Christians feel ashamed
If you have seen the images of the Christians fighting in the Holy Sepulchre then like me you may well be feeling ashamed. This is not the kind of image that any Christian wants to present to the world and just adds fuel to the critics.
If you haven’t seen it yet then you can on youtube.
However this is an excellent example of the kind of behaviour that causes many Christians to leave the church. You won’t witness many fights within the Christian church but you will witness many conflicts and, it has to be said, over some very trivial matters.
I understand the fight in the Sepulchre broke out over who gets to stand where during a worship service. Satan must love this stuff.
When will the churches wake up to the wickedness of what they do and make an effort to change. It is the experience of many Christians that people outside the church are less aggressive and more tolerant than people within – surely this is the wrong way around.
What ever happened to turning the other cheek? and being salt and light to the world. I guess the world would probably want us to hide ourselves away at the moment so they can get on with stuff.
It’s time to stop pretending that everything is ok. It’s time to stop playing at being Christians. It’s time to stop this kind of thing ever being seen again.
May God have mercy on us and forgive us.
On behalf of Christians everywhere I apologise for what you had to witness.
When do you pray?
In an effort to get people praying the church has traditionally encouraged people to pray at certain times. Personally I like to pray in the morning before the work day begins. However it’s also good to pray in the evenings because it gives you a chance to ask for forgiveness and for peace through the night. Even better to do both.
However there are no set rules about when to pray other than that it is a good idea to pray but the rest is left pretty much up to us.
I love the bit in the gospels (see Luke 11) when the disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray. Jesus then gives them a formulae they can use (e.g. the Lords Prayer). Of course in other places they learn important things about prayer as well but here is an example of Jesus’ teaching. He doesn’t make it complicated, he doesn’t give them set times to do it, he doesn’t even expand on the Lord’s Prayer with a whole lot of commentary.If you sincerely pray the Lords prayer every day it will transform your prayer life. I did this – only praying the Lord’s prayer – for a month and I was amazed at how much deeper my prayer life became. I thought at the time I was doing pretty well anyway.
So when do you pray and how do you do it? Please leave a comment so others can benefit.
Preoccupied with self
I was reading a blog entry the other day about someone who was getting very angry at the way people in the “New Age” movement are too self centered. They were trying to get people to care more for others. It all sounded very Christian to me, although it came from someone in the New Age movement.
Now preoccupation is not an exclusive club for New Agers only. It is too easy as a Christian to become preoccupied with your own faith and to forget about the needs of others. Jesus never called anyone to a life of preoccupation with their relationship with God. God calls us to be concerned with the world as well as with Him (Him first of course).
Jesus said that the first commandment is to love God and others as yourself. So we can love ourselves (in fact we should) and we should love others just as much, and of course we should love God. So no room for self preoccupation there.
I’ve often heard Christians argue that this is one of the reasons to belong to a church. It stops you becomming too self centered. I agree – a bit. You see belonging to a church doesn’t save you from preoccupation. Even insitutions can be preoccupied with themselves. I’ve come across plenty of churches that have a preoccupation with themselves.
I had a motto at College that everyone still remembers me for: “don’t take yourselves too seriously”. This ought to be every Christians motto as well. Don’t get preoccupied with self.
Christians judge me.
I was talking with a friend the other day who has made a lifestyle choice that is not consistent with Christian teaching (sorry to be a little vague here but I’m hiding the identity of the person concerned).
I was talking to them about church and wondering if they were going anyway at present. Their response was that they weren’t because they just couldn’t go through all that comment and judgement that church people do.
Now I might have defended the church at this point – perhaps pointing out that the lifestyle they have chosen is in fact not what Jesus taught – but I think she was right.
I know that the bible teaches that this person has made a wrong choice. She knows this too. But she has made the choice to live as she does and she must be free to make that choice.
The problem now is that she feels excluded from the church – the very place she should be able to go to to help her make the right choices.
How does the church usually help people make choices? At best they will be patronising and whisper behind her back and at worst they will publically humiliate her.
