So I hear it's time for me to post something new. I'm trying to think
of what I've been thinking about lately. See, I've gotten away
from journaling simply because I have no time. Consequently, I haven't
kept up with my thoughts. It really does take writing them down.
Here's one though... I've been talking to a lot of people about the church and how many churches, and many times big churches, feel so fake and pointless to people in middle school, highschool, and onward. It seems like so many get sick of "church" and deem it a waste of time. They quote scripture at times to point out how the church has wronged them or how it isn't doing its job.
At the same time I know of a good many kids that would consider it an insult for someone to say such a thing. Out of that group, some are just taking offence to an attack on something that they claim. Others, however, have well thought out reasons to think that argument to be not only incorrect, but outright insulting.
I see the sincerity in both opinions. I see the hurt in the ones that are just fed up with the way things are. I see the encouragement that those still attached to the church recieve because of their relationship with their body of believers as well. Both sides seem to have a thirst for God though, or at least they did at some point in time.
My question, as always, is "why?" Why is it that if the church is able to accomodate some, it is, at the same time, hurting others? How can that be?
I know this issue is broad. However, we are called to restore each other in kindness (somewhere in acts). How do we do that? What can the church do to give those who feel unplugged, cast away, un-cared-for, bored, agravated, judged, and so on, a place of fellowship? Isn't that what we're called to? Didn't Paul change his eating habits to serve the jews better?
On top of that, we tend so much to fight over "seeker friendly" and "seeker sensitive", and denominations, and "callings," and the role of the church and the role that I play in it. Well, I'll tell you what the first and second greatest commandments are: Love God and love people. I don't see how you can be a christian, love someone and not want to be a vessel of the gospel to that person. Just read what Paul wrote about loving people in 1 Corinthians 9: 19-23
He might've been called to be what he was, and you're not Paul.... but will you let that be an excuse?
what do you think about the church? what could we do better? What could you do better? What could I do better? Seriously, let's talk about this.
Here's one though... I've been talking to a lot of people about the church and how many churches, and many times big churches, feel so fake and pointless to people in middle school, highschool, and onward. It seems like so many get sick of "church" and deem it a waste of time. They quote scripture at times to point out how the church has wronged them or how it isn't doing its job.
At the same time I know of a good many kids that would consider it an insult for someone to say such a thing. Out of that group, some are just taking offence to an attack on something that they claim. Others, however, have well thought out reasons to think that argument to be not only incorrect, but outright insulting.
I see the sincerity in both opinions. I see the hurt in the ones that are just fed up with the way things are. I see the encouragement that those still attached to the church recieve because of their relationship with their body of believers as well. Both sides seem to have a thirst for God though, or at least they did at some point in time.
My question, as always, is "why?" Why is it that if the church is able to accomodate some, it is, at the same time, hurting others? How can that be?
I know this issue is broad. However, we are called to restore each other in kindness (somewhere in acts). How do we do that? What can the church do to give those who feel unplugged, cast away, un-cared-for, bored, agravated, judged, and so on, a place of fellowship? Isn't that what we're called to? Didn't Paul change his eating habits to serve the jews better?
On top of that, we tend so much to fight over "seeker friendly" and "seeker sensitive", and denominations, and "callings," and the role of the church and the role that I play in it. Well, I'll tell you what the first and second greatest commandments are: Love God and love people. I don't see how you can be a christian, love someone and not want to be a vessel of the gospel to that person. Just read what Paul wrote about loving people in 1 Corinthians 9: 19-23
He might've been called to be what he was, and you're not Paul.... but will you let that be an excuse?
what do you think about the church? what could we do better? What could you do better? What could I do better? Seriously, let's talk about this.