We had a fund raising program at our church and from the beginning, it just seemed to be for the wrong reasons. They wanted to have one day were people gave so that they could remodel an existing building, buy a high definition video camera, help get the hope center trailers, etc. The only item out of the list that was to directly help people outside those of us sitting in the pews was the Hope Center's trailers. Everything else was not to help people but to improve the church's facilities.
At first it seemed okay to me, but as I thought about it and prayed, I sensed that this was not about the church helping people, but about the church growing for itself. As I read scripture this passage keep coming back to me over and over again:
Jesus Reinstates Peter (NIV)
15When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"
"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
16Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"
He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."
17 The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. (Emphasis by me)
Feed my Lambs
Take care of my sheep
Feed my sheep
Nowhere in this passage did Jesus say to construct buildings to be my church. He didn't say give your tithing for the church to buy fancy stuff, no he said "Feed my sheep". Our church raised $50,000 in that one day of given. As I was driving today I was thinking, what else could the church do with $50,000 dollars?
10,000 $5 meals
5,000 $10 meals
feed 100 people for 2 meals a day for 50 days
Provide 2,000 pairs of $25 shoes
Help 50 couples with $1,000 problems.
Sponsor orphans overseas or here in the United States.
The list goes on and on with what we could have done to feed, clothes, and help God's children. How many people would have been brought to the Lord by a kind gift of love and compassion compared to high definition video cameras and a new coat of paint.
I know, I know nothing about growing Churches, but the spirit is telling me that a church is not a grand building filled with stuff, but people coming together in Jesus' name. That being a Christian is by showing love to those in need. I believe from the loving kindness that the money would have shown those in need we would have brought more people to the love, kindness, and saving grace of Jesus.
It seems to me that the church should not be so concerned with getting recycled Christians from other churches, but harvesting the fields of lost people looking for the only that thing that will finally bring peace and joy to their their lives - Jesus.
I guess our churches are just a reflection of what we hold dear to our hearts - material things.
I'm guilty of this obsession and seem to only talk about living the Christian life as I believe Jesus so clearly told us to do.
I will pray for the faith and courage to follow where Jesus leads and I can only hope that others feel the same way. Because if we want a better church we must make a better church.
Maybe next time it will be:
Love Jesus Day!
A Christian, Father, Husband, Son, and Friend. This is my blog about living a full life, having fulfillment, surviving in the United States, and navigating the daily battlefield. To do this I'm in combat training and God is my drill sargeant. Let's go on this journey through life together.
Monday, May 18, 2009
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IF
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!
Rudyard Kipling
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!
Rudyard Kipling
Search The Bible for your Answers!
The Armor of God - Ephesians 6:10-18
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.