Stop Trying To Fill Your Hole
There is a gaping hole in the middle of all of our Sunday services.
We try to fill it with cool videos.
We try and fill it with social justice.
We try and fill it with tree hugging Christianity.
We try and fill it with God is love.
We try and fill it with unreal production.
We try and fill it with life application.
We try and fill it with smiles and winks.
We try and fill it with hands raised and hearts seated.
We try and fill it with Martin guitars and Orange amps.
We try and fill it with “Go after the heart of God”’s and “Lift up your voice”’s
We try and fill it with singing loudly and harmonizing beautifully.
We try and fill it with internet campuses and Sunday tweets.
But at the end of the day, the hole is still there.
At the end of the day, the hole is still gaping.
Because although all that stuff is good,
None of it is the Gospel.
We must never forget that the only thing capable of filling it…
Is Jesus Christ.
Lest we forget.
Los
don't mistake this as me dissing any of your other posts recently, but this one is my favorite i've seen in a while. way to hit the nail on the head and remind all of us church-folk what's really important.
You hit the sweet spot my friend.
Jesus. One word. Simple. Yet, we complicate it so easily.
Agree to disagree.
Just saying Jesus Christ actually feels completely full to me.
All of those things are small parts of the heart of God.
But again.
None of them are the Gospel.
We as the American church are slowly trying to make them the center and they are not.
Good thoughts.
I wholeheartedly agree…the big question is how do we step out of the way to LET Him fill it? What does that look like?
Amen to that.
[P.S. Off-topic: The Lord gave me a miracle -- I found out on Dec. 9 that the last CT scan that I had showed NO CANCER FOUND. I went from being Stage 4 Inflammatory Breast Cancer to NO CANCER in a little less than a year, Praise The Lord.
Thank you for your prayers, Los, and the prayers of your readers too. Truly -- Thank. You. God is good and merciful.]
- Judy
absolutely killer. Everything we say and do as Christians only hints at the surpassing glory of Christ …
Almost an hour ago, I thought, “I'm gonna go upstairs and read my Bible for a bit before I go to bed.” Yet here I am still sitting in front of the computer reading other worthy words but not THE good Word.
Thank you, Los, for your reminder that I need more of Jesus and His word. I am going to read now. Really.
Chinese gymnastics team high five. (just in case anybody forgot about the olympics)
Good stuff los.
Constantly trying to use more stuff to give people more Jesus. I can watch a fancy video anywhere. Hear sweet guitar amps at hundreds of clubs every weekend. Or join social justice groups of any variety. Talk about love in all sorts of crazy contexts. And while all those things are well and grand, and conversations about cultural engagement could launch here and why these things should be part of our church experiences, nothing gives me the eternal hope, peace, and joy that is found in Jesus Christ ALONE.
yeah! that's awesome! praise God!
Dude, that's a good post.
Great word.
I absolutely agree w/ your post Carlos. Admitting that we need Jesus is letting go of our PRIDE! Stating that we need Jesus outloud or in writing opens up your soul to hear his voice when we so often are busy and not listening for that still small voice. All other options will not bring us our true JOY. Amen and Amen!!!
This to me seems like your own personal issues maybe? I see God moving through all these things and Churches all over the world.
Does he need bright lights, sound and cool music? No, but I think it is one way He reaches people and brings them into a personal relationship with His son so He can live eternally with Him.
I think they are all great tools and I feel completely full of Christ and hope you do as well!
It is not my issue.
It is just not the Gospel.
That's all I'm saying.
Not talking about reaching people.
Talking about what is the Gospel and what is not.
This is all true.
Depending on what you say the Gospel is….
Los, you write that “none” of it is the gospel
where as I waould say that “all of it is the gospel”
and to leave out any part of it is to miss the full gospel
the good news that God is renewing and reconciling all of creation
And that God is using Jesus Christ (of whom we are his body) to do it
ps. what does it mean to say that “the only thing capable of filling the gaping hole is Jesus Christ?” I mean, i agree, but i'm not sure what you mean.
los, I think you're getting at something.
Well I think it is just semantics at this point.
I would say that all of those pieces, alone, are beautiful.
They are actually pieces of the gospel.
All of those together, are still pieces of the Gospel.
Place them 10000 times together, are still only pieces.
So yes.
None of those are the Gospel.
The Gospel is this…
That Jesus Christ, in the midst of His savage love for us, broke the skies wide open to rescue us from our sins and took them upon himself.
When we start getting away from that, in any form or fashion, we have left the central truth of the Gospel of Christ Jesus.
That's all I'm saying.
I guess that's a lot.
Amen to that, Los!
That's the goods…right there!!
I love reminders like this. Thanks.
Good stuff…too true.
Yes, yes, yes!
All the things you mentioned are rubbish without JESUS! He is all we truly need!
Word up.
Amen! As christians we often focus on things that are just this side or that of the throne of the Lord with out ever just worshiping at his feet. What is at the core of the Good news is that Christ stood in for us at the cross and rose again that we may be reconciled to God! Out of that renewed relationship and with grateful hearts we then can go out in his name and do good.
I appreciate the reminder that the “only thing capable of filling our holes” is Jesus Christ. Stay focused and He will continue to bless.
This has been surfacing in my head a lot lately as I think about what we do and don't do and overdo through the church. Thanks for writing about it.
AMEN!
Thank you!
yep.
not even sure i have the right words for this one…i think in terms of my bottom line(it's getting flatter,according to mrs.gray)and ask is Christ the cornerstone?or am I like the White House, where they can't find the Cornerstone of the building and keep looking for it? hmph…meebee i should blog on this?
Yeah.
AMEN!! Best post I have read in a while. Preach it brother that stuff is what is going to save!!
trying to keep that in the forefront of my mind.. even more so nowadays.
He is truly all we need.
Thank you so much for posting this. I am really glad to see you state this so simply. Merry Christmas to you and your beautiful family.
your thoughts remind me of Charlie Hall's song, “All We Need”. Maybe my fav worship song of all time.
Wow, that is some deep stuff, and I needed it. Thanks
I've been remembering this more and more recently.
love it.
Been traveling down that road a lot lately myself.
Word. Great post sir.
It is saying a lot.It hit spot on. If I'm really going to be authentic, God hasn't seemed real to me for a long time and it is breaking my heart. It's not that I want it to be this way…just can't find any way back that feels legitimate, honest, real. I know what it was to believe that and follow it with everything in me. That seems so long, and so much hurt ago.