What did Jesus do with sinners? Did he hold them up for public scorn? Did he whisper about them behind their back? Did he say “get away from me you are unclean!”? Of course not – he went and had a meal with them and called them his friends.
If the church was only for perfect people it would be empty and yet too often those who go see it as an exclusive club where some sins are ok (we just don’t mention those) and some sins are not allowed in here.
I’m not advocating a free for all where sin doesn’t matter – in truth I’m am very keen on personal holiness – but how do we get holy if the place we can meet with God and fellowship with others is barred to us because of a wrong choice we have made.
Sorry – I’m starting to rant.
Let’s get more serious about rejecting the sin but loving the sinner (with the emphasis on loving the sinner e.g. me – and you).
Perhaps if we put all the energy we expend on telling everyone how bad they are into telling people how much God loves them we might have full churches and I would be out of a ministry (good thing by they way).
Have you found a good place to Worship on the Internet
How do you help people worship on the Internet and is it possible to have a communal act of worship on the Internet?
I’ve seen many examples of churches who have tried to provide some kind of worship experience over the Internet. Some of them are better than others but just a few miss the mark completely (it seems to me).
The problem is that you can’t expect the Internet to do something that it is impossible for it to do (at the moment). We must of course allow for developments that will make something possible but I’m talking about how things are in April 2008.
You wouldn’t expect to be able to use a car as a toaster (I’m sure some bright spark would work out a way but most of us normal people wouldn’t expect to be able to do this). However some Christian web sites seems to want to be able to do something similar with the Internet.
The Internet for all its developments is still a text based medium. Yes there are videos and streaming and video conferencing and Internet phones etc but still the vast majority of it is about people sitting down and reading text or looking at pictures.
People like the Internet because it enables you to find things out at a time and place that is convenient to you.
Even with the rise of social networking the vast majority of this takes places at times and places that are convenient to the users.
So how do churches overcome this problem to help people worship?
Some sites think that the only way to worship is at the same time. So they try to persuade people to sit in front of a worship service at the set time the church has chosen.
It always seems to me that if you wanted to sit in worship at a set time you would probalby have gotten in your car and driven somewhere to do this. One of the problems that Christians who leave church find is that they cannot worship when the church expects them to and so they stop going. So why do churches try to get everyone to look at their website at a set time. Surely this is an opportunity to include people who can’t get to church by being far more flexible.
Of course there will be exceptions to this because some people will be housebound or not able to travel as far as is needed to participate in the worship.
Some sites think that they have to involve people in the worship (otherwise it isn’t real worship) and so they will get them to type some kind of affirmation or prayer while the worship is going on.
Why?????
Surely this makes it less like true worship which comes from the heart and not the fingers.
Churches need to get far more creative with their approach to Internet worship.
Try not to think along the lines of set times or physical audience participation. These are both nonsense when it comes to the Internet.
Instead allow for flexibility in the timing. Don’t make it out to be less of a worship experience if peopl enjoy it at a time that is convenient to them. Instead think that this is a way to get people worshipping God 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
Instead of thinking about how you can get people to participate in the worship understand that people participate by logging on to your websites worship area. They participate by opening their hearts to God not by typing responsive prayers etc. They might participate in some way but please find ways others than what would happen in a more ‘normal’ churchs service.
I have searched high and low for a good online worship experience but have not found one yet. Perhaps it just is not possible. However the only way we are going to make it possible is to stop thinking like clones of the ‘regular’ church and start getting creative. I have a feeling that we will discover online worship is possible only through the age old medium of art, music and the written word.
Have you found a good place to worship on the Internet?
Let us all know by posting a comment below
Is the Internet Good for God?
Christians are struggling to know what to do with the Internet (in my opinion).
One of the things that Christian preachers have enjoyed over the years is that they know more than the congregation do about the Bible and what it says. Some might even argue that they have deliberately kept it that way although I’m not sure that’s true myself. The studies that Clergy undertake are available and have been for a long time to others as well.
However the Internet has opened up a whole can of worms (or should I say Diet of Worms – Luther fans will know what I’m talking about) for Christian leaders.
