BUSINESS AS USUAL: Are We Missing the Mark?
Is there anyone who would not agree with the premise; "The church
or those of us, who make up the "apparent" Body of Christ in this
world today, does not seem passionate about our mission"? We are
caught up in "busy work,” having little time for weightier matters
of our faith.
In my lifetime of 76 years, there has never been a time when we got
it right. Many times, those who name the name of Christ seem to pre-
fer fellowship (meaning eating together) over prayer, Bible study or
witnessing. We give lip service to helping poor and disadvantaged
folks, while spending most resources on creature comforts. Providing
well furnished classrooms, and sanctuaries is more important than
sacrificing comfort, to create opportunities of service to benefit the
needy.
If I, flawed and unworthy, have these concerns, how must our Lord
view our failure to get outside four walls of the meeting house to get
our "hands dirty" meeting needs in the community? (Having said
that, I recognize some local assemblies do have a heart for the lost,
poor and needy and there are resources directed to these causes.)
As I see it, the most pressing need in our community and all those I
know about, is for the Children of God to present Him in all His full-
ness, power, majesty and terror. It's good to give our children God's
love and love for each other and all mankind, but there is more to the
message and is not adequate for one who would become like Christ.
Is this message enough for a seeker who has lost His way? How then
should we present the message of Christ to a lost, dying world, who is
unaware of it’s hopeless condition? Does one who is still in the flesh
understand the importance of that message? What is needed by one
who wants more than a watered down message that cannot change a
life, is the message of our God's disposition toward sin and sinners.
We must understand God hates sin, but will forgive the sinner. Since
our lord is Holy and will not countenance sin, He will judge it. If the
sinner persists in His sin, without the redemption provided by the
"Lamb slain from the foundation of the world," God will judge him.
We must deliver these from falling into the hands of an angry God.
If we fail to confront those we know with the claims of Christ on their
lives, and the remedy, their blood will be required at our hands. As
we present Christ in His fullness, power, glory and terror to those we
know, they will be receptive to this Savior in repentance of sins, or
their blood will be on their own heads and we will be blameless.
If we, as a local church, are involved in anything that fails to pro-
mote the Kingdom of God and the accurate presentation of Christ in
our communities and around the world, it should be scrapped. There
must be an appraisal of all activities of the local church in light of
this principle. It might be a good idea for me to appraise my life
in light of Scripture, before presenting my ideas to any fellowship of
believers...
donporter 9.21.12, edited 11.25.16
Is there anyone who would not agree with the premise; "The church
or those of us, who make up the "apparent" Body of Christ in this
world today, does not seem passionate about our mission"? We are
caught up in "busy work,” having little time for weightier matters
of our faith.
In my lifetime of 76 years, there has never been a time when we got
it right. Many times, those who name the name of Christ seem to pre-
fer fellowship (meaning eating together) over prayer, Bible study or
witnessing. We give lip service to helping poor and disadvantaged
folks, while spending most resources on creature comforts. Providing
well furnished classrooms, and sanctuaries is more important than
sacrificing comfort, to create opportunities of service to benefit the
needy.
If I, flawed and unworthy, have these concerns, how must our Lord
view our failure to get outside four walls of the meeting house to get
our "hands dirty" meeting needs in the community? (Having said
that, I recognize some local assemblies do have a heart for the lost,
poor and needy and there are resources directed to these causes.)
As I see it, the most pressing need in our community and all those I
know about, is for the Children of God to present Him in all His full-
ness, power, majesty and terror. It's good to give our children God's
love and love for each other and all mankind, but there is more to the
message and is not adequate for one who would become like Christ.
Is this message enough for a seeker who has lost His way? How then
should we present the message of Christ to a lost, dying world, who is
unaware of it’s hopeless condition? Does one who is still in the flesh
understand the importance of that message? What is needed by one
who wants more than a watered down message that cannot change a
life, is the message of our God's disposition toward sin and sinners.
We must understand God hates sin, but will forgive the sinner. Since
our lord is Holy and will not countenance sin, He will judge it. If the
sinner persists in His sin, without the redemption provided by the
"Lamb slain from the foundation of the world," God will judge him.
We must deliver these from falling into the hands of an angry God.
If we fail to confront those we know with the claims of Christ on their
lives, and the remedy, their blood will be required at our hands. As
we present Christ in His fullness, power, glory and terror to those we
know, they will be receptive to this Savior in repentance of sins, or
their blood will be on their own heads and we will be blameless.
If we, as a local church, are involved in anything that fails to pro-
mote the Kingdom of God and the accurate presentation of Christ in
our communities and around the world, it should be scrapped. There
must be an appraisal of all activities of the local church in light of
this principle. It might be a good idea for me to appraise my life
in light of Scripture, before presenting my ideas to any fellowship of
believers...
donporter 9.21.12, edited 11.25.16
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