The Church I Know

I've recently had to face some of the ugliness I've been running from the last few years. That is where this post is coming from.

A few years back Collective Soul did a song that I love to this day. It stirs something deep within. The chorus goes like this...

So I walk up on high
And I step to the edge
To see my world below.
And I laugh at myself
As the years roll down.
cause its the world I know.
Its the world I know.

I could so easily replace "world" with "Church". The last few years I have walked up and stepped on the edge. What I have seen, in many cases, has sickened me. I've looked out at my hometown and the hundreds of churches here and been disgusted.

I've watched as one pastor tears down another from his pulpit.

I've watched as church after church has split because the folks basically didn't like each and could not agree.

I've watched as friends and family have had enough of the madness and just left the church altogether.

I've watched as Christians have done more harm to one another than any non-Christian could.

I've watched as folks have been outraged by the state of our culture while not loving one another as Christ loved us.

I've watched, and I've grieved. I've gone from sadness to anger and back again. I've been drawn into the destructive behavior myself and been ashamed.

And now I fear I am moving back into the numbness I had before stepping to the edge. Maybe it would be easier to step away, stop looking, and join them. Or better yet, just leave altogether. I'm weary I guess. I gotta find a way to press on.

Sometimes I don't know if I can deal with it anymore. I'm tired of hearing about homosexual agendas, the Ten Commandments, and prayer in school while Christians will not even love one another.

When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment, he gave two. Love God with everything you have and love your neighbor as yourself. We (Christians) have helped create the world we live in by not following these instructions. In the process we have created the Church we now live with.

So this is the Church I know. For better or worse, this is what I have grown up with and this is what we have to deal with in our local community. At the end of the day, I love the Church and my hometown enough to fight. If I don't, then all that is left is despair. And like most, I don't do despair very well. There is some good here and we need to find a way to spread it.

In my next post, I will lay out a few of the issues I'd love to see the Church confront. Nothing will change if a few of us don't try to stir the pot a little. It's important enough for me to stick my neck out.

Off to the chopping block...

Comments

[Jake]

Oh Rich, man, I'm totally looking forward to these next few posts. Stir that pot, brother!

[VirtuallyPaul]

Hey Rick...

It can be rough. I remember when church was comfortable, when the community it provided was life-giving and the future seemed bright.

It didn't last for me. It fell apart while I sat back and watched it happen. I never expected it to hurt so much.

But now, looking at the Church with different eyes, I now see how important it is that we don't forget whose kingdom we are building.

People who are comfortable with the status quo in their church and in the way they interact with it are the least likely to be actively looking for the ways that God is going to bring change.

Stay strong in Him.
-Paul.

[rich]

Jake,

I hope I say something worth something.

Paul,

Thanks for linking and thanks for your good words.

[ghostiegal]

Hey Rich,
I understand. I believe in Jesus and am saved, but because of other interests and people who are not open minded except for their own agendas, I am looked upon as a non-believer. Which is really untrue. I have a few beliefs because of personal experience, that are not main stream Christian orthodox, and therefore I am considered not the church member type. But I have yet to find a church around here that cares for anything but numbers.

[kristine]

I'd love to comment but I need more time to give this some thought. I can't wait to see your upcoming posts...