Now whatever is said in the pulpit can be looked up on the Internet. Some of the information that is presented will be good some will be bad.
What are the consequences and are they good or bad?
The consequences are that no Christian can now make statements about the Christian faith and expect it not to be challenged in some way. It is no longer adequate for preachers to just quote a few verses out of context and not expect to be challenged on the topics raised.
This is bad for those who like to use the Bible as a tool to glorify themselves and to justify bigoted opinions.
This is good for the Christian faith in general.
If Christians believe (as I do) that the Bible is in the inspired word of God then why should we fear being questioned about it?
If the claims of the Christian faith are valid then why fear anyone challenging it?
If people challenging the Christian faith leads to open and honest enquiry then why should anyone be upset?
Do we honestly think that God should be worried because someone somewhere happens to think up an argument that isn’t very nice for Christians?
I believe that there are many answers to the critics of Christianity (search out some apologetics websites if you doubt me).
I also know from experience that most people who challenge the Christian faith (even famous atheists) often do so from a position of ignorance about what Christians claim.
Surely it is far better for Christians to be able to take a good long look at what the Bible says and then to test it and see if it stands up to scrutiny? If this was not to be allowed then why did we ever let it be translated into languages that the average person can understand? This problem was answered back in the days when the printing press was invented it’s just now that it has become even more available.
Of course we need to understand that not every website tells the truth (but this is also true about Christian web sites) but given enough research its possible to have a reasonable go at understanding what God’s will really is as it is revealed in the Bible.
I say the Internet is great for God and the more Christians learn to use this powerful tool for getting our viewpoint across the better.
Of course those preachers/teachers who like to use out of context Bible passages to justify their own viewpoints will be upset by the Internet because it must mean their days are numbered. At last!
What do you think?
Is the Internet good for God – leave your opinion
Nice faith shame about the trousers
What is it with trendy Vicars/Ministers/Pastors?
I came across a site the other day (no url to save any embarassement) which was all about modernising the church – good subject. However on the front of the site was a picture of their modern and inspirational leader in his 1980’s waistcoat.
Now I’ve know a lot of clergy in my time and many (not all) have been kind and nice people who have had the best interests of others in their heart. However if there is anything to do with ‘alternative worship’ or ‘youth ministry’ you had better get your sunglasses ready.
So many of them make the effort to look more contemporary but end up looking like a fool. I’ve seen ties that were never in fashion but might have found their way into the Charity Shop just after Christmas. I’ve seen tank tops that mums probably knitted for them when they were in their teens. I’ve seen waistcoats that look like they were used to protect the TV when the decoraters were in. I’ve seen trousers that seem to levitate six inches off the floor and were either bought in a sale in a fit of daftness or were purchased by mum for their thirteenth birthday party.
Sorry if this sounds like a man thing because women clergy are just as bad. Why do so many women clergy think they have to dress like a man anyway?
I would like to say that this is unusual but sadly it isn’t. Perhaps what is even sadder is half the congregation also looks like this on their dress down family service day (only someone forgot to tell THE family to come – more of that on another day perhaps).
So often Christians are told to wear something bright when the ‘outsiders’ are coming to visit. Wear something bright? Why? Is church so boring that we think wearing a bright pink boa will someone make it exciting?
“Hey, won’t the outsiders and young people be impressed when we turn up with something bright on!”
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When will we learn that to be contemporary is actually about being yourself?
By all means leave off the cassock but if you feeling comfortable wearing a shirt and tie then go for it. There is nothing more offputting than falsity and this is just what it feels like when the clergy turn out in their ‘trendy’ gear.
Of course there are exceptions to this rule and some clergy wear more contemporary clothes naturally. Good for them!
What we need to start doing is breaking down the old images of the church and putting in new better ones. This is not done by looking like a scarecrow.
Relax – be yourself – dress like you want to.
What came out when I prayed today
It’s not like me to rant. I don’t often get carried away with things but as I prayed today I felt compelled to write this. I doubt anyone will read it but I felt it needed to be published.
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I want a revolution!
It’s time for change in the UK Christian Church.
