Does anyone but me find the following items ironic, in a sick way?

How many times do we dress in our finest clothes to go to church, while odds are there is a child within 5 miles of us that has very few clothes at all?

How often do we start our car to drive in comfort to church on Sunday, while odds are there is a single mother nearby freezing/burning up at the bus stop with her three little kids?

Have we ever complained about the food at our church potluck or the service at our favorite after-church restaurant while odds are there is someone within seeing distance that doesn't know what (or if) they're going to eat today?

We build immaculate mega-churches while people are starving.

We drive our cars to church, congratulating ourselves on being "good Christians," and never see the homeless guy that's standing on the corner while we wait at a light.

Don't get me wrong. I'm all for churches. In fact, not only are they OK, they are essential. Alone, our resources may not stretch very far. But when we band together as a congregation, mighty things can happen.

My problem is with the churches who build new facilities in the "nice" part of town, not because they've outgrown their existing place, but simply because they want to move.

My problem is with the churches who have become so totally self-serving that they've forgotten Whom it is that they serve.

My problem is with individual churches and sometimes entire denominations who worship the church structure more than the One who inspired it.

So many churches these days are living under that "Field of Dreams" illusion. They think that "if they build it, they will come." And that just ain't happening anymore.

Does anyone think it's odd that the greatest power the church ever wielded was the first 100 years or so after its inception? When they were still meeting in people's houses, sometimes having to do so in secret, great things were accomplished. Why? Their focus wasn't on a fancy building, or a new organ, or another wing addition to the complex. Their focus was on preaching and spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Where have we lost that?

What's a real shame is that most people today have little or no accurate knowledge of what God's Kingdom is and the wonderful things that it will shortly be doing for mankind, through God's appointed king, Jesus Christ. Something to consider while reading through the gospel accounts of Jesus' life and ministry is that all of the wonderful things Jesus did such as healing the sick, raising the dead, feeding the hungry, and so forth... while those things were done on a small-scale in the brief time he had on this earth, Jesus will be doing those miraculous things on an earth-wide scale in the very near future. Soon all forms of suffering will be at an end, and the knowledge of this as promised through the Bible is something truly faith-strengthening that can be shared with the ones struggling for the necessities of life right now. Jesus well knows the suffering that humanity is going through, and by means of the kingdom will see to it that NOBODY ever gets sick again... that NOBODY ever will go to bed hungry or homeless... that NOBODY will ever have fear about crime and violence... and that NOBODY will ever need to fear or worry about their future.

People have all sorts of mistaken ideas about what God's kingdom is and what it will do. Some think it's just a condition of the heart or mind, but Daniel, in Daniel 2:44, prophesied about this actual heavenly government and what it will do by saying that it will crush and put an end to all man-made kingdoms and will establish the one true government that will rule earthwide and care for all. Jesus Christ, through kingdom power and authority bestowed upon him by his God and Father, will bring this earth back to the way that God intended it to be, a paradise filled with perfect, peaceful individuals all with prospects of eternal life and in common worship with Jesus of the one true God, Jehovah.

But people get too caught up in their own problems of life and tend not to think about these things as often as they should. After all, it is a wonderful hope and more than that, it's a promise from God. Genesis tells us that his purpose for man was to enjoy life forever right on the earth and fill it with righteous people. While that purpose was seemingly thwarted by the rebellion in Eden, God's purposes ALWAYS come true. And the words recorded in Isaiah 55:11 gives us all the reason in the world to be confident that these things WILL take place: "So my word that goes forth from my mouth will prove to be. It will not return to me without results, but it will certainly do that in which I have delighted, and it will have certain success in that for which I have sent it."

We should never neglect that the doing of good to (and for) others is an important part of being a "good Christian", and it's always commendable the help that places like soup kitchens and shelters provide the less fortunate. But at the same time, don't be fooled into thinking that any human ruler can bring about the kind of relief that we need, and don't think that providing one meal or donating some clothes here or there really solves these people's problems. To have a chance at a happy, everlasting future, they need to be taught about the ones that will provide it, and why? John 17:3 tell us: "This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ."

Dennis, thanks for beating me up even more than my humble young pastor did last night. You're absolutely right though, and I think I've said before that most of what goes on in church is to cater to 'the church.'

Ours has had its struggles, from being featured in a book a few years back as an example of what a "great church" is to a split and pews that aren't even half full. I don't think as a church though that we've ever lost our focus on what our ministry is, it's just getting people to get more out of their comfort zones - me included - and be Jesus to others every day.

We've spoken a lot lately about how blessed we really are and how to use that as a catalyst to dig ourselves out of that rut and do some things that matter. As a people we're so stressed, so rushed, so consumed with our own problems that we're oblivious to what else is going on around us and how much God has really blessed us.

Go to work, take the kids to practice, come home, eat a bite and plop down in front of the TV exhausted. We don't take time to just be still and know that God is God, to build the relationship with Him that he wants to have with us. Then on Sunday, sing a few songs, shake a few hands, drop a check in the offering plate on Sunday and we're good, we've done our part. Am I right?

I reckon I have to start with me for that to change... you better remind me again in a few weeks. :)

Steve

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Originally Posted by speechlesstx

Dennis, thanks for beating me up even more than my humble young pastor did last night.

