I have been blessed to call my Boss at work, my Brother in Christ. RecentlyI had a great discussion with Len about what I've been thinking about our church in particular...and so many other churches. Reflecting from the Bible, and trying to avoid "judgment" like fire, my concern in general was about who Christians are trying to please.
It seems to me as if there are two extremes: Either a family (church) is really focusing on one aspect of God, i.e: LOVE, and, by overlooking His other qualities, may underestimate Him.
For example, some churches will change their music to be more like mainstream, change their services to become more casual...even dress codes are now more relaxed (jeans/ T shirts) in some services...all to show that "God is Love, and He accepts you the way you are...He doesn't look on the outside, only into your heart. Come as you are..." but the Bible shows us that we must have a distinctive outwardly appearance as well (see Deut. 22:5, and 1Timothy 2:9)
Interesting that there are dress codes to come to court(out of obligation for all)....and a fancy dinner party( out of desire:for most who want to attend). ...But not when you come to the House of Prayer, the House of God(an obligation that should be desired). Hmmm.
The problem with seeing only one aspect of God is the risk of bringing the worldly ways into the church, making God conform to our comfort level, all in the name of His love.
Also, if looking from a different perspective, a person who longs to find a place of comfort, peace and love, when coming to church, will hope to find a significant difference between what he/she knows from the world, and what he/she will discover in church, this too includes music. The Bible tells us that God is the same yesterday, today, and always. We worship the same God that Moses did, who, because of not fully following Gods direction, was banned from entering the Promised Land (see Numbers 20:6 and on.)
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Here's another extreme: seeing God only as the Almighty who is the one and only Righteous Judge. Fear the Lord. He is most High, Most Holy. He despises Sin. Nothing unholy will enter the Kingdom of God. All of these are true, however, approaching only in this way, the family (church) is risking to create a book of rules....a level of holiness needed to be reached to please God. And while members of the church will constantly feel a pressure to reach that "level" of 'holiness' by, for example, a) being on time to church b)Women wearing skirts no shorter than knee length c) Men not wearing baggy/untidy clothes... these are, of course, very vague examples of what my point is....I hope you get my drift. By not following the rule book of the church makes you a member who does not obey, a child of God who is disobedient to your leaders...if you cannot be faithful in the small things, God will not trust you in the bigger things...and so on. You need repentance because, obviously, you are a sinner. I believe this approach may lead to a church with members resembling the Pharisees: and Jesus did point out "The people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God. 8for you ignore God's law and substitute your own tradition." Mark 7:7-8 NLT
Let me just keep these thoughts open, and have your heart make a conclusion. I'd love to hear what your input is.
in closing I share what my Boss said:
So, nice discussion about being good enough for man and his institutions versus being good enough for God! Solomon was right...there's nothing new under the sun (not even in religious institutions...we just keep reinventing the same old thing over and over again with new names). Churches are important just so nothing ever comes between us and our Savoir! Our salvation is in Him and Him alone who sacrificed his blood, humility, and life for us. I'm glad He is God and could really do what He promised to do for us!
We are meant to live under the feedom of grace and not the bondage of legalism...just look @ John's letters. Important to not cause others to stumble though...
Agape my sister,
len
*(update 4/11)The purpose of this post is to simply share my opinions about the two extreme approaches of and their effects on the church. Thank you for your inputs and critiques. Please feel free to add in your comment what you might find needs clarification...or anything you feel on the topic.
Blessings,
2 comments:
Great post. I was just talking about this very topic last night at the Bible study led by -- interestingly enough -- my boss. It's as if we human beings create this image in our minds of a God who is either all love (with corresponding consequences of licentiousness), or all holiness (with corresponding consequences of legalism), when the correct answer is that He is both. He is love, AND He is holy. Thanks for the timely post.
Thank you Vicky, I especially like the verse you posted under the church that is on the extreeme of legalism...I think that verse really sums it up and should be a warning to churches who are heading that direction...I just hope and pray that one day, God can open the eye's of the elders who are in those positions bringing up their churches according to tradditions rather than the direct Word of God. (*no offense to any church in particular).
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