How often have I heard that said but does it ever happen? NO!
We have people who are Bible believing who call for revolution in the teaching.
We have people who are Bible doubting who call for revolution in the teaching.
We have people who like more modern music calling for revolution in worship.
We have people who don’t fit the ‘normal’ church calling for radical church.
We have people calling for house church because that’s what they like and it’s Biblical isn’t it?
Every group calls for something different in the church but what happens?
We get church made in our own image.
We get Christians breaking away to form ‘new’ churches.
But where is the revolution? WHERE O GOD IS THE REVOLUTION!!!!
Where are the generations lost to the church? Why don’t they come?
We’ve tried trendy services and new age thinking. We’ve tried everything but who comes?
People already connected to the church – that’s who comes. Very few ever come in from the outside.
Do they then hate Jesus? Do they think Jesus’ teachings are dead and gone?
No they don’t.
Why is every normal Christian ashamed to admit they go to church? Why are Christian ministers called names in the streets?
Why do people who don’t go to church hate the church?
Why do they believe that the church has highjacked the teachings of Christ and used them for their own ends?
Is it the Devil? Perhaps. Is it us? Yes.
Christian Revolution comes only when people are ready to repent.
Is the church ready?
Would we be prepared to go on national TV and say – sorry we got it wrong.
Are we prepared to admit to the world that we have not always followed Jesus?
Are we prepared to say that there is a problem with power hungry people in God’s own house?
Will we admit that instead of washing feet we have often been driven by greed?
Then when we have repented can we be converted?
Can we convert to foot washing and service?
Can we change our worship so the focus is on Jesus?
Can we listen to those who have a different view and then sensitively give ours – as equals.
We seek the broken and miss the lost.
We seek out the worst but have no time for the best.
It is right to help the drunk and the homeless – God expects nothing less than this.
But we pat ourselves on the back while every week we drive past houses full of lost souls who don’t suit us because they are not bad enough yet.
One street full of people in a Town would fill a church with hundreds. People of all ages squeezing through the doors.
Are not most church buildings in a street? Yet they are fit only for carpet warehouses and New Age Healers.
O God when will we change? When will you bring the revolution?
O God how long must we wait? How long must I wait to see this?
My heart is broken waiting for your deliverance.
My heart loves your idea of the church but it is broken as the man made systems fall.
O God bring your new church soon.
Please Lord release me from feeling this way. Let me rest and not feel the pain. I love your church so much yet my heart is broken over it.
Your will be done. Your will be done! YouR WILL BE DONE!!!!
I doubt to believe
Doubt tends to have a lot of bad press in the Christian faith.
Doubt is often seen as the opposite of faith. So if you doubt then it must be because you are a fallen unbeliever. In fact so bad is this seen in some churches that it’s illegal to mention to anyone that you might have doubts.
There is a difference between the doubt of a believer and the doubt of an unbeliever. Doubt for the believer is not about unbelief – although it can lead that way if left unchecked.
Now don’t misunderstand me because I know that Jesus encourages us not to doubt. Living in a constant attitude of doubt will have a negative effect on your relationship with God. However it is nonsense to assume that nobody ever has any doubts.
I know from talking with many Christians that nearly every Christian (great and humble) goes through periods of doubt, even though few ever mention it.
Jesus must have understood that we would doubt otherwise he would not have bothered to tell us not to do it.
The thing is that if you have doubt don’t suppress them and don’t assume it makes you a bad Christian.
Doubting is often an avenue to greater faith.
There are many different reasons for doubting and I don’t have time in a blog to cover them all.
If you have the time and inclination then read this book (for free):
http://www.garyhabermas.com/books/thomas_factor/thomas_factor.htm
It’s an excellent book all about how and why Christians doubt and how to deal with it in your life.
Times of doubt can be hard and worrying. It can feel like all the things you have based your life on are falling apart. Try to understand though that if you keep working through your doubts then you can build an even stronger faith. I don’t mean this to belittle those whose doubts don’t lead to greater faith but just to encourage those who doubt to explore and not give in too easily.
Sprinkled Blood
to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. Heb 12:24
