Inspired by Jeremy, I dug up an old Facebook tag. For those of you used to expecting distinguished and profound posts from me, you’ll be so disappointed… For those of you who know me, this will assure you that I am still not distinguished and profound. I intercepted a note in 5th or 6th grade [...]
Change in America = Change in the Church
Posted By Jeff on November 6th, 2008
One thing that no one can deny any longer. It isn’t 1950 any longer. America is not like 95% of our churches. At the massive Obama celebration party in Chicago last night, it was a multi-ethnic, multi-socioeconomic, and multi-cultural blend of Americans.
For most of our churches, they find themselves on November 5 wondering how they grew to such irrelevance. They find themselves out-of-touch with the larger population, most wishing for a return to yesteryear. In pockets of America, there remains an ambivalence about true integration in worship.
The church of Jesus Christ can not be HIS church and not reach out to all ethnic groups, socioeconomic levels, and cultures. It has been content, for the most part, in preserving the comfort of its existing members. It has done this primarily by only reaching out to those that would help undergird its existing values and allow its current leaders to remain in control.
Just as the leadership of our nation was jerked radically away from one group on November 4, the church needs a radical jerk away from its love affair with complacency and selfishness.
The heart of the Father is for all peoples, everywhere, to know and love His Son Jesus Christ. Our churches need to seek humility, forgiveness and begin the journey of joy by actively reaching out to all with the gospel of Christ. It’s not Jesus that people in our country have rejected. It’s the church’s narrow proprietorship of Him.
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November 6th, 2008 at 8:07 am
Instead, I fear that we will lock the doors and wail.
We have, for far too long, been content to let our culture shape our beliefs, and tried to just drift with the times. At some point, Jeff, you’re right, we have got to wake up and look out from our lovely walls and buildings and actually do something.
As far as your statement that it’s not Jesus our country has rejected, but the church’s narrow proprietorship of Him, I think it’s worse than that. Our nation hasn’t rejected Jesus because in the last 16 years, most of our churches haven’t shown Him. We wailed for 8 years of President Clinton, we hoped President Bush would save our country for the last 8, and we haven’t bothered with the fact that Christ’s love compels us to preach His love, His truth to everyone. Our country hasn’t rejected Jesus, because we haven’t done Romans 10. (How can they call…believe…if they don’t hear?) How can they reject what they haven’t heard and seen in us?
Sorry…getting preachy on your blog. Have my own blog for that…
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November 6th, 2008 at 8:44 am
powerful.
November 6th, 2008 at 11:57 am
VERY VERY well said. I am impressed.
November 6th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
sunday… the most segregated day of the week. hopefully not for much longer.
deans last blog post..your band name; your band’s new cd, w/ cover art… you’re a star, baby!
November 6th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Nice. I just wanted to stop by (Lindy says you like to get comments in your blogosphere)and let you know that I’m glad you’re putting thoughtful and scriptural observations of current events into the crazily slanted world of the internet.
I told her the other day that I find your view of the world (in the spiritual sense) very inspiring. It challenges me to take another look at what I think of what transpires around me.
Nevertheless, thank you for the encouragement to pray for our country’s soon-to-be-new leader. Relating to this post, thank you for emphasizing integration in worship and unity in Christ. I will say that a lot of the world has come far (by the grace of God) in how it views racial lines, definitions, etc. My prayer is that Christians take this advance as inspiration to let color and ethnic boundaries wash out in the light of Christ’s unity. How often we miss the blessings of the Lord simply because we cannot look past the flesh, merely with eyes made of flesh.
Blessings to you. Keep blogging (now there’s a phrase I never thought I’d put in black and white). :)
November 6th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
I agree with your post 100 % !
Scary, huh? :-)
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November 6th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Thanks for all your comments so far. I’m hoping to elaborate on this post at length later. And Michael… I think you’d be surprised at how much we agree on! ;)
November 7th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Oh wow.. I agree with Jeff, too! ;)
Great post, Jeff. Very powerful and very true. Even in our easy-going, totally welcoming, laid-back church, we’re still fairly cookie-cutter. I am excited to see what God is going to do in the future with the make-up of our congregation, and how he is going to direct us to reach those around us that we might not feel comfortable reaching out to. He’s up to something BIG with Journey… I have NO DOUBT.