Tuesday, October 2, 2007

rant

**This is a warning... I need to rant, so if you don't like what I have to say... stop now.**

I got an email from a favorite friend this morning with linked information about a book by Jake Colson titled "So You Don't Want To Go To Church Anymore". And I just sort of snapped.

I have a huge problem with "Christians" who are anti-organization. And I'm sick of it. THE Church has changed so drastically in the last ten years, that for many people it's unrecognizable. I get that. Churches come with so many descriptions. So noted. Church staff is falling apart faster than it can be put together. Again,... noted. Pastors are having affairs, falling prey to pornography, homosexuality, Egocentricism, totalitarianism, and a pleothora of other things.

And it makes people not want to go to church.

I get that.

But do not preach your "I-DON'T-GO-TO-CHURCH-BECAUSE-I-DON'T-BELIEVE-IN-ORGANIZED-RELIGION-OR-BECAUSE-THE-PASTORAL-STAFF-BETRAYED-ME-OR-BECAUSE-THE-MUSIC-WAS-TOO-LOUD-TOO-SOFT-TOO-FAST-TOO-SLOW-NOT-MY-AGE-GROUP-NOT-FANCY-ENOUGH-NOT-CASUAL-ENOUGH-NOT-MEETING-"MY-NEEDS"-ENOUGH" when you refuse to do anything for the Kingdom of God.

Sitting at home watching the game, the race, the movie, the show -- Not cutting the Mustard anymore.

The Kingdom, The Harvest -- is at your feet. How much closer does God need to put it? That homeless person you drove by and presumed that they were just pan-handling -- FACE OF JESUS. That co-worker that gets on your nerves sharing about her family problems -- FACE OF JESUS. That teenager who spends too much time on the internet -- FACE OF JESUS. That lady at the fast-food place -- FACE OF JESUS. That pastor that you don't think has it ALL together -- FACE OF JESUS.

Get off of your butt and show the rest of us what being "un-churched" is really like and I might actually agree with you. Feed the homeless. Clothe the naked. Befriend the friendless. Love the drug addicts. Show compassion. Reach out to where people are. DO SOMETHING. Stop belly-aching about why things are the way YOU think they ought to be and make a difference.

THAT IS THE GREAT COMMISSION.

3 comments:

Holly said...

I totally agree. Preach preacha ;-)

Warrior Priestess said...

Yes, and I may be a Chaplain at a hospital three days a week but I still GO to church.

Monika said...

those are GREAT points!!