As I write this blog I am in the midst of a great conundrum. Conundrum (def) - an intricate and difficult problem. We have baked into the Christian pie some ingredients that have become too prevalent and are actually slowing down the modern-day church in following its mission. What is the mission of the Church? The Great Commission is the mission or intent of the Church, and to lessen that message by just "going along" with every whim or thought process we want causes my soul to ache. I am writing as a sinner saved by God's grace and I am not making myself out to be any prophet or "special" messenger, but I am going to deal with The Untouchable "elephant in the room."
The elephant is the subject of Apathy in the modern-day church. Everywhere I go I hear Christians saying "I have nothing to offer God" so they just step back from serving Him and their significance as a born-again, regenerated follower of Jesus is compromised at their deepest level. Why? Because they have been able to justify not serving Jesus and sharing the gospel by taking on some form of "fake" humility to appear more spiritual. Bold is not a word in their vocabulary and not being bold has a built-in excuse for just going through the Christian motions like Bible Study, Prayer, Fellowship, and Feeding their neighbor. Ok. I said it. We have begun to think that our morality and works within that morality are following the mission of the church. I don't believe the outcome of all of that is showing that is correct.
Jesus fed the thousands when they were following His teaching, but as awesome as that miracle was, his intent was to bring those people to a saving faith. HIS INTENT!! I believe our target or intent has gotten off course and our sights have been messed with to the point that we no longer follow the course left for us by our Savior. In Hebrews 12: 1-2 the writer says this Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.
I agree with the above scripture and believe it is time to "strip off the weight" that slows us down and part of that weight is the "noble" thought that we are nothing and change the point to God "made" us significant from the beginning of time by creating us and when sin became the problem, sent His son to deal with that problem once and for all time. To think any less about that sacrifice is an open slap to the love of God. God reached down to us and offered us grace and that grace is unmatched. His love for us, His creation, gives us significance, and in that significance, we find "ourselves" and our purpose for existing.
I know I am writing on a subject as a person "shouting out to the wind" and I know there can be many excuses given as to why you shouldn't even listen to my take on all of this. Just think about what Jesus did for you and me and you will begin to see that our lives were born-again in the Spirit and the result of that born-again experience is a regeneration of a soul, and thus, a life. Everything from that point on is new, new, new. Paul wrote this in 2 Corinthians 5:17 15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.
The Untouchable subjects are the ones an apathetic world will hide and put away, but if there is Biblical preference for that truth then it needs to keep resurfacing. Live for Jesus. Share your testimony or story with someone and offer salvation to them through Jesus. Be "The Church!" You may be in the minority, but oh what a minority it is. Strip away the weight of errant teaching and let the Word of God dwell in your heart and you will be changed. Today would be a good day to start.
The Pilgrimage Continues
David Warren
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