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I'm not trying to beat anyone up, 'cause if I were, I'd have to start with me.

However, I think that we often need a spiritual reality check to see if we are doing what we were told to do. Namely, feeding the hungry, clothing the poor, visiting the sick, and "going forth" to make disciples. THAT is the business of the church. Nothing wrong with nice buildings to gather in; however, when it becomes a place to retreat from the world to instead of a pit stop for refueling, that is when things have gone wrong. I've always thought that the seven churches in Revelation were wonderful measuring tools for the modern church.

Anyway, you'll notice I never used the word "you." It is always "we," and often times, only "I."

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Originally Posted by kindj

I'm not trying to beat anyone up, 'cause if I were, I'd have to start with me.

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It was just a figure of speech my friend. :)

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Originally Posted by speechlesstx

It was just a figure of speech my friend. :)

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Oh, I know. Just a little pre-emptive defense from those who tend to accuse Christians of "attacking" anytime we even dare to point out our OWN faults.

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Originally Posted by kindj

Oh, I know. Just a little pre-emptive defense from those who tend to accuse Christians of "attacking" anytime we even dare to point out our OWN faults.

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Understood - but sad how that works though, huh?

Reinhard Bonnke has many books that address the lack of the Holy Spirit moving in our churches today.

John Bevere addresses the lack of Fear of the LORD.

Without the Holy Spirit of God and Fear of the LORD, we will not fulfill His purpose, we seek our own agenda. It will require the Body of Christ returning to her First Love in order to accomplish the Will of God.

G'Day : It's so nice to read/hear people talk about our Beloved, I get so tired of hearing His name used as a cuss word.(I'm new to this site thingy, having a wonderful time though)
I'd like to say,if I may, The "church's" , as I see them are raised up of God to put Christianity in the Face of the world, to testify of Jesus Christ and to give a focus for the children of disobedience to vent their andger on while the true church, Hidden in Christ Jesus, goes about doing the will of the Father, which is to be conformed to the image of His beloved Son and in the fullness of time, when we are prepared we will feed the poor, clothe the naked, and maybe even heal the sick, but not by our efforts but by the Holy Spirit in us, to will and to do according to the will of God. None of us have any idea what the Lord has in store for us, individually or corporately, only God knows the outcome from the beginning, when He raised us from the dead to walk in the newness of life in Christ Jesus He did it with a purpose for each of us so just let Him work it out in you as only He can and don't judge the church's or the people in them, you might be kicking against the pricks, just like Paul/Saul, If the Lord has laid it on your heart to notice the poor and the homeless then do something about it, stand up in church and proclaim their plite, challenge the collective conscience of the congregation throw rocks if you have to but don't sit down the back judging or you will be judged.
Blessings <M>

A funnier irony is my uncle. He goes to church almost every day. And by the time he hits the first red light after leaving church, he's swearing up a storm at other drivers!

Suggestion -- Instead of doing our Christian duty only on holidays like Easter and Christmas by taking that nice food basket to those poor people on the other side of town, why not get to know them and become a positive part of their lives?

Our library homeless man used to be just some old homeless guy who hung out in the library to stay warm (or be cool during the summer) and who smoked occasional cigarettes near the "snuffer" outside the front door. We found out his name and over the past few years, he has asked for social service phone numbers and other personal concerns, and has "paid us back" by scraping ice and snow off our cars during the winter, and during rainstorms has used his huge golf umbrella to walk us to our cars. No, he hasn't attended church with any of us, but the love and caring is palpable. Patrons see it and are nicer not only to him but also to each other.

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Originally Posted by kindj

Does anyone but me find the following items ironic, in a sick way?

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The Church has taught us not to beat ourselves up for the poor will always be with us. As Jesus said:

Matthew 26v11 For the poor you have always with you: but me you have not always.

And our first priority is to love ourselves. For we can't love others as we love ourselves if we do not love ourselves first:

Matthew 22 39 And the second is like to this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

And of course, the Word of God also condemns the man who takes care of strangers before his own household:

1 Timothy 5 8 But if any man have not care of his own, and especially of those of his house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

So let us clothe the needy in our own house before we clothe the needy stranger. Because the first neighbors which we must love are in are very own house.

And that is why Scripture suggests that we remain unmarried. Because:

1 Corinthians 7 32 But I would have you to be without solicitude. He that is without a wife, is solicitous for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please God. 33 But he that is with a wife, is solicitous for the things of the world, how he may please his wife: and he is divided. 34 And the unmarried woman and the virgin thinketh on the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she that is married thinketh on the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

And Scripture says:

James 1 27 Religion clean and undefiled before God and the Father, is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their tribulation: and to keep one's self unspotted from this world.

And so, let us strive to take care of our own and if we have anything left over, take care of others as well, for Scripture also says:

Luke 12: 19 And I will say to my soul: Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years take thy rest; eat, drink, make good cheer. 20 But God said to him: Thou fool, this night do they require thy soul of thee: and whose shall those things be which thou hast provided?

So, don't let your heart be troubled. Persevere in the love of God and you shall be saved:

Matthew 24 13 But he that shall persevere to the end, he shall be saved.

Sincerely,

De Maria