Post by Zac Loh on May 10, 2008 10:24:18 GMT -5
Defining The Difference …The Difference Between A Church And A Club
No one can draw anyone to Christ. It is the Father Who draws (John 6:44). We may have drawn someone to church …but has he really come to Christ?
To me, the greatest injustice is robbing people of the privilege and opportunity of having a personal, intimate relationship with God …which means fellowshipping with God, experiencing God and enjoying God to the fullest!
Despite the fact that most share the same view with me, we have inadvertently allow people to join us and be involved in our ministry while they neglect, or ignorant of, what they can have: an intimate relationship with God.
These people are too busy in Christian service or other activities, or that we have not told them to make their relationship with God - as the first priority over everything else.
Have we taken time to emphasize and pushed for this important thing ...in a Christian's life?
For some, activities have become a replacement for a relationship with God. These people are so consumed in their time, energy and attention that they have not much left for personal fellowship with God. After 5 or 10 years, you won’t see them around in church anymore. Those who are left would not do anything except warm the seats on Sunday and on other ‘special’ meetings.
Can we lead them further, to find acceptance in Christ Himself, beyond the framework of Christian activities?
HOW CAN BE CREATION BE MORE ENJOYABLE THAN THE CREATOR HIMSELF?
One pastor I heard questioned in his message: “Are we satisfied with bringing people into the outer court only?”
We are not a club. We are not here to pat each other’s back and to rub each other’s ego.
There is no room for pity-party. We are on the move. We have a mission …to serve the King of kings and Lord of lords. We have the Great Commission. Iron will sharpen iron. Certainly there are bound to be hurts, pain and suffering.
Forgiveness is the remedy for offenses.
I like how a youth leader put it so beautifully. He was sharing about the Lord’s teaching-instruction on ‘washing each other’s feet.’ The feet touch the earth and will bring dirt into the house. The same way, we touch the dirt of the world and come together as God’s household to fellowship.
‘Washing each other’s feet’ means taking the dirt of the world: the harshness, the bitterness, the anger – from each other.
This can only be done by practicing the scripture: ‘Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.’ (Colossians 3 : 12- 15)
This is a great scripture for church life.
God gave me a vision in one Sunday morning prayer gathering.
You know …how we sometimes get bogged down by hurt, pain and suffering. Sometimes, the pressure gets so much that we can barely hold on.
In order to fellowship with one another and be united, we need also leave our hurts and burdens behind. The doorway to this is the cross. We can only leave our hurts and burdens when we go through the doorway of the cross!
No one can draw anyone to Christ. It is the Father Who draws (John 6:44). We may have drawn someone to church …but has he really come to Christ?
To me, the greatest injustice is robbing people of the privilege and opportunity of having a personal, intimate relationship with God …which means fellowshipping with God, experiencing God and enjoying God to the fullest!
Despite the fact that most share the same view with me, we have inadvertently allow people to join us and be involved in our ministry while they neglect, or ignorant of, what they can have: an intimate relationship with God.
These people are too busy in Christian service or other activities, or that we have not told them to make their relationship with God - as the first priority over everything else.
Have we taken time to emphasize and pushed for this important thing ...in a Christian's life?
For some, activities have become a replacement for a relationship with God. These people are so consumed in their time, energy and attention that they have not much left for personal fellowship with God. After 5 or 10 years, you won’t see them around in church anymore. Those who are left would not do anything except warm the seats on Sunday and on other ‘special’ meetings.
Can we lead them further, to find acceptance in Christ Himself, beyond the framework of Christian activities?
HOW CAN BE CREATION BE MORE ENJOYABLE THAN THE CREATOR HIMSELF?
One pastor I heard questioned in his message: “Are we satisfied with bringing people into the outer court only?”
We are not a club. We are not here to pat each other’s back and to rub each other’s ego.
There is no room for pity-party. We are on the move. We have a mission …to serve the King of kings and Lord of lords. We have the Great Commission. Iron will sharpen iron. Certainly there are bound to be hurts, pain and suffering.
Forgiveness is the remedy for offenses.
I like how a youth leader put it so beautifully. He was sharing about the Lord’s teaching-instruction on ‘washing each other’s feet.’ The feet touch the earth and will bring dirt into the house. The same way, we touch the dirt of the world and come together as God’s household to fellowship.
‘Washing each other’s feet’ means taking the dirt of the world: the harshness, the bitterness, the anger – from each other.
This can only be done by practicing the scripture: ‘Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.’ (Colossians 3 : 12- 15)
This is a great scripture for church life.
God gave me a vision in one Sunday morning prayer gathering.
You know …how we sometimes get bogged down by hurt, pain and suffering. Sometimes, the pressure gets so much that we can barely hold on.
In order to fellowship with one another and be united, we need also leave our hurts and burdens behind. The doorway to this is the cross. We can only leave our hurts and burdens when we go through the doorway of the cross!