if we stayed truer to doctrine to keep it pure, or if we were more willing to interpret the spirit of things.

The problem I see with most of these solutions is that they are painfully general, and almost all of them absolve the individual of responsibility. In my experience, when I feel that God is showing me a problem with the church, it is almost always accompanied by a feeling of conviction. If I am part of a body that is failing, I should do everything in my power to pick up what slack I can. If I feel that the problem with the church is a lack of unity, then I should work to be one with as many Christians as I can.

Unfortunately, many Christians are more willing to point the blame that work hard individually. Of course, this is actually a re-statement of your earlier comment that we each represent Jesus, but this phrase is used so often that a restatement may be necessary so that we understand in everyday language. In the end, if any part of a body is unable or unwilling to function, the entire body is compromised. Each of us must understand that we have a function to perform and a destiny to fulfill. Since realizing this, I have read each indictment of the church as a personal challenge. My goal as a Christian has been “don’t be that guy.” If I hear that churches are unkind, I feel that it is my responsibility to be as kind as it is possible for me to be.

It is very important for us to understand that the earth-shattering message of the bible is that YOU can be redeemed and saved, and that it is incumbent upon YOU to follow Jesus to take best advantage of that redemption. There is a reason we call it a PERSONAL relationship with Jesus.

I encourage those around me to grow as individuals and strive as individuals to reach farther toward our Lord. If all of our attention is focused on our inward walk with Christ, not only will much of the hypocrasy for which our church has become notorious be alleviated, but our God-ward growth would also affect those around us, essentially making effective evangelism fall effortlessly into place. There is no more effective an evangelism tool than a life utterly changed by the power of God. Unfortunately, this is often hard work, and I have noticed that many people are more willing to compare themselves to the world or to the rest of the church than to Jesus Himself, who told us to be perfect, even as He was perfect. The bar is never lowered, our goal is always His perfection.

I just hope that each person, as an individual, will learn to take responsibility for his or her part of the body of God. We are all called out, unique, and important to the kingdom of God.

I have enjoyed your series immensely, and am very glad of your common sensical take of modern Christianity. I look forward to your next posting.

]]>