What are we supposed to do with Rob Bell's Jesus Wants to Save Christians? What do we do with the prophets? What do we do with the book of Acts vs. the American Church?
Yes, privileged doesn't even begin to describe me. Yes, my computer is equivalent to 2 years income for over half of the world's population. Yes, I live (quite comfortably) in empire. Yes, my church is like a concert. Yes, if it wasn't people wouldn't come.
I frankly find it all very discouraging, like the system of churches that we've setup is not compatible with the real message of Jesus. That I'M not compatible with the message of Jesus.
But the message of Jesus is timeless. It is and forever will be 'universally compatible'. The message of Jesus is for Joe Six-Pack and for Somalians. It's for all of us.
So why does it seem so incompatible? Why is it so hard to be like Jesus in Anytown, USA but exceedingly easier to be like Jesus on a mission trip?
How can we put the compatible message of Jesus Christ into practice?
I know this is extremely vague and lacks the same implementation abilities that we had at the beginning of this post, but really...really...how do we do this? Do we keep what's in place (the church)? Do we start a new church? Why do we feel powerless when the HOLY SPIRIT lives among us? Really though...
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Let's be honest...we can look at our Bible and then look at our churches and wonder where do we even begin?
ReplyDeleteIt seems hopeless. At times maybe it is even hopeless. But not in all places.
The message of Jesus is for Joe Six-Pack and the Somalian, but it must be contextualized differently. It cannot be the same message in some sense because Joe and the Somalian have (besides there sin) very little in common.
And that is how God designed both of their lives. The American church should look different then the African church in many ways. It has to. That is contextualization.
We need to shut down bad churches and plant new churches.
If a church is not being the church then it has no reason to exist. I have no problem pulling the plug on a church and starting up a new one.
We have an ecclesiological buffet here in Dallas. It is a city in need of a miracle.
In need of Jesus to save Christians...if you will. And I hope you will.
What do we do?
What Christians have always done. Prayed to God.
Almost all of the NT letters are letter of rebuke. There are issues that have already arisen in the church to warrant Paul to come down on them and correct them, to rebuke them.
The only hope we have is Christ.
And the church is the greatest hope for Christ to be displayed on this earth.
So I pray for God to be God and for me to do all I can where God has placed me for His glory.
Jesus never said it would be easy. And it isn't like it just got hard...it has been hard since Genesis 3. Very hard.
That's the truth.
The only thing we can cling to is the cross. That is all our hope. That is where I put my hope.