Finding the Roots

The church is freaking out. Well, the parents in it are. All over the United States Christian teens are going off to college and coming back home not so Christian. Sometimes its a phase, but its becoming increasingly permanent. Many parents and religious authorities are blaming this trend on things like entertainment, drugs and culture in general. While there is some truth to the direction in which these people point the blame, the old addage is true. Whenever you point a finger at someone, there are always three pointing right back at you. The church cannot continue to pass the buck if it is to emerge from this century with any power at all. Christians must demonstrate that they are willing to face their own demons and reform, where necessary, if they expect to regain a healthy witness.

 There are several major stereotypes and/or doctrinal errors that are either common or inherent within the church system today. These things must be corrected and overcome  in order for the church to continue to exist, much less function properly. The problems the church faces today are threefold:Stereotypes, Doctrines, and Cultural Issues.

Stereotypes – Christians are:

Hypocrites, Judgemental, Ignorant, Not Creative (lame)

Key Doctrinal Issues:

Church Discipline (Accountability), Tradition/Preference vs. Biblical Commands, Gods Blessings (Health Wealth & Joy)

Where American Ideals clash with Christ’s Teachings:

Ownership/Stewardship (who is the true owner of your possessions?)

Individualism (We are not our own highest priority, instead we work for God’s glory and the best interests of others)

Materialism (We are not here to accumulate wealth, power or fame)

 

These are some serious problems that are sinking the ship that is the church. Some of these are merely surface level expressions of deeper issues within the church, while others, such as the doctrinal issues, are indications of where we went off course and pursued what God never intended us to.

What I do believe.

I have written a lot of posts about what I dont like, ranging from the way the Scripture is taught in our churches, to doubt, to education. This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all the things I dont like about the way church is done. I have heard it said that most church planters only know what they dont like, and know nothing about what they do want in a church. I dont want to be that person. I am going to write two posts. One with my specific beliefs, and one outlining why I believe those things. This post will deal with what my philosophy of ministry is, and why I believe those things.

 I am a Christian. This does not mean that I am a churchman. It does not mean I am a pastor. It means that my first and foremost commitment is to glorify God through obedience to His commands. This means that I have a responsibility to read His word often to find out what He wants me to do. The following things are principles I believe are supported by Scripture, and I am just trying to have the bravery and commitment to Christ to follow Him whereever He leads. Even if I get killed for it.

 I believe that Christ’s major message was that of repentance. A message where people turn from their sin, where their hearts are changed and their desires are not the same. A change in what people think, not just what they say is what occurs in salvation. Sure, this isnt an instantanious thing for most people, but sanctification should be a measureable process, at least for the person engaged in the process. In addition to this message of repentance, Jesus had an equally weighty message that is pretty simple at its core. Religious activity without a heart change is just as likely to blind a person to their sin as anything else. Jesus often referred to the Pharisees as the blind leading the blind. He often ended their guided tour by saying they fall into a pit together, meaning they both go to hell because they chose religion over Christ.

 So if religion is just as likely to blind a person to the truth as anything else, why did God start the church? If the church can be just as dangerous as sex outside of marriage or illegal drugs, then why make it? Why allow people to deceive themselves into thinking they are going to Heaven, when in fact they are just playing with religion and not allowing God to penetrate their hearts?

 Because religion is the natural outpouring of the change that occurs after salvation. Church is not a valid expression in and of itself. If all you do is go to church, but cant let God be King in your heart during the week, then you have no religion worth speaking of. If all your religion calls you to do is sing songs on Sunday morning and sit in boring classes with boring people for a couple of hours a week, then your religion is a joke.

 Actually, its doing more harm than good.

 You see, the Pharisees had religion down pat. They knew the ins and outs of what it meant to be religious.

They kept the law. All of it.

They spent their lives trying to follow the law better than Pharisees before them had.

They were morally perfect in ways that we will never be.

But Christ rejected them. Why?

Religion blinds people. Religion without Christ blinds people. Religion without Christ results in things like the Inquisition and the Crusades. Or the terrorism that we deal with in the world today.

 I am trying to get one thing across here. Religion is meaningless without Christ. Without the heart change He brings. I am trying to get that across so that I can make you understand that I dont want to be a part of a church that encourages religion. I dont want to be a part of a church that is more about money or numbers than Christ. I dont want to be a blind man leading blind men to Hell. Please God no!

 So my goal is to design a church that encourages sincerity in the search for Christ. Sincerity in belief. True heart change. Real obedience. Actual worship. I dont want it to be about me! I want lives to be impacted by the change that occurs there. I want to go deeper in my relationship with God and His people before I go wider in my attendance. I want to stay true to Jesus’ overeall message of repentance.